Heading Back to the Office? Your Complete Return-to-Work Checklist

The back to office essentials come down to five things: a comfortable desk setup, the everyday stationery that quietly runs out, paper and printing supplies, a stocked breakroom with first-aid and hygiene basics, and for anyone splitting the week  a home-office setup that matches. Sort those early and the new season starts smoothly instead of with a mid-week scramble for a working stapler.

September has a way of resetting everyone at once. Teams come back on site, a new quarter kicks off, and all the supplies that quietly ran down over the slower summer months suddenly matter again. Getting an office back up to speed doesn't need to be complicated or expensive it just takes a clear checklist and a bit of early planning. Here's what's worth sorting from Low Cost Office before the first busy week, whether you're a team of five or fifty, on site or hybrid.

1) Start With the Desk

Everyone works better at a desk that isn't fighting them. Start by clearing the clutter with desk tidies, drawer sets, letter trays and book racks so the essentials are within reach and the surface isn't a paper avalanche by Wednesday.

Then look at the bigger pieces. If chairs have seen better days, or you're making room for more people back on site, the office furniture range covers seating, desking, storage and screens. A supportive chair is worth prioritising you spend more hours in it than any chair at home. Desk screens help too if you're bringing a bigger group into a shared space and want some separation and focus.

2) Office Stationery Essentials

The unglamorous stuff that everything depends on: pens, pencils, files and lever arch folders, plus the bits nobody thinks about until they're gone staplers, sticky notes, notebooks and a desk diary or planner for the new quarter. Nobody notices any of it until the drawer's empty on a Monday morning and there's a meeting to minute.

A quick top-up at the start of the season heads off a dozen small interruptions later, and buying the common items in slightly larger quantities usually works out cheaper per unit.

3) Paper, Ink and Printing

Restock printer and copier paper before the first big print ru standard 80gsm is fine for everyday use, while heavier 100–120gsm looks far better on reports and anything client-facing. Keep a spare set of cartridges on the shelf too, because ink and toner always runs dry mid-deadline. If you're unsure which cartridge fits your machine, the ink & toner finder matches it to your exact printer make and model HP, Epson, Canon and more so you order the right one first time. For inkjet setups, browse inkjet supplies directly.

4) Stock the Canteen, Washroom and First Aid Kit

A working office is more than desks and stationery. These are the categories that tend to get overlooked until the moment they're needed:

• First Aid - A stocked, in-date first aid kit is a workplace basic, not an afterthought. The start of the season is the right time to check what's been used and refill anything that has run low or gone out of date.

• Kitchen and Canteen - Tea, coffee and breakroom basics keep the team going, and it takes little to set up an office canteen that makes the workplace nicer for everyone.

• Washroom Essentials — Personal hygiene and washroom supplies keep shared spaces comfortable and properly stocked. They run down quickly once the office is busy again, so stock up before the team returns.

Office Setup for New Employees

If the new season brings new faces, a consistent starter setup makes onboarding painless. Put together a standard kit per person: a desk, chair and storage, plus a stationery pack with pens, a notebook or pad, files and a few desk accessories. Ordering it all in one go keeps everyone equipped from day one, keeps the setup consistent, and usually earns a better price than buying piecemeal.

Don't Forget the Home Office

Hybrid working is here to stay for a lot of us, which means the home setup matters as much as the one on site. The short version: a proper desk and a supportive chair, a bit of storage to keep work and home apart, your own stationery and desk accessories so a missing stapler never stops play, and a home paper and ink supply for print days. Get the edges right and switching between office and home stops being a daily juggle.

Everything here is available from Low Cost Office 100% Irish owned, with a lowest-price guarantee and fast nationwide delivery, so you can have the new season sorted without a trip to the shops.

Frequently Asked Questions

1) What are the essentials for going back to the office?

The core restock is a tidy desk setup, everyday stationery like pens and folders, printer paper and ink or toner, and breakroom, first-aid and hygiene supplies. If more of the team is back on site, it's also worth checking whether you need extra seating, desking or storage.

2) When should I start restocking for the return to the office?

A week or two before everyone's back is ideal. It gives you time to notice what's actually run low, order it, and have it delivered before the first busy week.

3) What do I need to set up a home office for hybrid working?

A dedicated desk, a supportive chair, some storage to separate work from home, and your own supply of stationery, paper and ink. A defined workspace makes splitting your week between home and office far more sustainable than working from the kitchen table.

4) Should every workplace have a first aid kit?

Yes, a stocked, accessible first aid kit is a standard part of any Irish workplace. The start of a new season is a good prompt to check yours is complete and in date, and to top up anything that's been used.

5) How can I set up office supplies for a whole team at once?

Build a standard per-person kit desk, chair, storage and a stationery pack and order it in a single go. It keeps everyone equipped from day one, keeps the setup consistent, and usually works out cheaper than buying bits and pieces separately.

6) How do I find the right ink or toner for my printer?

Use the ink & toner finder, which matches cartridges to your specific printer make and model including HP, Epson and Canon so you order the right one first time.