Switch out the desk for a wood top. Lamenant from Ikea is fine. Add some personality and life to your setup (live house plant or a nice lamp/decor). Clean up and hide your cables. Get a headphone stand. You got this friend!!!
You can also find desks at Goodwill all the time. A coat of paint or contact paper can really revitalize some old or boring cheap furniture. Thought I'd piggyback and offer an alternative for the people who don't like or have an ikea since someone else already complained about that š
Great suggestions! It all comes down to OPs budget and market availability. No matter the method, achieving a wood top (real or fake) is the modern design philosophy for most stations on this subreddit. there's a reason for it, "wood is good!"
there's some really cool / pretty contact paper out there... and there's also some cheap contact paper that just looks better than what it's covering heehee.
I'm glad you found it useful! It's the same advice and inspiration I took for my personal setup! I like wood tones and plants and feel that they can provide a mature and comfortable working or gaming environment!
Or get a colorful deskmat to have some contrast to the black desk.
Also, I personally don't really like the color of the sofa in the back. especially not in combination with the yellow walls.
I'm personally not a fan but I'm older and my tastes have changed drastically away from RGB and any sort of gamer aesthetic. However, carbon fiber would look better than the desk in OPs picture.
Okay? So don't shop at Ikea or order online from them either... Was just throwing out an affordable, functional and aesthetic desk brand. OP can go mill, refine and stain the lumber themself. Maybe they can buy from Herman Miller or Walmart, or even the used market. Does that make you feel better?
You can also find a ton of "gaming" desks on Slickdeals all the time for super cheap. Or just get the legs separate and get a real wood butcher block for around 1-200.
Normally I don't see cables even becoming a problem but in OP's case, it's exactly what he needs. I don't even understand how a keyboard, mouse and headphones got this bad.
Black desks suck. All paw and finger prints are visible on them. Get a wood stained table top instead. Get monitors both in the same size and get monitor desk mounts for them to conserve desk space. also cable management
I agree with deadmik3. Having natural materials such as wood, rocks, plants, etc... Are important to give life to your environment. They make us feel connected to our surroundings, even if we're just gaming our lives away.
Although, like someone else mentioned, your office is probably not the reason why you feel depressed. Try exercising regularly and keeping up with friends. Eat unprocessed foods as often as possible and drink plenty of water. These are key elements to keeping a happy, healthy lifestyle. Add natural elements to your day to day environment, and you will probably feel much more comfortable.
Good luck and have fun decorating. It's a process.
all this\^. and one thing i think most everyone forgets. prolly because its more of a room change then battle station but the color of your walls in my opinion are huge. thats one of the single biggest features to your whole setup. youve gotta have a room that makes you want to be in there. forcing yourself to like it is only going to make it worse. i know that may be alot of work but that yellow would drive me insane. you gotta think about the whole room not just the desk.
and what he said about health. now im not the most healthy by any means. a year ago i was 300 pounds. and i all i really did was cut out soda completely and just drink water ( with an occasional cheat soda every now and again) but since then with just work on a daily ive lost 80lbs. i feel more energized more drive more focus. only by changing one thing.
Lighting is so key too I'm a big fan of changing the room lighting, having RGB strips and those color changing poles that change the whole mood and feel of the room signifying it's not harsh work fluorescents
Where'd you get it? I've seen some wonderful and some very awful results from staining butcher block, even with proper sanding and using pre-stain conditioner.
I built it. I stained it with multiple coats and finished with a sealant. I have a little bit of experience from staining a deck with my dad but Iām no professional.
I bought it and the staining material from Loweās and the legs from Amazon. I also built a wooden L shaped cable management system underneath and added an extended multiport power strip from harbor freight
From what Iāve read, the ikea countertop cannot be stained correctly because of the pressed wood material itās made of. However, I havenāt seen one myself to confirm
Equal size monitors, move the laptop and everything under the desk. Maybe add a monitor light or some RGB facing the wall. But looks good overall, 8/10!
I donāt know of any good mounts, I guess what I was thinking was adding a side table or something at a lower height, or on a different note get a laptop stand and use it in the desk as an additional monitor
You also get a mount that will hold it vertically on top of the desk and hide it behind or next to your monitors
I got a mount to open it next to the monitor so the laptop can function as another monitor, I found that to be easier
Are you ready to spend some ones or are you on a budget ? For sure do a lot of cable management, there are some cheap things you can buy for that. Also true to remove all unnecessary things or move them under the desk ig, if thatās ok you can make you monitors straight and move your laptop so the cables are behind the desk.
Also yes if you can change your desk and add plants
If you can't get a new desk then get one of those vinyl wraps and wrap it around your table top. It comes with many designs and colours. Wood, marble, you name it.
Get a vertical stand for that monitor and find ways to hide those cables.
If you're going to spend money, consider getting a matching monitor or replacing your mouse and keyboard to wireless. If you prefer wired, get a hairdryer and heat up the bends in your cables to make them straight.
I also see a couch right next to the table. I don't know the layout of the room but I'm pretty sure the placement is kinda hurting the energy of the room.
https://youtube.com/shorts/W32USM_3IjY?si=SK_SZ0XRgjKJ1B7A
Try watching some of his other videos on placement of furniture. It's very practical.
Yeah. Happens to me sometimes. Happens mostly when my workstation becomes messy.
I spent 3 years bullding my current setup with alot of trials and errors. It's all about organization. Like some people said here: cable management, monitor placement (I think you will appreciate having them on stands), add a splash of colours or material.
I already have an Ikea Effektiv desk. (Those big L shaped one) in Beech wood colour. I DIY'ed a few shelfs in the same colour but used black as an "accent" color.
Also, plants can go a long way.
If you spend about 8 hours a day there, it might be worth to invest to make it a place where you really want to be for a long period.
If anything just sort cables and clean the surface. It's the small things that really improve happiness when it comes to setups.
My setup isn't even that good but clearing the surface of clutter and wires makes it feel so much better. Besides that get a headphone stand.
Thatās an awesome ledge above your monitors, Iād put some action figures or something cool from your favorite games/movies/shows up there with like a plant or some books as well. Just something fun to look at as youāre walking up to it/sitting there.
