A while ago I was asked how I’d setup my home office, as people struggle to get things that work for their space. So, in case useful (or useful for me to refer to later), this is that. I had never intended to have a home office. For quite a long time (think, July 2020-21) I was just using a shelf on the bookcase in my living room. On that, I’d rigged up a tray for the keyboard (it was a shelf I’d taken off…balanced on a illy coffee tin) and attached a monitor arm on….and then a very unergonomic desk setup (desk details below)…I stopped doing that when it got painful (the arm was <$100, I haven’t included it here).
Fortunately the second room I’m privileged to have (with slot windows at 180cm high) just about fits a bed-length across its width, so I have a small space for guests with a foldout bed, leaving just enough room for a small desk even when it’s folded out to a double. At some point in 2021 we were told we were moving out of our work offices, not just temporarily, and to pack things up and take them home. So all of the things here are things I bought after that point, solely because it had become increasingly difficult to not have a home office, I suddenly had more of my work things at home, and we weren’t provided with any support/equipment so had to cobble together what we could (and I am in a very fortunate position of having some space, and some money). In theory I can claim some of this cost on tax, in practice I used the ATO’s shortcut method made available over COVID for covering extra costs, and so I can’t separately claim for these Most of this was bought between July 2021 and January 2022. The items below were $1255 total. It’s an expensive process, a bit overwhelming with options, and frustrating because if you’re looking online many options aren’t available in Aus at a reasonable price. If you live in a small place, like me, you also don’t want huge things, or something hideous (because anything you buy will literally by default be a feature in a house where nothing can be hidden away). And I would prefer not to have bought so much from Amazon but options were very limited. This is the setup I went with… Artiss Office Computer Desk Study Table Storage Drawers Student Laptop Wood (not very ergonomic tbh, but it’s small and the standing desk fits on top of it with the keyboard tray sticking over the front) https://www.mattblatt.com.au/mb/buy/2-drawer-wood-computer-desk-nw-home/ $110 (I paid $174.95 ) ERGOMAKER Standing Desk, 32″/80cm Wide Height Adjustable Quick Sit Stand Computer Desk Converter for Home Office Workstation (Black Frame + Black Desktop) https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08TW9D15B?ref_=pe_19115062_429603572_302_E_DDE_dt_1&th=1 $179 MG Seat Cushion Pillow for Office Chair – Cooling Gel Memory Foam – Posture Corrector for Computer Desk Chair, Car Seat, Wheelchair – Home Office Coccyx Pad – Back, Tailbone & Sciatica Pain Relief https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B09F8QHS1X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (I paid ~$30) Lenovo D22-20 21.5 Inch LED Backlit LCD Monitor, 16:9, 5ms, HDMI VGA with an cable, Raven Black, 66ADKAC1AU https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B08J3SGN3L/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 $165 I needed better connectivity in my office, because even though I live in a tiny apartment because there are partial walls (containing metal) between me and the router the connection was AWFUL. This is amazing: TP-Link AV600 Powerline Ethernet Adapter – Plug&Play, Power Saving, Nano Powerline Adapter, Expand Home Network with Stable Connections (TL-PA4010 KIT) https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B00AWRUICG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1 $60 The official ‘docks’ are v expensive (Dell one is >300), so I got a non-power multi connector so I can just plug my monitor, keyboard, mouse, and harddrives into this and then connect it to the laptop AND connect a powerline to the laptop. WAVLINK 12-in-1 USB C Hub/ Docking Station, Triple Display Type-C Adapter with 2x 4K HDMI and 1x 2K VGA Port, 87W PD3.0 Charging, Ethernet, MicroSD and SD Card Reader, Audio Jack and 2 USB 3.0 & 2 USB2.0 Ports, for Windows/Mac and more https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B08PD25GP6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 $85 (I got it for $68). I also got a secondary power connector, so I could use the official one when I was at home and use the other when I was out and about. I haven’t used it much because it runs pretty hot which obviously concerns me. HEYMIX 65W GaN Charger, USB C Fast Charger, 60W/30W/25W/20W Dual USB C Power Adapter, 65W USB PD Wall Charger AU Plug SAA Certified 3-Port Compatible with MacBook Pro/Air, Galaxy S20/S10, Dell XPS 13, Note 20/10+, iPhone 13/12/Pro/Mini, iPad Pro, Pixel, and More (Black) https://www.amazon.com.au/HEYMIX-Charger-Adapter-Certified-Compatible/dp/B09MSD2L2W/ref=d_grr_sccl_1_3/355-0193760-9569974?pd_rd_w=aaITe&content-id=amzn1.sym.86cf85ef-6c4e-412d-b444-38c827449068&pf_rd_p=86cf85ef-6c4e-412d-b444-38c827449068&pf_rd_r=0DDTBYTME20601ZDYCPR&pd_rd_wg=Gid0S&pd_rd_r=35956493-3a85-431f-974a-13fff0be362c&pd_rd_i=B09MSD2L2W&psc=1 ($45, I got it for $40). I also got a foam mat for the sit-stand https://www.amazon.com.au/CyclingDeal-Premium-Anti-Fatigue-Standing-Comfort/dp/B081FCW36X?pd_rd_w=xytrp&content-id=amzn1.sym.0ce094a0-630c-43ef-afbc-5f93b0f18676&pf_rd_p=0ce094a0-630c-43ef-afbc-5f93b0f18676&pf_rd_r=HZYG5YG5ZAF5B2HHQQYS&pd_rd_wg=aLSOE&pd_rd_r=d6a52aaf-8f54-4518-b3f2-a00fba2c018f&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_d_rp_oos_13_sbo ~40 And obviously a desk chair, again looking for the cheapest sensible one available https://www.mattblatt.com.au/mb/buy/ergolux-casper-mesh-office-chair/?verification=6c272-2477f99a68130b7975e954aa5cedf6ecaacf8883&utm_campaign=postsale_delivered&utm_source=mb&utm_medium=email&activated=t I paid $149.99 I also got a wired mouse and keyboard because I hate the battery waste of the wireless ones (and don’t care about the wires), but they’re pretty cheap ($12 a piece I think). And I have a few bookcases (one just has booze, board games, and plants on it). This one I bought solely because I suddenly had to house a lot of material that had previously been in my office. Temple & Webster Karloff 5 Tier Bookshelf https://www.templeandwebster.com.au/Karloff-5-Tier-Bookshelf-TMPL2170.html?refid=GPAAU447-TMPL2170_200421446&device=c&ptid=&PiID%5B%5D=200421446&gclid=Cj0KCQiApb2bBhDYARIsAChHC9sUIY3H8UVitFbEyX5IPoAP-mdtb1tva5wtFjad9dg7inFfMLvRTG0aAj88EALw_wcB $370 (I paid $300) (for interest I got lots of other stuff from matt blatt, Mocka: https://www.mocka.com.au/home-furniture/living-room/bookshelves/ , sofa from https://ozdesignfurniture.com.au/ I maybe got something from vidalxl (or, looked…they’re cheap))