How our writer makes his WFH space cozy and useful
It is important to make your workspace comfortable. You’ll probably spend 8 hours a day there, and looking at a dull, lifeless setup isn’t conducive to productive work, especially if the space isn’t even designed to make working easy.
The problem is even worse if you work from home and have the same space to work, play, and whatever else you want to do on your computer. Our lead author Ismar Hrnjicevic has worked hard to create space for every facet of his life.
On The Inside is our series where we ask our editors what they use every day and love.
“I’ve been building this setup for about a year,” says Ismar. “As if anyone could notice the […] 55-inch OLED TV located above my PC. Most people place their TV in their living room, or maybe their bedroom, but I wanted everything to be in one place so I can easily switch to my TV if I want to game on my couch.
Ismar’s quest for the perfect setup even transcends national borders. “IKEA is not available in my country. So it took me a while to finally find the SKADIS pegboard for mounting peripherals. I have three keyboards, [as well as] two controllers and two headsets that are used for very different purposes. »
With everything in one place, it’s that much easier for Ismar to switch tasks when needed. Additionally, the pegboard lends a clean, fresh aesthetic to the area while still being functional.
- Material
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fiberboard, Acrylic paint
- Size
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14.5 x 22 inches; 22 x 22 inches; 30×22 inches
IKEA’s popular SKADIS pegboard comes in three colors and lets you easily mount tools, PC accessories and anything else you need.
Of course, the accessories themselves count too: Ismar uses the Ajazz AJ179 Pro mouse for gaming and the Logitech G502 mouse for work, and all four keyboards are readily available for different purposes.
Even the office chair was not ignored when arranging this office space. “[People] opt for these racing style gaming chairs often. And I think that’s a huge mistake. Some of them are decent, with decent build quality, and maybe people find them comfortable, but personally, that’s not the case. » Instead, Ismar opted for the Steelcase Leap V2, which is a bit more expensive, but also much more comfortable.
I think it’s important to create the most pleasant and warm atmosphere possible in your work and play space.
But the star of the show in this setup isn’t the TV or the clever decorations, it’s the micro ATX desktop he built, which uses the Lian Lee A3 case. “It’s one of the most unique cases,” he explains. “I think only Fractal Design North makes wood panels, but that’s not the case. [available as a] M-ATX, and I’m a big fan of small builds.”
The small size presents challenges, however. “[The case] was not easy to set up, in particular because it does not allow the cables to be routed behind the motherboard. But I think I still did a pretty decent job of fitting the 9070 XT into it, three fans on the bottom, three fans on the top, and one fan on the back. »
- Material
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Alloy steel
- Motherboard Size (Max.)
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M-ATX, ITX
The A3 PC case offers a unique wooden front panel and dark tempered glass side panel, giving it a sleek, professional look while remaining small enough to easily sit on your desk.
Ismar continues: “The only clearly visible cable in my entire build are the three eight-pin cables that go into the graphics card. To make them look nice, I used cable combs for the first time. And it’s one of those little PC building accessories that no one ever talks about.
The trials and tribulations are worth it, because Ismar now has a beautiful, small, functional build that sits right on his desk with his monitors. There’s no need to try to work around a bulky PC tower or place it on the floor. Instead of being hidden or distracting, the PC becomes an integral part of the room’s aesthetic. The case doesn’t stand out either, with minimal RGB lighting and a dark glass panel keeping everything discreet.
All this to create the best possible space. “I work from home and also game on this PC, so I spend a lot of time sitting at my desk. I’ve done everything I can to make it the nicest place in the world possible.” It’s about more than what you need from your workstation: it’s also about what makes you want to be there, to sit down and work or play a game for a few hours.
With all of these helpful improvements that Ismar has made, from small tweaks to big upgrades, you’ll be sure to find something to make your setup more comfortable.