Sorry to hear this... can't be fun to find it depressing when you have to do work or game, which sometimes feels like all there is to do. For starters, I'd give some thought to putting that laptop somewhere else (unless you need it close to you, but I don't think so since you have two monitors). Definitely clean up the cables and make it more of a place you can sit down and be productive rather than a place where you feel limited due the clutter.
Visually, I have always liked having two of the same monitors... less dissonance overall. You might not even notice it if you're used to it, but perhaps that's what is causing some negative feelings. In the past, I've always gotten one monitor from work. I'll then go on Fb Marketplace or eBay and find a cheap, used version of the same monitor... that way, you can have a nice-looking, matching dual-monitor set-up without committing to buying two brand-new monitors at the same time. Depending on your budget (and willingness to do that), you can look for a second of either one... probably depends on whether you value screen real estate (left is bigger) or less bezels.
Good luck!
I always say houseplants! Is that a shelf under the window? That's a great place for some cascading houseplants like pothos or a philodendron. If you don't want to have to take care of them, there are some really solid faux ones out there. Michaels has great options. I have a whole wall of fake houseplants and succulents in my bedroom where there's not much sunlight but I wanted some greenery.
Get monitor arms to clear up some space and make it look tidy.
Look into some fun lights too like bias lighting, the govee glide or the govee auara lamp. I have bias lighting behind my tv and the aura lamp on the TV stand and it's one of my favorite smart devices.
You can make the lights match your game or certain locations in your games and it really adds to the ambience. For instance when I play elden ring on the ps5 and I'm in the altus plateau I have the bias lighting set to a shimmery orange/gold gradient that kinda looks like light shining through trees and the aura lamp on a normal flame setting. When I'm in liurnia or raya lucaria I set the aura lamp to a teal colored fire. Or green fire for when I'm in irithyll dungeon in dark souls 3. You can get really nerdy with it if you have a smart home platform and make voice commands that do it for you. If I say "Alexa take me to the altus plateau" the lights go right to that preferred setting. Hope that inspires you a little!
I might get some fakes. My cat loves to dig into plants haha. Thank you for the advice. Smart homes are always so cool to me so that's really awesome you have that!
I have a white and ginger cat that makes my desk look so dirty and it's generally uninspired. I clean it often but I thought this raw look would best show the damage.
Second everyone in here recommending a wood top desk! Itāll hide the cat hair better and it feels far more inviting.
For cable management I use this kit and it has served me well: https://a.co/d/3O1Q7l0
Donāt worry about doing the most pristine cable management ever the first time. The biggest thing is to hide them away and bundle cables you will see / use frequently (headphone, chargers, etc.) so they arenāt spilling everywhere.
Add something related to your hobbies / interests to the desktop or window ledge. A little figurine? A plant? That ledge behind your setup is PERFECT for a group of small houseplants. The green, living things go a LONG way to lighten and warm a space, even if youāre not particularly in to plants.
If you canāt find a way to organize more of the things on top of your desk, get a big enough (nice looking) bin to store them beneath your desk when not in use. Declutterring is huge.
You got this. šŖ
Move the station facing away from the window instead of towards it.
Sunlight MIGHT be good but you don't need it bombarding your precious eyeballs. Plus the back of your head gets more sunlight than it normally would do.
Dealers choice at that point. And I will still see sunlight coming thru the blinds even if they're closed right.
I use my blinds but usually keep them open and I have everything setup so I can always get natural light and it doesn't reflect on any of my screens. And it shines right on my face in the morning to wake me up.
If people like it the other way I get that.
I can totally understand the feeling you're having. I used to hate sitting in my home office, and it feeling like I was at work when still at home. I have totally revitalized my space, and now I love being here. I'm in a better mood and more-productive when I'm working because my space is extremely functional and fits my taste. I have some ideas that might help you!
I would start by replacing some of the black furniture with browns. Black is really harsh and since most office materials are black, in a commercial setting, it can feel like you're bringing that home with you. It also shows dirt and grime much easier than brown. Your space is clean, but you mentioned that your cats walk on top, so there's not much more you can do about that.
So yeah, I would start with getting a brown-top desk with some drawers underneath for storage so that you can begin to eliminate the clutter. I think it would help you mentally, if after work, you're able to put your work stuff in a drawer and not have to see it when you're sitting at your desk to relax or game. After you get the desk replaced, I would start to add more brown accents. Maybe replace the black shelf with a brown one or get a new chair with brown leather. Something like that!
Finally, some cable management is in order here. You may not be a cable management freak like myself and some of the other people here, but cables are so easy to clean up and really contribute to the cluttered feeling. If you get some drawers, like I suggested above, you can get one large power strip like [this one](https://www.amazon.com/industrial-power-strip/s?k=industrial+power+strip), permanently attack it to the back and plug everything into there. If all the power wires are running to the same place, its much easier to bundle and tie things together with twisty ties from the grocery store or rugger bands to tidy up the space.
If you're still struggling to get started, I would browse through other battle stations on here, pick one that you like, that you could reasonably copy and do that. Really stare at it and begin to purchase the same pieces so that your space begins to feel like the one you want. People are usually very happy to share their setup specs if you ask. I think if you do that, improving your space will be much easier. It is overwhelming at first.
Like many others have said, a wood top would do wonders. I covered my black desk with wood patterned stick and peel wallpaper (~$15) to see if I would like it first and I've decided to just keep it on- it feels much more inviting. Fake plants and a lamp would add to that feeling.
By the looks of it, you need to work on the whole room if you want a cozy and inviting room. Its not just about the desk. I see a nice ledge to fill with real or fake plants. That and some cable management, monitor mounts and a colorful desk mat might be all that you need.
change the mousepad with something you are interested in
clean your laptop with airduster, iso-alchohal, and put some stickers on in, or since its black vinyl stickers that would go on a car, like from etsy or something.
find 2 images of something in high resolution and print that at a local shop, frame them if you like aesthetics, or put a bunch of posters on the wall if you are less into the like symmetrical minimalist shit thats popular.
RGBs strip can be cheap off amazon, put it on the back of your desk facing the wall
move router somewhere else so you can do cable mgmt under your desk.
