[Advice] Buying a new computer desk

kaze369

Hey guys, I'm looking to buy a new desk for my computer. Does anyone have a good one in mind? I basically have my computer tower(keyboard & mouse), 23in Monitor, 2 speakers, 2 external hard drives, wacom tablet, my PS3, my XBOX, and a lamp. I'm hoping to stay within $100 but I don't mind going to $150.
So any ideas?

ZacD

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-eames-era-metal-28-inch-hair-pin-table-stool-legs-/110897563984?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19d2028950#ht_500wt_898

Plus a nice 1 1/2in thick piece of wood for Home Depot.

Snader

I've built mine from IKEA kitchen cabinets and a countertop (countertop is from DIY store because IKEA doesn't have them of 265cm) and I'm quite pleased with it. Looks good, very story, easy to clean, good height (though not adjustable).

Only real downside is that it's not very deep (only 70cm) which for me gave some small issues since I'm under a slanted roof and have a 28 inch screen; I had to move the desk away from the wall a bit so the screen could be at the back and I'd have plenty of room for a keyboard+wrists.

Prices are pretty flexible. Cheapest you can do is 2 base cabinets without doors and a nice work surface (can be from IKEA or anywhere else) and costs about 100 bucks. I personally spent about 200 on it but there's enough space for 3 persons.

Overlord

I use some Rubbermaid modular shelving supports and a 16" x 48" shelf board. Hangs on the wall, adjustable. Mounted the monitor on the wall with a VESA bracket with a tilt and pan. Added a stool and it's a dandy sit/stand desk.

Rwolf

I have a huge ikea desk + a sofa table http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/50228034/

Desk holds a 27" monitor and Cintiq. Sofa Table holds my PS3, Home theatre amp, camera gear, fights sticks etc.

kaze369

while we're at it I don't suppose you guys have any ideas on chairs? The arm rest on mine just broke.

Rwolf

Staples usually have good Chairs, went with a mesh back, no problems sitting on it all day. about $100

Cap

I went with an IKEA table as well http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S99903726/. Its really simple and provides tons of room, the $3.50 legs dont provide much support though, so its a little wobbly. I would recommend anchoring it to the wall if possible.

Rwolf

Cap wrote: »

I went with an IKEA table as well http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S99903726/. Its really simple and provides tons of room, the $3.50 legs dont provide much support though, so its a little wobbly. I would recommend anchoring it to the wall if possible.

Avoid using the longer ones. They started to "bow" out in the middle if you have 2 monitors on it.

Ben Apuna

Depending on what you have to work with, and if you're interested in a standing desk. Ikea Standing desk for $22

kaze369

Ben Apuna wrote: »

Depending on what you have to work with, and if you're interested in a standing desk. Ikea Standing desk for $22

That's kinda new. Would you have a standing chair too?

Jesse Moody

Ikea is great for a variety of reasons. You can also hack stuff together and create your own custom stuff quite easily. There is a whole site dedicated to it here http://www.ikeahackers.net

http://www.ikeahackers.net/2012/05/creative-ikea-desk.html



http://www.ikeahackers.net/2012/05/biginfrikinhevi-red-and-black-home.html




and after you are done building the desk.. build this guy to put on top...

http://www.ikeahackers.net/2012/06/star-wars-light-saber-lamp.html

kaze369

I like that first one Jesse!

Ben Apuna

kaze369 wrote: »

That's kinda new. Would you have a standing chair too?

It seems that standing desks are all the rage lately. I hear people use something like a bar stool to help transition to standing more and more often. I haven't tried it myself, though I'm seriously considering it.

WarrenM

That white Ikea desk has me wanting to spend money...

Snader

That white one is nice indeed, but you'd be wise to add some extra support in the middle, perhaps by adding 4 more of those slanted legs.

Overlord

Ben Apuna wrote: »

It seems that standing desks are all the rage lately. I hear people use something like a bar stool to help transition to standing more and more often. I haven't tried it myself, though I'm seriously considering it.

You don't want to stand all the time either, that can also be bad. However, changing from sitting to standing and back periodically so that you're doing neither for too long at any time will avoid both sides of the issue. Sit for no more than 30 minutes at a time and stand for 30 minutes. Then sit again and so on. Don't forget to take a short walk somewhere in there too. Moving around is even better than being stationary. Some people even put a treadmill in front of their desk.

WarrenM

Alternating sitting/standing every 30 minutes will be a challenge unless you easily shift your work stuff to a new level of the desk or you get a motorized desk. I have a hand crank desk and it takes awhile to get it fully up and then fully back down.

Overlord

WarrenMarshall wrote: »

Alternating sitting/standing every 30 minutes will be a challenge unless you easily shift your work stuff to a new level of the desk or you get a motorized desk. I have a hand crank desk and it takes awhile to get it fully up and then fully back down.

Or, you could just build your desk for standing and get a drafting chair of appropriate height. That's what I did.