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When it comes to working for home, I am a total pro. I have been working a job exclusively from home for over five years at this point. One thing I have learned is that working with tried and true tools you love make it easier and more enjoyable. Sure, free office supplies were nice when I was in an office, but when it comes down to it I am a real paper and pen nerd.
I have also found my daily tools to be extremely helpful when I am blogging from home in my free time. I have different notebooks I use for work and for blogging, but their general qualities remain the same. As I have said in a number of blog posts, nothing holds a candle to pen and paper for me.
Without further ado, here is the ultimate guide to the office supplies you need to work from home – my absolute favorites!
Best Sticky Notes for Productivity
Sticky notes are a must have for a number of reasons. I like to put them on my monitor or laptop screen to remind me of keywords, things I have to do, or goals I want to work on. I also like to keep some paper around to just write throw away notes on, like if I am trying to count things like Pinterest pins or numbers of blog posts.
Post-it Notes, Canary Yellow, 3 in. x 3 in, 12 Pads/Pack,
Who doesn't love the classic yellow post it notes?
Post-it Extreme Notes, Green, Orange, Yellow, Water Resistant Sticky Notes, 3 in x 3 in, 3 Pads/Pack, 45 Sheets/Pad
These post it notes are every bit as extreme as they sound! Water resistent and won't fall off. I use these on my laptop and monitor!
Post-it Pop-up Notes, 3 in x 3 in, Assorted Colors, 5 Pads/Pack (3301-5ALT-M)
Want to get a bit more specific with your sticky notes? These are great to sort tasks and notes by topic.
Work From Home Notebooks
I have talked about how much I love paper in many blog posts. I use note books for everything from blogging to my day job to other projects I am working on. I group notebooks by a couple of different categories, based on what I am using them for. If it is a notebook I am spending a lot of time with, and will write in every day, I tend to spend a little it more on it.
The Best Fancy Notebooks
When I plan on spending a lot of time with a notebook, I really think hard about my choice, and tend to treat myself a little bit with something that will last longer than a spiral notebook. Here are my absolute favorite fancy notebooks - and they also will not break the bank! You cannot beat the texture of the paper on any of these notebooks.
STALOGY 018 Editor's Series 365 days notebook (A6//Black)
I cannot say enough good things about Stalogy notebooks. Their smooth paper and gridded pages make them a great choice for anything from a daily planner, a bullet jorunal, or anything else your heart desires. They have 365 pages which make them a perfect choice for a daily journal, planner, or tracker.
STALOGY 018 Editor's Series 365 days notebook (B6//Black)
Another great Stalogy notebook, in the B6 size. They have the perfect size for everyone!
Stalogy S4 Notebook: 8-3/10 in. x 11.7 in. (Black) / A4 vertical gridded notebook
Instead of your traditional formfactor, this notebook has a vertical orientation with the rest of the great Stalogy features. Great for quick notes!
Rhodia Rhodiarama Webnotebook - Lined 96 sheets - 5 1/2 x 8 1/4 - Sapphire Cover
Rhodia is anohter great choice when it comes to a fancy notebook. This Rhodiarama notebook has lined pages, and comes in every color you could dream of. Rhodia makes some of the smoothest paper around which makes it a great choice for serious work.
Rhodia A5 Webnotebook, Dot, Black
All the smoothness of Rhoida paper with dots on the pages instead of lines or grids. Dots are amazing if you have never worked with them, and a great choice if you plan on using this notebook for creative work.
Rhodia Staplebound Notepads - Dots 80 sheets - 6 x 8 1/4 in. - Black cover
A dotted notepad with the smoothest paper around. Great for drawing out your ideas or taking quick notes.
Best Work Notebooks
I am calling these notebooks work notebooks, because, they are great for work! At a great price point, they make it easy to take notes on all the things without breaking the banks. These general purpose work notebooks will make your life easier, and these are the type I tend to devote on a project basis - so I may have several floating around at a time.
AmazonBasics Classic Lined Notebook - Ruled
This is a middle of the road notebook that comes blank, with lines, or squared. A great choice for a project that will be sticking around for a while.
Mead Composition Books, 12 Pack
The classic "marble notebook". The binding is great becuase it will not break, but this is not the type of notebook to rip pages out of while brainstorming. I fill these up on a regular basis.
AmazonBasics College Ruled Wirebound Notebook, 5-Pack
These notebooks are the best for brainstorming since you can rip out the pages, which is satisfying when things are not quite going your way.
The Best Office Pens
We need pens to write on paper, right? I could probably write a guidebook on pens at this point, because I love to write, but I will try to keep it to a couple of my favorites based on function. I am going to break pens down by category, since I am a huge pen nerd. A nice pen makes all the difference when you are trying to get work done!
Best Office Pens - Ballpoint
Ballpoint pens are always a great choice, but there are still many options. The great part about ball point pens is they do not smear, and will not be impacted by water. This is great if you are like me and have a habit to spill drinks on your work.
Pentel R.S.V.P. Stick Ballpoint Pen, Medium, Black Ink (Pack of 12)
The Pentel R.S.V.P has been my hands down favorite office pen for as long as I can remember. I am a fan of Black ink, but it also comes in assorted colors. Perfect for general writing.
Pentel R.S.V.P. Ballpoint Stick Pen, Black Ink, Fine (Pack of 12)
One of the great things about the Pentel R.S.V.P office pens is differnt styles they come in. This fine ballpoint pen is a great choice for those gridded or dotted notebooks!
Pentel R.S.V.P. Ballpoint Pen, Medium Point, Assorted Ink Colors, 8 Pack
Want to change things up a little bit and make things more exciting? This pack of multiple colored Pentel R.S.V.P. pens will do just that! Sometimes it helps to color code your notes, and this pack helps you reach a whole new level of organization.
Best Office Pens - Gel
I love a good gel pen, because it feels completely different than ballpoint pen! While you may be used to gel pens that are prone to smearing, the gel pens of today are something completely different and you will not have that problem with a good gel pen of today.
Pentel EnerGel Deluxe RTX Retractable Medium Liquid Gel Pens (Pack of 5)
The Pentel EnterGel are my favorite office pen when I am looking for a gel pen that will not smear and is cost effective. You cannot go wrong with this pen for daily use.
Pentel EnerGel Deluxe RTX Retractable Fine Liquid Gel Pen (Pack of 5)
A finer version of the first office gel pen I metioned. Did I mention these are retractible, which means you do not have to worry about losing cap? A major plus!
Paper Mate InkJoy Gel Pens, Medium Point, Assorted Colors, 8 Count
Paper Mate also makes a fantastic office gel pen. Like the other pens, they come in multiple line thincknesses, and multiple colors! This colorful pack is a great way to jazz up your notebook!!
The Wonderful World of Tombow
As I mentioned when I was talking about office pens, I really love to use all sorts of colors in my planner and notebooks to make notes pop. To take things up a notch, the wonderful world of Tombow is there for you. Tombow makes a great variety of different types of pens including fine point pens and brush pens, and makes your notebooks even more fun!
These fun office pens are great for things like section headings or anything you want to stand out in your notes, planner, or journal. .
I love a little bit of everything Tombow, and have tried pretty much everything they have to offer. Be sure to browse and see what you are interested in to make your planning and notes more exciting. The dual brush pens are a great choice since one side is a brush pen and the other is a nice fine marker tip.
Your Work From Home Office
Your work from home office makes all the difference in your success, and a big part of that are the office supplies you use each and every day. It took me quite some time to figure out the best fancy notebooks, best office pens, and best supplies in general to make work a joy each and every day. I will be sure to add my reviews of even more office supplies as I try them out – so you don’t have to!