Over 40% of Australians now work from home at least part-time. Here's how to set up a proper home office for under $1,000 — without destroying your back or your budget.
If you work from home even two or three days a week, your home office setup is one of the most important investments you can make in your new house. A bad chair and a laptop on the kitchen table might seem fine for the first month, but by month three your back will be screaming, your neck will be stiff, and your productivity will be in the gutter.
The good news: you don't need to spend $5,000 on a Herman Miller and a motorised standing desk to have a proper setup. With smart choices, you can build a genuinely ergonomic, productive home office for $500-$1,000. Here's exactly how, in priority order.
Why Priority Order Matters
If you can only afford one thing at a time, buy in this order:
- Chair — your body sits in it 8 hours a day. This is the #1 priority.
- Desk — you need a proper surface at the right height.
- External monitor — doubles your screen real estate and reduces neck strain from looking down at a laptop.
- Accessories — keyboard, mouse, monitor stand, cable management. These improve comfort and tidiness.
Don't buy accessories before you have a good chair. We see this constantly — someone buys a fancy keyboard and a desk mat but is still sitting on a $30 dining chair. Get the fundamentals right first.
Priority 1: Ergonomic Chair — $200 to $600
Your chair is the most important item in your home office. A good ergonomic chair supports your lower back, keeps your spine aligned, and lets you work for hours without discomfort. A bad chair (or a dining chair, or a bar stool) will cause back pain, neck strain, and fatigue within weeks.
SIHOO M57 — ~$249 (Budget King)
The SIHOO M57 is one of the most consistently recommended budget ergonomic chairs on Amazon AU. It has a high mesh back with adjustable lumbar support, 3-way adjustable armrests, a multi-tilt mechanism, and a chair rating that handles users up to approximately 150kg. The mesh back breathes well in Australian summers. It is not as refined as premium chairs at twice the price, but for sub-$300 it covers the core ergonomic features that genuinely affect comfort over long working sessions.
- Pros: Excellent value, adjustable lumbar, 3-way adjustable armrests, mesh back breathes well, widely stocked on Amazon AU
- Cons: Fixed seat depth, less refined finish than premium chairs, assembly required
- Best for: Anyone on a budget who wants real ergonomic adjustability without paying premium prices
Check price on Amazon AU →
Desky Pro Ergonomic Chair — ~$450
Desky is an Australian company (based in Brisbane) that makes excellent ergonomic furniture. The Pro Ergonomic Chair has everything the Markus doesn't: adjustable armrests (height, width, and angle), adjustable lumbar support, seat depth slider, and a breathable mesh seat (not just the back). It's the sweet spot between budget and premium.
- Pros: Fully adjustable (armrests, lumbar, seat depth, headrest), Australian brand with local support, mesh seat and back, excellent build quality
- Cons: Online-only (can't try before you buy), assembly takes 30-45 minutes
- Best for: People who work from home 3+ days a week and want proper ergonomic adjustment
Check price on Amazon AU →
ErgoTune Joobie — ~$599
ErgoTune is an Australian-designed brand, and the Joobie is the variant currently stocked on Amazon AU. It pairs a hybrid breathable mesh back with adjustable lumbar support and multiple adjustment points, designed to fit every body type. The build quality is premium — it feels like a chair at twice the price. Free shipping and a strong warranty round out the package.
- Pros: Multiple adjustment points, adjustable lumbar support, premium build, Australian-designed brand, breathable hybrid mesh, available on Amazon AU
- Cons: Pricier than alternatives, online-only, takes a few days to find your perfect settings
- Best for: Full-time remote workers who want a premium ergonomic chair without spending $1,000+
Check price on Amazon AU →
Priority 2: Desk — $150 to $500
Your desk needs to be the right height (around 73-76cm for sitting), deep enough for a monitor and keyboard (at least 60cm deep), and stable enough that it doesn't wobble during video calls. Beyond that, the big decision is: standing desk or standard?
Standard Desk: IKEA Alex + Linnmon Combo — ~$180
The IKEA Alex drawer unit topped with a Linnmon or Lagkapten tabletop is the most popular budget desk setup in Australia. The Alex provides drawer storage, the tabletop gives you a generous work surface, and the total cost is under $200. It's not height-adjustable, but at standard desk height (74cm) it works well for most people. You can use two Alex units (one on each side) for double the storage.
Browse desks with storage on Amazon AU →
Standing Desk: Desky Dual Sit-Stand — ~$450
If you want a standing desk (and the health research strongly supports alternating between sitting and standing), the Desky Dual is the best value in Australia. It's a dual-motor electric sit-stand desk with a memory controller (save your preferred sitting and standing heights). The frame is solid and quiet, and Desky offers a range of Australian-made timber and laminate tops. Assembly is straightforward — about 45 minutes with a partner.
- Pros: Electric dual motor (smooth, quiet), memory controller with 4 presets, solid frame, Australian brand, wide range of tabletop options
- Cons: Higher cost than a standard desk, heavier (harder to move), needs wall power
- Best for: Anyone working from home 3+ days a week. The ability to stand for 2-3 hours a day significantly reduces back pain and fatigue.
Browse standing desks on Amazon AU →
UpDown Pro Standing Desk — ~$500
UpDown is another Australian standing desk brand (based in Sydney). The Pro model has a wider height range than most competitors (62-128cm), making it suitable for taller users. The bamboo desktop is sustainable and looks beautiful. Like Desky, it has a 4-preset memory controller and a 5-year warranty.