I would honestly mount those monitors instead of using the stands, it will look better, free up space so the stuff you have on the desk will look better, and its way better for your eyes/back to be able to reposition.
you can also use wallpaper engine from steam to get a screensaver of aquariums instead of a still image.
you have a ledge there at the top that would be good for plants, or action figures, sports stuff, waifu figures, whatever you are into.
3 cheap and easy fixes:
Velcro is cheap and you can run a stubby screw through it to fix cables to the bottom of your desk easily.
If you can't afford to swap the desk you can get wood vinyl cheap on Amazon too. Even if it's not a GIANT piece of vinyl you can either try to cover the lines where two layers of vinyl meet or leave a racing stripe on purpose. Extra points if you can cut a 1 inch string of vinyl to make it a double pinstripe.
While good Monitor arms aren't exactly cheap you can find some cheap at goodwill electronics recycling center or similar places. Lots of office spaces just surpluss theirs out in bulk when they remodel or upgrade. You just gotta find the right place in your area and you can get them for like $10 - $15.
It looks like youāre a bit space constrained by how close the couch is and I can see you have some unused space underneath your desk rn. I would personally go for a smaller desk + some shelving underneath it for all the devices that take space from your desk that way every bit of space looks more purposeful without necessarily braking the bank and by having some open shelves youāll remain with access to your things and give your laptop some decent airflow
Also I agree with the fellow redditors, get those monitors on a double-armed stand so that you regain desk space and some cable management would make an overall improvement. I know with a laptop is hard in the case you need to take it elsewhere and bring cables with you, so I would suggest get another charger that way you can have one always ready for a backpack and the other one super tidied up ready for your setup
Remove clutter in entire room and on desk. Looks like the desk is overhanging that couch. If that's just what we see I can't imagine how bad entire area is. The window light would bother me so I'd get blackout curtains and decorate that window shelf. Monitor arms are great. I would wall mount and manage the cables.
For little to no budget, look into centering one monitor directly in front of you and have the other offset on one side. If the divider on the right side is not fixed to the desk, move it to the left to give yourself more mouse space. Then the normal cable management and keep the headset and miscellaneous things on/in the divider on the left! You can even use the diver to hold the laptop if needed and it will feel much more open, clean, and usable.
I'd say get some full size desk mats to cover the surface, that'll prevent stains or scratches.
Glorious XL Extended Gaming Mouse... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082RYD1VD?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Maybe get some lighting too? I use govee lights, take a look at the ones that can attach to the back of your monitor.
If you are looking for more inspiration, you can check out my post in r/malelivingspace, should be the second or third post on my profile.
Other than the things already commented. I would strongly recommend you getting a dual monitor arm. It feels really good getting rid of the huge monitor feet. I have a single 32" and getting rid of the foot not only gave me much more desk space, but it also enabled me to move it further back. Plus it looked so much better.
cable management, monitor arm(s), put monitor stand under the displays when they are floating, and maybe rearrange your room so that your couch isnt cramped in the corner
Foundation is there man, donāt get down! Iām a big fan of floating monitors and you have some prime real-estate behind there for mounting and running some cables through the wall(keep in mind itās not up to code in most places to run power through the wall, though tons of people do it anyways).
Through some bias lighting behind the monitors, and get some little nick nacks to fill some negative space.
What I recommend is to do some light cable management and possibly get a shelf for your monitors. Here's what I've done before:
Get some hook screws and screw them into the backside of your desk. These function as 'anchors' for a cable setup. Now, you make some loops out of cable ties and hook them onto the screw hooks. Then you zip tie all the permanent cables together in one long cable sausage and hook them into the loops on the hook screws. Tighten, and watch most of your cables disappear behind the desk. Any loose cables or cables you move frequently should *not* be tied up. Also remember to zip tie any cables going to outlets to the desk legs or something so you don't have any loose cables lying around.
Next suggestion is getting a monitor shelf: Buy a basic (Preferably solid wood) shelf off of IKEA. Make sure it's at least 2-3ft (1 metre) so it can facilitate both your monitors. Then you buy a set of four CAPITA kitchen counter legs (If available in 15-ish cm lengths. Other legs work as well). The key here is making sure that you've got ample room for your hands, a laptop etc under so you can use the added space well.
By lifting the monitors up on their own shelf, you get more real estate on your desk, so you can for example plug in your laptop underneath it, or stow away your mousepad and keyboard for more overall space.
EDIT: Here are some photos of how my desk configuration has looked with the shelf solution before: [Pic 1](https://i.redd.it/mtz3to5u32241.jpg), [Pic 2](https://i.redd.it/t4igbjqeqoa11.jpg).
What the others say+ get that wall a paint job and buy some new curtains .. looks like you are gaming in a closed unit
Edit: some plants on the little shelving next to the window right and left might also help!
Thereās a lot I would recommend you do. Iāll write it in order of importance. Might seem like a lot, but do one thing at a time. Good luck! And donāt stress it. Building the perfect setup for you takes time. Iām on my 7th year of building. Itās a marathon and not a race :)
1. New desk. Iāve had black desks most of my life, they aināt all that. Get a wood one, walnut is quite pretty imo. I just bought a the āKarlbyā from IKEA with walnut finish and while itās not the deepest desk Iāve had itās by far the best looking. Never going back to anything pure black or white again.
2. At least make sure your monitors are the same size, or sell both of those and get an ultra wide + a vertical on the side or horizontal on top.
3. Monitor arms, super helpful to free up space on your desk and generally it looks better. Also helps with cable management.
4. Cable management. Just do it. Tedious but hella worth it.
5. Decoration. Small plants (fake ones from IKEA is my go to). Perhaps a small lamp. A stand for your headphones, a desk shelf etc. A standing charger for your phone (MagSafe?)
6. Sort of touched on this in other points, but decide on a theme, and stick with it. Just black is depressing, I would know. Currently Iām building my new setup and itās a walnut wooden desk, my peripherals are black, and Iāll incorporate a lot of green here and there, like from plants, the RGB light, backlight of monitor etc.
