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Welcome to Part 4 of my Desk Setup Guide series, where we explore all the essentials and inessentials
necessary for achieving the most suitable, productive, and inspiring desk setup.
In Part 4, we talk about items and accessories that can be considered inessential, yet those
are things I would always incorporate into future builds.
Be sure to watch the other parts of the series (like desk setup apps & peripherals) at the
end of this video or in the description below.
Let’s start with a laptop dock or stand.
If you are like me and don’t usually use a desktop, a dock or stand is something to
consider for a few reasons.
Most often than not, I use my laptop in clamshell mode unless I require a dual side-by-side
setup.
I talk about various SBS setups in my Dual Monitor guide, which I’ll link at the end
of this video.
When in clamshell mode, with the help of a dock, I can be sure my laptop takes as little
desk space as possible while also staying elevated and less exposed to, let’s say,
accidental spills.
Most standalone docks are adjustable to the thickness of the laptop and some even allow
to prop more than one device, like a laptop and a tablet, like I’ve done in past setups.
A recent favorite of mine is the Balolo dock which is fixed in place in the company’s
cockpit shelf system and practically floats while also eliminating any chances of topping
it over.
I’ll link some of my favorite examples in the description, like this one from Omoton.
If you want to use your laptop’s monitor at all times, a stand is a better choice since
it elevates the laptop closer to your primary display while also lifting up from the tabletop.
Again, this could be a stand-alone stand or something clever like this Balolo stand which
attaches and floats again.
Either way, such a solution also provides better cooling to the laptop.
The next important inessential, if we can call it that at all, is a dock or docking
station.
With most laptops providing USB-C thunderbolt support, you can normally use your monitor
as the hub and power delivery system.
If you decide to use a dual monitor setup, however, things get more complicated, and
this is where a decent dock comes into place.
With it, you can run just one cable to your laptop and connect all your monitors to it,
while also enjoying the freedom of connecting a plethora of other devices.
In my home setup, I use an OWC dock that provides power to my laptop, run my displays and audio,
and provides power to my desk phone charger and data connection to my Elgato stream deck.
Not to mention that such a dock will allow you to connect multiple external hard drives
when necessary and provide additional SD slots.
USB-A ports are also something we all need at some point, so a dock has you covered as
well.
Usually, I try to place the dock fixed in place since this way, it won’t move around
when I want to insert and connect something.
In the past, I kept my recent dock under the tabletop, which is a great way to hide all
cables as well, yet now, I’ve velcro-ed it under the shelf unit for higher access.
If it’s a vertical dock, then placing it next to your speakers is also a great option.
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If you don’t require a dock, you’ll most likely end up looking for at least a hub - something
to extend the ports of your computer or monitor.
In one of my desk setups, I used a portable to dock to provide a stereo jack to my non-equipped
monitor and in my recent budget setup, I used another hub to introduce much-needed USB-A
ports for the peripherals.
Whatever the case may be, remember that such hubs are simple outlets and don’t provide
extra power.
They just extend ports and, depending on the hub, might reduce the speed of data-driven
accessories like SSDs.
This is one accessory I wouldn’t cheap out on, and I wouldn’t recommend hubs that are
shaped around the laptop as they are much less versatile.
A hub with a dedicated cable is much better, despite being a bit less aesthetically pleasing.
Next inessential is actually an essential for people who participate in a lot of meetings.
I am talking about a good, high-quality microphone.
Whether you're creating YouTube videos, streaming on Twitch, or conducting video calls, having
clear and crisp audio is essential for keeping your audience engaged.
High-end mics are an investment that can last a long time and pays off tremendously by providing
a great impact on self-esteem, confidence, and persuasion.
Audio always has a bigger impact than video.
A high-quality microphone can capture audio with more detail and less reverb and background
noise.
I’d recommend a dedicated mic like this Blue Yeti or something in that caliber, no
matter if you an employee or a C-level executive - it benefits everyone.
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A footrest is an important inessential in a desk setup because it can help improve your
posture and comfort while working.
It alleviates that by allowing you to maintain a more natural and upright position and improves
your circulation.
This can help reduce muscle strain and fatigue, allowing you to work for longer periods of
time, plus, it reduces discrepancies between the height of the desk and the armrest of
your chair.
If you have a chair with fixed armrests, you rely on the height of the chair for the optimal
elbow position, and this is where the footrest compensates underneath.
At my home setup, for example, I use casters which increase the lowest height of the desk,
which means I have to crank up my chair.
To reduce the stress on my elevated leg position, I use a very basic but useful IKEA DAGOTTO
footrest.
Of course, you can go for something softer and fancier like this popular Amazon memory
foam foot stool choice.
Swinging back to stands, a headphone stand is something to consider, as well as it positions
the headphones perfectly in place, reducing the clutter on the desk allowing a much clearer
tabletop look.
If you have headphones that require charging, like the AirPods Max (in my case) it comes
in handy since the charging cable can be routed and nested to stay in place, ready to be plugged
in while the headphones are not being used.
Talking about charging, I am a big fan of desk phone chargers.
I find it the second most used charger after the one on my nightstand.
I prefer those at an angle as they provide my desk with an ideal additional notification
screen and a place to rest my phone, keeping it topped up and ready to go.
I’ve used plenty of stands over the years, two of my favorites being the Nomad MagSafe
stand and, recently the Balolo MagSafe charger, which like everything on this shelf, floats.
Another accessory I came to appreciate is a Smart Speaker.
I use homepods in both my offices, but it can be Google or Alexa…no matter.
A smart speaker is a great desk setup companion since it can play some chill vibes without
disturbing your routine and workflow.
An additional benefit is having the ability to ask it for some assistance, like light
control or weather information.
In my home studio, I use the homepods all the time to turn on and off various lighting
equipment.
Alternatively, I listen to podcasts and other stuff, even if my laptop is not tethered to
my desk.
In one of my previous guide episodes, which I’ll link in the description below, we talked
about drawer units.
If you have a cleaner desk with no drawer unit, then integrating a catch-all tray system
is worth considering.
Catch-all trays are great for accommodating all sorts of smaller and loose items like
SD cards, adapters or remotes.
They can be part of the shelving unit, like in my case or can be mounted underneath the
desk for even cleaner tabletop.
Next up is a notebook and a pen.
Nothing beats the convenience of having a notebook in close proximity and the satisfaction
of using a high-quality pen to write things down.
I personlly wrote down my 2023 goals and I am ready to have some fun this year.
Another item that I always keep close to me when I work on my desk is a temperature retaining
water bottle.
Weather that’s the LARQ bottle or something more traditional, I always stay hydrated.
Of course, no desk setup is complete without some decoration.
From fake flowers to memorabilia, it is up to you to decide what to place on yours.
Now that we have optimized all the essentials and inessentials and have elevated the desk
to a higher standard, you have the chance to place your favorite gadget or toy and call
your desk - the ultimate desk.
If you enjoyed this video, check out my other episodes of the desk setup series, where we
talk about things like monitor arms, mouse pads, apps, and more.
Feel free to check out my latest two home and office setups for some specific items,
examples, and inspiration, and don’t forget to like and subscribe to the channel, as well
as my newsletter.
It’s been an absolute pleasure, This is E
Over and out