Check price on Amazon AU →
Priority 3: External Monitor — $180 to $400
Working on a laptop screen all day is a productivity killer and a neck-pain generator. An external monitor at eye height lets you sit up straight, see more of your work at once, and reduces the constant scrolling and tab-switching that slows you down. Even a budget 24-inch monitor is a massive upgrade over a laptop screen.
BenQ GW2480 (24" 1080p) — ~$189 (Budget Pick)
The BenQ GW2480 is the best budget monitor in Australia. It's a 24-inch 1080p IPS panel with accurate colours, a slim bezel design, and built-in speakers (not great, but functional). The eye-care features include flicker-free backlighting and a blue light filter — both reduce eye fatigue during long work sessions. At under $200, it's hard to beat.
Check price on Amazon AU →
LG 27UK650 (27" 4K) — ~$400
If you work with design, photography, video, or detailed spreadsheets, a 4K monitor is worth the upgrade. The LG 27UK650 is a 27-inch 4K IPS panel with HDR10, 99% sRGB colour accuracy, and USB-C connectivity (charge your laptop and display video through one cable). The extra resolution means sharper text, more screen space, and less eye strain.
Check price on Amazon AU →
Dell P2722H (27" 1080p) — ~$280
Dell's P-series monitors are the corporate standard for a reason — they're reliable, well-built, and have excellent ergonomic stands (height, tilt, swivel, pivot). The P2722H is a 27-inch 1080p panel that's perfect for general office work. The built-in USB hub on the stand is a nice touch for connecting peripherals.
Check price on Amazon AU →
Priority 4: Accessories — $50 to $200
These accessories round out your setup and make working more comfortable:
- Monitor riser or laptop stand: Raises your screen to eye level. A simple bamboo monitor stand ($20-$30) or a laptop stand like the Rain Design mStand ($60) makes a noticeable difference to neck posture. Browse monitor risers →
- External keyboard and mouse: If you use a laptop, an external keyboard and mouse let you position your screen at eye level while keeping your hands at desk level. Logitech MK295 wireless combo (~$50) is the best budget option. Check price →
- Desk pad: A large desk pad ($15-$25) protects your desk surface, provides a smooth mousing area, and makes your setup look polished. Browse desk pads →
- Cable management tray: Clip-on cable management trays ($15-$25) mount under your desk and hide the tangle of cables. Essential for standing desks where cables need slack to move. Browse cable trays →
- Desk lamp: A task lamp with adjustable brightness and colour temperature ($30-$60) reduces eye strain, especially for evening work. LED is the way to go — no heat, long life. Browse desk lamps →
- Headset: For video calls, a dedicated headset beats your laptop speakers and mic. The Jabra Evolve2 30 (~$100) or Logitech H390 (~$50) are reliable choices. Browse headsets →
Three Budget Tiers
$500 Starter Setup
- SIHOO M57 ergonomic chair: $249
- IKEA Alex + Linnmon desk: $180
- Laptop on a $20 riser
- Total: ~$449
$1,000 Proper Setup
- Desky Pro Ergonomic Chair: $450
- Desky Dual standing desk: $450
- BenQ GW2480 monitor: $189
- Logitech MK295 keyboard + mouse: $50
- Total: ~$1,139
$2,000 Premium Setup
- ErgoTune Joobie: $599
- UpDown Pro standing desk: $500
- LG 27" 4K monitor: $400
- Logitech MX Keys + MX Master 3S: $300
- Desk lamp, cable tray, desk pad, headset: $200
- Total: ~$1,999
Tax Deductions for Home Office
If you work from home, some of these costs may be tax-deductible. The ATO allows deductions for home office equipment used for work, including desks, chairs, monitors, and office supplies. Items over $300 are depreciated over their useful life; items under $300 can be claimed immediately. Keep your receipts and speak to your accountant at tax time. This can reduce the effective cost of your setup by 30-45% depending on your tax bracket.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I spend on a home office setup?
For a functional, ergonomic home office in Australia, budget at least $500 for the basics (chair + desk). A proper setup with an external monitor costs $1,000-$1,200. A premium setup with a standing desk, quality chair, 4K monitor, and accessories runs $1,800-$2,500. The most important item is your chair — don't spend less than $250 on it if you work from home more than two days a week. A cheap chair will cost you in physiotherapy bills within a year.
Is a standing desk worth it for working from home?
Yes — if you use it properly. Research shows that alternating between sitting and standing throughout the day reduces back pain, improves energy, and may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. The key word is "alternating" — standing all day is just as bad as sitting all day. Aim for 30-60 minutes of standing for every 60-90 minutes of sitting. An electric sit-stand desk ($400-$600) makes this easy with preset memory buttons. The Desky Dual and UpDown Pro are the best value standing desks in Australia, both from local companies.
What's the best budget office chair in Australia?
The SIHOO M57 (~$249) is the best budget ergonomic chair widely available on Amazon AU. It has a high mesh backrest with adjustable lumbar, 3-way adjustable armrests, and a multi-tilt mechanism — adjustability that most chairs at twice the price still do not include. The IKEA Markus (~$299) is the most commonly cited alternative in this tier — strong build quality and a 10-year IKEA warranty — but is direct-only through IKEA stores rather than Amazon AU. If you want even more adjustability with mesh seat and back, step up to the Desky Pro Ergonomic Chair (~$450).
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