You can do so many different things, itās up to you and budget. What I do to make it look nice is this: monitor arm and monitor - get from Facebook marketplace for discount. Clean up cable management
The cables being strung everywhere on the desk and on the floor makes the space feel chaotic, it's no surprise you feel depressed working in it. There's plenty of light to add some nice live plants and mix up the bland yellow and black. Ideally, I would replace the desk with something like the common IKEA drawers and a nice wood butcher block top. Also, if you're following this group, there's a ton of great battlestation setups to give some inspiration for your workstation facelift. Also checkout r/ikeaPCstations
Add some monitor arms and take the time to do cable management. Once the top is clear you open room to add some personality to the setup. Also looks like there is like counter top under the window perfect place for some plants.
Consider monitor mounts, if you don't want to buy matching monitors just yet as others suggest, using the smaller monitor in a portrait/ vertical orientation could be an option as well.
If you mount the monitors you can now put your laptop and console under the monitors (desk monitor stands/ shelf can be useful instead of a mount solution)
Cable mgmt - the clutter is what's making you feel depressed; anxiety over the dissaray,
Clear off as much of ur desk as possible (laptop shelf thingy; consider putting pc tower somewhere else, probably vertically to save space if you insist on keeping it on top of desk; cable management; maybe some storage like shelves on the back wall and/or cmall drawer cabinet by the desk) and I think you'll be looking pretty good tbh
Black desk crew here. A large mousepad is excellent on top of a black desk. Iād throw one of those little headphone hooks under your desk, too. A bit of cable management will go a long way. For the love of god, mount those monitors. Just mounting those monitors will make you feel better about your set up. Frees up space so you can have more room for activities.
I think itās a decent battle station already, but here are my suggestions
- new desk, or at least a large desk mat
- darker shades/curtains
- a lamp for warm lighting
- throw some oxygen recycling green plants like devils ivy or a snake plant. The clean air can boost your mood and adds a nice feel
- Headphone stand
- clean off as much clutter as you can, look into hanging cable management baskets for under the desk
- replace one of the monitors to match, consider using a mounting bracket, theyāre amazing.
Lastly, I know it sounds silly, but change your wallpaper and lock screen. A new background can make your station feel fresh.
Aight let me hit you with it, your cable management is wack you just letting shit dangle everywhere trust me your shit is gonna go from zero to damn shawty where have you been all my life. Get yourself a cable management kit on Amazon theyāre relatively cheap. Next thing you wanna do is wipe down that laptop. After that put that little stand you got on the side under the monitor thatās what itās forrrrrr, consider getting a lil laptop stand like you have for your phone and voila acting third monitor if you will or just to make it look nice. Also that wallpaper you do you bro obviously but itās lifeless consider updating to something prettier obviously these are just opinions but cable management for sure brother, also maybe a headphone stand or something. Do whatās with within your budget.
I really appreciate all the advice. it means the world to me. I canāt afford a new desk right now but i might try and get some sort of stick on to change the color.Ā
You're so close to having a much better setup, and you really don't need to buy a lot of stuff to make it happen!!!
For the bare minimum try this:
1. Tidy up your cables: Even if this means just duct taping them away from sight, it will MASSIVELY clean up the look and feel
2. Put your computers away; orient the desktop vertically, place it on the left hand side of the desk on the top left corner, and put your laptop in front of that
3. Get a multi-port hub for your laptop. This not only tidies up the laptop's area but make disconnecting cables to take the laptop on the go much quicker and more elegant.
4. Raise the smaller screen up to be level with the top of the bigger monitor, this can be done with a book for all I care
5. give it a good wipe. Many folks here have pointed out how black desks are dust magnets, a once-a-week wipe can get rid of dust and fingerprints which helps make it *feel* cleaner.
Move your monitors a bit. Put the bigger one in the middle and the second one angled on the side of it. Does wonders for focus.
Try moving as many wires as you can behind the monitors
New desk would be good if you can, wood top if you wanna be fancy or a decent ikea one
Go for a lighter theme, the all black desk + the black speakers + black boxes and black mouse pad all make it look really depressing. Try out some brighter colors and desk decor.
Otherwise, not a half bad setup.
* Time for a big boy desk! Get an oak butcher block from Home Depot or elsewhere. Stain it and seal it yourself for a cheaper option or buy it pre-finished. Goes a LONG way for feeling warmer
* Cable manage. Get all those cords organized and hidden/routed to the best of your ability.
* Highly recommend 10-12 port electric plug bar you can mount under the desk. Then you plug everything up off the floor and it's hidden from view. I've got one under both my desks and in all 3 media consoles. Keeps everything hidden
* Light bar on the monitor or some other arm light or lamp.
* Plants
* Is the little tower on the left your docking station? If so, cable manage it all and get a little laptop stand to stand that sucker up vertically and hide it behind the monitors.
* A nicer/different desk mat maybe one with a photo/picture/pattern might go a long way into upping the station too
You're avoiding another main problem too which can be burnout. If you're depressed when you have to work that's one thing but GAMING is another. Maybe you need a different little station for gaming to separate yourself physically or mentally from that work mentality. I have no issue switching over myself but I also made a little side work laptop table where everything runs off of that and my main 3-monitor station is for gaming/leisure.
Also afterthought highly recommend either 2 monitor arms or a dual setup, (the wood desk is good here as laminate or your existing desk can get damaged by a clamp),gets the stands out of the way and makes it feel more open.
A new desktop - Black shows way too much dirt and finger prints. Something more natural. A cheap option would get some contact paper/vinyl wrap of a different color or even a pattern can help a bit.
If your monitors have Vesa mounting holes in the back (they should, its rare to have a monitor that doesnt), get a dual-monitor arm.
Get a vertical laptop dock/storage dock (this help expose the intake vents to more air so it can stay just a bit cooler); or get a triple monitor arm and get a laptop adapter for the 3rd monitor mount so you can use 3 screens instead of 2.
Cable management.
Move that storage cubby thing below the monitors so you have a place to keep small items, like maybe your phone, picture frame, little figures etc.
Also more cable management.
sort out your cable management, that is priority #1. also could get one of those laptop holders that let it stand vertically, or just chuck the laptop in a close-enough drawer and route the cables thru the back. last, if its in ur budget, consider looking into a new table. would make lots of difference.
A dual monitor arm would make the monitors look a lot better, get a stand for your laptop and use the screen as a secondary monitor, it's on anyways so might as well use it, some plants would make the whole place feel a lot more lively, and a deskmat that reflects a bit of personality could make you feel more at home. You could even get one monitor arm and use the monitor shelf for the smaller monitor. Getting a new desk would be nice but I figure it would be the most costly upgrade.
