Coming into 2021, we want to take a look at modern desk setups that took over Reddit. with the most upvotes in the history of the r/workspaces subreddit.
If you’re looking for guides on how to perfect your home office setup, check out our guide. Otherwise without further ado, let’s get started.
Item Breakdown for Modern Desk Setups.
| Items | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Monitor | LG 49WL95C-W + LG 34GK950F-B |
| Monitor Mount/Desk Shelf | Wall mounted |
| Mice | Logitech G502 |
| Keyboard | Logitech G915 Wireless Keyboard |
| Deskmat | Corsair Extended Mouse Pad |
| Speakers | Kanto YU6 Powered Bookshelf Speakers + Kanto SUB8 Powered Subwoofer |
| Headset | Arctis Wireless Pro Headset |
| Speaker Stand | Kanto SP6HD Speaker Stands |
| Desk | IKEA Karlby in Walnut + IKEA Alex |
| Desk Lighting | Philips Hue Lightstrip + Philips Hue Color Bulbs |
| Chair | Secret Lab Titan Chair |
| PC Case | NZXT H510i mid-ATX case |
| Laptop | MacBook Pro 15.4″ i7 Quad-core Late-2016 |
| Laptop Stand | Rain Design mStand |
| Docks/Hub | – |
| Other Decor | Gel foam foot rest |
From the list of items in this setup you can already tell the person behind one of the best modern desk setups is extremely thorough and has thought through every single possibility.
Regarding the dual stacked monitor, In the original reddit post, he said..
Having 49″ and 34″ monitors stacked allows for enhanced productivity and is simply a joy every time to work on. When I have the MBP connected, the 49″ monitor is receiving input from the MBP and the upper monitor is receiving input from the PC. I use Synergy App to be able to use a single mouse+keyboard combo between the computers. The third screen is the MBP screen. I can also use the iPad as a fourth screen with the Apple Sidecar feature. Whenever I hover the mouse cursor between the upper and lower monitor (or between MBP/iPad screens), Synergy automatically actuates the mouse+keyboard for that particular OS. Very seamless integration solution for those who are looking to connect multiple PCs or Macs with a single mouse+keyboard combo. I have the 49″ connected to the PC via DisplayPort as well so I can use both the 49″ and 34″ for the PC only. At the time I purchased the monitors there were no 49″ IPS monitors that had high refresh rates, so I went with the LG 49WL95C-W which is a 5120×1440 32:9 IPS 60Hz monitor. The upper monitor is also an IPS panel but with a higher refresh rate, the LG 34GK950F-B (3440×1440 21:9 IPS 144Hz).
Dee306
Most modern desk setups also use the IKEA Karlby and Alex combination to emphasise the modern element with the minimal appeal as well. Take a look at our IKEA item selection guide to help you choose items from IKEA that will fit your setup. Here dee306 used backlighting and innovative monitor mounting methods to allow him to utilise the top screen for gaming. See below.
dee306 also talks about some of the key reasoning behind his setup.
My aim was to keep things simple and clean. No plants nor toys (my two cattos would destroy them anyway). I do have a custom wireless charging pad that combos as a charger and timepiece holder (the USB cable is running through a hole I cut into the table). Personal preference for me that I also wanted to minimize RGB in the PC case. I am running Philips Hue bulbs in the lamps and light strip behind the tabletop. I chose the NZXT case purely on esthetics, even though it has terrible airflow specs. In retrospect, I would have gotten the H510 instead of the H510i as I do not use the NZXT smart controller nor its LEDs. In terms of cable management, monitor cables are running through the drywall, and all other cables are running through a “J-track” underneath the desk towards the PC. I did have to place a red toggle-switch cover on the power button on the NZXT case (red in colour) as one of my cats likes to rest on top of the warm PC and he used to accidentally turn off the PC, lol. The two cables visible underneath the desk are the power cord for the subwoofer and the ethernet cable. I am using the IKEA Alex drawers and IKEA 98″ Karlby walnut countertop. I do not have a centre support for the tabletop as I does not have the weight of the monitors on it. So far no warping of the tabletop! I lifted the table about ~2.5″ by drilling onto the Alex drawers adjustable “table feet” (4x on each drawer) I got from Amazon. I’m 6’0″ tall and without the table lift the tabletop would be too short. It also functions as an additional shelf to place small books and my headset. And so far very happy with the SecretLabs Titan chair. I was hesitant at first to try a “gaming” chair, but I can sit on this chair for hours without any discomfort.
Dee306
If you need help building the most modern desk setups, take a look at some comprehensive guide on minimal desk setups where we detail 8 important tips to get your desk to look clean and simple. We also go into detail in this guide on how to get optimal lighting for your setup.
For those who are interested in what his PC runs, check out the specs he detailed: PC Specs
If this has inspired you, please turn to the original reddit post to let him know how his setup helped other build their own modern desk setups.
Stay tuned, we will be posting an update and break down on the following setup pretty soon to continue as part of the modern desk setups series.
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