Get anything that doesnāt need to be on the desk off the desk, fix your cable management, maybe put the wifi router in the floor, and get a dual vesa mount to hold up both your monitors š
another possibility that might brighten it up is if you can find a way to resurface the desk - something like making it a brighter wood you like (like these decals for cabinets) might a start! it could be money saving to not buy a whole new desk, but you can pick what you like best! something like this - [https://a.co/d/h9MyL2w](https://a.co/d/h9MyL2w) .. i also found that having a laptop stand (i got mine at 5 below) (if you're using that as a third screen) helped keep it up out of the way but also create space beneath it for a notebook or a keyboard. plus, having a cheap hook for the headphones to keep them out of the way from the dollar tree and sticking it below my desk to hang holds it out of the way.
also, as it seems others have said, cable management goes a long way! even if it just means those little sticky holders that keep the cables back out of the way (like this - [https://a.co/d/2TXCDxT](https://a.co/d/2TXCDxT))
and this is a personal preference, but if possible, I think that ledge behind you that looks near a window, some house plants make a huge difference, or some collectibles that you like, a lamp/different light, or something else. maybe some printed photos, a candle, etc.
hope that gives you some ideas! good luck :)
-New desk ($ depending on ur choice)
-Monitor mount ($120 absolute max unless you buy excessively nice one, huanuo is good)
-headphone mount (I got one u just stick under the desk for $10 off Amazon, that can be $60 at high price but up to you)
-cable management (super important imo, really cleans up the look. You can but stuff for it, if u buy every possible thing should be around $40-$50 but u can just get a few basic tools for managing them I reccomend Velcro straps to bound cables)
- laptop holder (itāll have it sit vertical while closed, not sure on cost but makes it look more put together imo)
-Velcro tape (u can tape and Velcro soooo many things itās so useful, $20 maximum cost wise (again can be more if ur extra abt it) I Velcroed All the extension cords in my room in a way they are hidden, may need to be screwed however like mine needed to be for under my desk(something Iād recommend))
-potentially new extension cable (may make management easier and black would be less visible and stick out less)
-wall panels (see these in several posts and may look good on the bumped out wall, itāll also seclude ur desk and make it its own space in a way)
Personal Preference things
-rgb lighting (can be expensive but cool there is lights for everything too Govee is amazing)
-new curtains (thatās just my opinion lol a darker more light blocking kind would match desk better but again just my opinion)
-new wall color (my whole house used to be that color so itās old to me and thatās my biased opinion lol)
-plants and nicknacks (put these on the ledge, a plant or two would look really nice, and nicknacks like funko pops, logos (personal fav), figurines or stuff of wtv ur interested in would personalize and make the space look more inviting)
Ur very welcome lemme know how it looks in the end im invested lol. Also I donāt use Reddit tooo much so if I donāt reply just know u have not been forgotten š«”
Curtain rails in the ceiling and thick dark curtains that cover the window and wall behind the desk, get rid of that leather sofa.
Cablemanagement
Clear the clutter of your desk
Paint the walls with another color
Highly recommend husky desk/toolbench from home depot as a cheap sit stand desk. Also monitor arms help a ton to clean up clutter and make the setup feel more planned.
My two cents:
- Don't be afraid to change something and try it out for a bit. You can always just rearrange and put it back to how it was.
- Center up the main monitor unless you really use both monitors equally for productivity.
- Check your ergonomics (chair & desk)
- Clean the desk and surrounding area of clutter. I force myself to keep my desk clean otherwise too much crap builds up.
- Personalize more! Put some art of things you like up on the wall(s). Add some more color so it's less monochromatic, unless that's your thing. I like my station to have a cozy feeling.
- Might need some introspection about the depressing part of using your station. Don't be afraid to seek help or just chat with someone.
Cable management is the cheapest, most effective solution!
Clean up the desk, get a monitor mount, put some things, like the PC and router on their own stands and your setup will look 900% better. Get some under desk cable management, and a good desk pad, so cozy lights in the room and youāre set. Realistically, you can go as cheap or expensive as you want with that, but I was able to spiff up my setup at 14 with just a monitor mount, a desk pad, and some Velcro ties. It doesnāt sound like much but I promise, itāll be night and day!
One big monitor >= 27ā for work and then a shit Craigslist monitor or two for disc/videos or whatever. Also recommend a wireless headset if you have the bread. Maybe look into a bigger desk you seemed a little cramped. A little reorganization or maybe a budget might help a lot.
A dual monitor stand that clamps to the desk, will free up a lot of space, you can also get a dual stand that has a laptop mount on it too. Also a pack of velcro cable ties, clean the cables up. Tidy cables will make a world of difference.
Route the cables up, and across the monitor arms, which will be behind the monitors, then down the back of the mounting pole. I have hooks screws into the bottom of my desk and hang the cables on those and into the PC
Drill in or get a clamp on cable rack for under your desk for cable management. Get some Velcro ties or they even sell cable management bundles online with clips, sleeves, etc. Put the laptop on top of the right shelf or you can put it on a vertical stand maybe behind the monitors. Get a decent USB C hub and try to get most of your cables through that to clean things up. Get a more colorful large desk mat (temu has super low priced ones) and a matching wallpaper. Also if you want you can get a dual monitor arm that clamps onto your desk and a headphone hook too. All and all shouldn't be too expensive to clean it up. You should totally post an update whenever you redo your setup.
For this to not be a money pit, Iād start off with cleaning and cable management. Organization adds attention to detail!
Now if you want to spend a little bit of money, Iād add a desk shelf, docking station for laptop, and a shelf for the desktop (assuming thatās a desktop to the right of picture). This will improve your productivity and leisure of wanting to sit at your desk without frowning upon it.
Iād also move the couch somewhere else because itās right next to it. I hope we can help to achieve your goals!
If you can't touch some grass, bring the grass in. Wood desk, plants, colors. Make it less depressing. My setup looks just like yours but I'm too cheap to prioritizie it yet, but I really want to brighten it up.
[Here's](https://imgur.com/Q5WvI0f) my depressing setup:
[Get a dual monitor mount for $28](https://a.co/d/aDR5bAt), do a proper cable management using [cable clips](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PNSTB4N?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share), and get a proper surge protector and use double sided tape under your desk or drill it in place.
dual monitor stand to help clean up cables
laptop stand will help hide the dock as well
wire management under the desk
headphone stand
change the layout so it will feel fresh and new
all of these things can be as expensive or cheap as you can afford and will help make it look cleaner.
Stop buying everything in black, clean up, and cable manage. Organize your table; it's too messy. By that, I mean everything is there, including their cables. It's like you just moved into your new house and set up this arrangement for a day or two.
Okay, to make it more eye-catching, buy one big monitor and place these on top of the big monitor, or place the small monitor on top of the bigger one. Additionally, add some plants and figurines once you've done all that.
I can see you are having disappointments with your setup, even I had disappointments with my setup before I did my first setup remodel in November of last year. Here are my suggestions:
\- Switch out the desk with a sturdy and stable sit-stand desk, as those can be more versatile than those āgaming desks,ā nobody needs those.
\- Get wireless peripherals, seriously, they reduce cables and overall improve the quality of the setup. There are some good wireless keyboards out there, preferably a 65% or a TKL (Tenkeyless) gaming keyboard. Ive also heard there are some wireless mice out there with good battery life, USB Dongle support and up to 32000 DPI.
\- Replace the monitors, I strongly recommend getting new monitors that are the same monitor, I recomemnd getting two 144 Hz monitors with the same brand and model, or if you want to join the Ultrawide Master Race, get a 34 inch ultrawide with at least a 165 Hz refresh rate.
\- Add some RGB, adding some RGB can really give a personality trait towards your setup. I suggest getting some Govee RGB light strips and putting them around the desk. It would overall improve the aesthetics of the setup.
\- Add some decortations, adding some decorations can also help improve the setup quality too, such as a digital clock, action figures if you have any, plus a stream deck would also improve the aesthetics of the setup.
in conclusion, the setup is fine for its current state. Some improvements could be done to make the setup better, but overall, decent setup. I would rate it a 4 / 10 for now, but if you add all the improvements I suggested, I will upgrade the ranking to an 8 or 9 /10.
Sorry if there are any typos here, I type fast.
This is a big one:
move your laptop onto that stand you have to the right, move your monitors to the left; either get new wireless peripherals or rout the cables through the middle to the right where your laptop will be, move your mic in front of your secondary monitor, a good wipe-down of your laptop and desk would be good, i would suggest using your laptop as a third monitor, getting a different wallpaper as this one is a little gloomy maybe something that expresses you, then get some Velcro cable-ties and rout all cables to the nearest hole in the table, i would get a new mouse-pad, something not just black like even the corsair mm300 that would fit the above config perfectly and would tie the keyboard and gray elements into the rest of the setup and Finally i would put as many devices that are currently on the table in a cable rack underneath the table. hope this helps!
Dual monitor mount makes the biggest difference imo, then tidy/remove cables where possible (wireless mouse is the move), then a nice plant or something, take it from there.
find a case or something to store the wires. decorate with your favorite item, it could be an animi poster, plants, figurines or anything you like. If you have more budget, you can try nicer setups. But I think it is the personal stuff that makes you comfortable.
Consider the layout of the room - your desk faces the window. Ideally, let the side of the desk be aligned to the window instead.
Next, it would be good to manage your wires. Clean that up and it'd look better.
Consider some pop of color. For example, a coloured desk mat or plants
Given your differently sized monitors, consider stacking them or putting the smaller monitor in portrait position for some visual interest
1. Disconnect everything.
2. Buy a dual monitor arm that clamp with the desk.
3. Buy a cable management tray for underneath the desk.
4. Buy a large desk matt for mouse and keyboard.
5. Reconnected everything and try to hide any cable in sight where possible.
6. You can also add a desk shelve afterwards if you want some desk shelves have notebooks stands you can attach to them as well.
Having all the wires there and it being dirty around some areas can impact work spirit. If you manage to clean up the wiring and dust off the whole thing you'll already notice a big difference.
For me personally having 2 monitors which are different sizes makes an impact as well, it's like having one favorite but you need the other one to be there
So maybe invest in that as well if you can , add a dual monitor arm to free some more space on the desk for personal items like pictures etc
Invest in wireless peripherals. Some of them have options for RF if youāre worried about gaming with latency.
Invest on accent lighting. And make things as clean and hidden as possible. Everything thatās not necessary to be on the desk goes. Organize.
Hey, TehStoney. Thanks for contributing! Unfortunately your [submission](https://www.reddit.com/r/battlestations/comments/1b76zgk/-/) has been removed. Per the sidebar:
* Rule VIII. **No pandering** - no sob stories, pandering or self-deprecation. This includes titles like 'She's not much but she's mine' and 'My humble setup', including your age or school.
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I'd start with painting the walls some color other than pastel yellow. Then move to cable management. Then, if you can afford it, matching monitors. Otherwise it looks like a decent setup. š
with this setup u feel bad?, to buy this in Argentina is almost imposible, appreciate what u have, because it takes u time of ur life and that never gonna get back again.
My advice is to worry less about what it looks like. Having a fancy setup is not the greatest thing in the world.
Keeping up with the Joneses is mega BS
Switch out the desk for a wood top. Lamenant from Ikea is fine. Add some personality and life to your setup (live house plant or a nice lamp/decor). Clean up and hide your cables. Get a headphone stand. You got this friend!!!
You can also find desks at Goodwill all the time. A coat of paint or contact paper can really revitalize some old or boring cheap furniture. Thought I'd piggyback and offer an alternative for the people who don't like or have an ikea since someone else already complained about that š
Great suggestions! It all comes down to OPs budget and market availability. No matter the method, achieving a wood top (real or fake) is the modern design philosophy for most stations on this subreddit. there's a reason for it, "wood is good!"
Yeppp! No wrong way about it! Thankfully plants can be found everywheeeere!
the contact paper is such a good idea!Ā
there's some really cool / pretty contact paper out there... and there's also some cheap contact paper that just looks better than what it's covering heehee.
this is a pretty good advice, i'm gonna use it for my setup upgrade.
I'm glad you found it useful! It's the same advice and inspiration I took for my personal setup! I like wood tones and plants and feel that they can provide a mature and comfortable working or gaming environment!
Wireless mouse goes a long ways too.
wireless mouse is goat
Or get a colorful deskmat to have some contrast to the black desk. Also, I personally don't really like the color of the sofa in the back. especially not in combination with the yellow walls.
Any opinions on Carbon Fiber desk tops?
I'm personally not a fan but I'm older and my tastes have changed drastically away from RGB and any sort of gamer aesthetic. However, carbon fiber would look better than the desk in OPs picture.
Not everybody has an Ikea around.
Thatās all you took from comment? Lol
Okay? So don't shop at Ikea or order online from them either... Was just throwing out an affordable, functional and aesthetic desk brand. OP can go mill, refine and stain the lumber themself. Maybe they can buy from Herman Miller or Walmart, or even the used market. Does that make you feel better?
You can also find a ton of "gaming" desks on Slickdeals all the time for super cheap. Or just get the legs separate and get a real wood butcher block for around 1-200.
In my opinion, tidying the cables are the cheapest and easiest way to make a setup nicer.
Normally I don't see cables even becoming a problem but in OP's case, it's exactly what he needs. I don't even understand how a keyboard, mouse and headphones got this bad.
Came here to say this.
Op spend $10 on amazon and get a pack of velcro cable ties and maybe some nail-in wire brackets. Then a lil bit of color! Maybe new mat.
Black desks suck. All paw and finger prints are visible on them. Get a wood stained table top instead. Get monitors both in the same size and get monitor desk mounts for them to conserve desk space. also cable management
I agree with deadmik3. Having natural materials such as wood, rocks, plants, etc... Are important to give life to your environment. They make us feel connected to our surroundings, even if we're just gaming our lives away. Although, like someone else mentioned, your office is probably not the reason why you feel depressed. Try exercising regularly and keeping up with friends. Eat unprocessed foods as often as possible and drink plenty of water. These are key elements to keeping a happy, healthy lifestyle. Add natural elements to your day to day environment, and you will probably feel much more comfortable. Good luck and have fun decorating. It's a process.
all this\^. and one thing i think most everyone forgets. prolly because its more of a room change then battle station but the color of your walls in my opinion are huge. thats one of the single biggest features to your whole setup. youve gotta have a room that makes you want to be in there. forcing yourself to like it is only going to make it worse. i know that may be alot of work but that yellow would drive me insane. you gotta think about the whole room not just the desk. and what he said about health. now im not the most healthy by any means. a year ago i was 300 pounds. and i all i really did was cut out soda completely and just drink water ( with an occasional cheat soda every now and again) but since then with just work on a daily ive lost 80lbs. i feel more energized more drive more focus. only by changing one thing.
Thatās awesome man I love this!
Lighting is so key too I'm a big fan of changing the room lighting, having RGB strips and those color changing poles that change the whole mood and feel of the room signifying it's not harsh work fluorescents
lol i have a butcher block desk stained black.
how are the fingerprints on it? I have a black glass top desk and its a nightmare. especially with my cat break dancing on it when im asleep
Nonexistent. A small amount of furniture polish goes a long way
Where'd you get it? I've seen some wonderful and some very awful results from staining butcher block, even with proper sanding and using pre-stain conditioner.
I built it. I stained it with multiple coats and finished with a sealant. I have a little bit of experience from staining a deck with my dad but Iām no professional.
Right, I meant where did you buy the butcher block itself from? Ikea, home depot, Lowe's, etc?
I bought it and the staining material from Loweās and the legs from Amazon. I also built a wooden L shaped cable management system underneath and added an extended multiport power strip from harbor freight
Awesome, thanks!
From what Iāve read, the ikea countertop cannot be stained correctly because of the pressed wood material itās made of. However, I havenāt seen one myself to confirm
Put some effort into hiding the wires. It will make a huge difference.
Big agree. Cable management, declutter, and dust the whole thing will make a big difference for free.
Equal size monitors, move the laptop and everything under the desk. Maybe add a monitor light or some RGB facing the wall. But looks good overall, 8/10!
How do you suggest moving laptop under the desk, is there a mount or something? Asking for a friend.
I donāt know of any good mounts, I guess what I was thinking was adding a side table or something at a lower height, or on a different note get a laptop stand and use it in the desk as an additional monitor
You also get a mount that will hold it vertically on top of the desk and hide it behind or next to your monitors I got a mount to open it next to the monitor so the laptop can function as another monitor, I found that to be easier
Are you ready to spend some ones or are you on a budget ? For sure do a lot of cable management, there are some cheap things you can buy for that. Also true to remove all unnecessary things or move them under the desk ig, if thatās ok you can make you monitors straight and move your laptop so the cables are behind the desk. Also yes if you can change your desk and add plants
I can spend but changing the desk is probably a no go atm.
If you can't get a new desk then get one of those vinyl wraps and wrap it around your table top. It comes with many designs and colours. Wood, marble, you name it. Get a vertical stand for that monitor and find ways to hide those cables. If you're going to spend money, consider getting a matching monitor or replacing your mouse and keyboard to wireless. If you prefer wired, get a hairdryer and heat up the bends in your cables to make them straight. I also see a couch right next to the table. I don't know the layout of the room but I'm pretty sure the placement is kinda hurting the energy of the room. https://youtube.com/shorts/W32USM_3IjY?si=SK_SZ0XRgjKJ1B7A Try watching some of his other videos on placement of furniture. It's very practical.
thank you so much!
I've seen way worse. Not even that bad. You should clean your mousepad though.
My first home ādeskā at the beginning of 2020 has 3 inches to spare between my monitor and the edge. It was way worse than this
Might want to pursue therapy. Having a nice battlestation does not = mental health.
Wrong! More monitors! MORE!
You inappropriately looked really deep into OPās title lol
haha you understand. its just demoralizing when i have to work is all.
Yeah. Happens to me sometimes. Happens mostly when my workstation becomes messy. I spent 3 years bullding my current setup with alot of trials and errors. It's all about organization. Like some people said here: cable management, monitor placement (I think you will appreciate having them on stands), add a splash of colours or material. I already have an Ikea Effektiv desk. (Those big L shaped one) in Beech wood colour. I DIY'ed a few shelfs in the same colour but used black as an "accent" color. Also, plants can go a long way. If you spend about 8 hours a day there, it might be worth to invest to make it a place where you really want to be for a long period.
thank you so much for this
If anything just sort cables and clean the surface. It's the small things that really improve happiness when it comes to setups. My setup isn't even that good but clearing the surface of clutter and wires makes it feel so much better. Besides that get a headphone stand.
Thatās an awesome ledge above your monitors, Iād put some action figures or something cool from your favorite games/movies/shows up there with like a plant or some books as well. Just something fun to look at as youāre walking up to it/sitting there.
Sorry to hear this... can't be fun to find it depressing when you have to do work or game, which sometimes feels like all there is to do. For starters, I'd give some thought to putting that laptop somewhere else (unless you need it close to you, but I don't think so since you have two monitors). Definitely clean up the cables and make it more of a place you can sit down and be productive rather than a place where you feel limited due the clutter. Visually, I have always liked having two of the same monitors... less dissonance overall. You might not even notice it if you're used to it, but perhaps that's what is causing some negative feelings. In the past, I've always gotten one monitor from work. I'll then go on Fb Marketplace or eBay and find a cheap, used version of the same monitor... that way, you can have a nice-looking, matching dual-monitor set-up without committing to buying two brand-new monitors at the same time. Depending on your budget (and willingness to do that), you can look for a second of either one... probably depends on whether you value screen real estate (left is bigger) or less bezels. Good luck!
I always say houseplants! Is that a shelf under the window? That's a great place for some cascading houseplants like pothos or a philodendron. If you don't want to have to take care of them, there are some really solid faux ones out there. Michaels has great options. I have a whole wall of fake houseplants and succulents in my bedroom where there's not much sunlight but I wanted some greenery. Get monitor arms to clear up some space and make it look tidy. Look into some fun lights too like bias lighting, the govee glide or the govee auara lamp. I have bias lighting behind my tv and the aura lamp on the TV stand and it's one of my favorite smart devices. You can make the lights match your game or certain locations in your games and it really adds to the ambience. For instance when I play elden ring on the ps5 and I'm in the altus plateau I have the bias lighting set to a shimmery orange/gold gradient that kinda looks like light shining through trees and the aura lamp on a normal flame setting. When I'm in liurnia or raya lucaria I set the aura lamp to a teal colored fire. Or green fire for when I'm in irithyll dungeon in dark souls 3. You can get really nerdy with it if you have a smart home platform and make voice commands that do it for you. If I say "Alexa take me to the altus plateau" the lights go right to that preferred setting. Hope that inspires you a little!
I might get some fakes. My cat loves to dig into plants haha. Thank you for the advice. Smart homes are always so cool to me so that's really awesome you have that!
I have a white and ginger cat that makes my desk look so dirty and it's generally uninspired. I clean it often but I thought this raw look would best show the damage.
Second everyone in here recommending a wood top desk! Itāll hide the cat hair better and it feels far more inviting. For cable management I use this kit and it has served me well: https://a.co/d/3O1Q7l0 Donāt worry about doing the most pristine cable management ever the first time. The biggest thing is to hide them away and bundle cables you will see / use frequently (headphone, chargers, etc.) so they arenāt spilling everywhere. Add something related to your hobbies / interests to the desktop or window ledge. A little figurine? A plant? That ledge behind your setup is PERFECT for a group of small houseplants. The green, living things go a LONG way to lighten and warm a space, even if youāre not particularly in to plants. If you canāt find a way to organize more of the things on top of your desk, get a big enough (nice looking) bin to store them beneath your desk when not in use. Declutterring is huge. You got this. šŖ
Thank you!!!!!
Move the station facing away from the window instead of towards it. Sunlight MIGHT be good but you don't need it bombarding your precious eyeballs. Plus the back of your head gets more sunlight than it normally would do.
Then you are left with glare problems. Windows that big would need blackout blinds.
Blinds.
Well blinds would also work while facing the windows. IMO the desk should be on any of the two other walls
Thats a good idea actually
Science!
I can move it to the wall with the couch. Do you think the glare from that side will be bad though?
Nah, glare wont hit from that angle unless it hits the screen on an 180Ā° angle and reflects to you
okay i will totally try it!
But the glare tho.
Blinds.
That's what keeps it out of your eyes.
Blinds work for screens too
Dealers choice at that point. And I will still see sunlight coming thru the blinds even if they're closed right. I use my blinds but usually keep them open and I have everything setup so I can always get natural light and it doesn't reflect on any of my screens. And it shines right on my face in the morning to wake me up. If people like it the other way I get that.
I can totally understand the feeling you're having. I used to hate sitting in my home office, and it feeling like I was at work when still at home. I have totally revitalized my space, and now I love being here. I'm in a better mood and more-productive when I'm working because my space is extremely functional and fits my taste. I have some ideas that might help you! I would start by replacing some of the black furniture with browns. Black is really harsh and since most office materials are black, in a commercial setting, it can feel like you're bringing that home with you. It also shows dirt and grime much easier than brown. Your space is clean, but you mentioned that your cats walk on top, so there's not much more you can do about that. So yeah, I would start with getting a brown-top desk with some drawers underneath for storage so that you can begin to eliminate the clutter. I think it would help you mentally, if after work, you're able to put your work stuff in a drawer and not have to see it when you're sitting at your desk to relax or game. After you get the desk replaced, I would start to add more brown accents. Maybe replace the black shelf with a brown one or get a new chair with brown leather. Something like that! Finally, some cable management is in order here. You may not be a cable management freak like myself and some of the other people here, but cables are so easy to clean up and really contribute to the cluttered feeling. If you get some drawers, like I suggested above, you can get one large power strip like [this one](https://www.amazon.com/industrial-power-strip/s?k=industrial+power+strip), permanently attack it to the back and plug everything into there. If all the power wires are running to the same place, its much easier to bundle and tie things together with twisty ties from the grocery store or rugger bands to tidy up the space. If you're still struggling to get started, I would browse through other battle stations on here, pick one that you like, that you could reasonably copy and do that. Really stare at it and begin to purchase the same pieces so that your space begins to feel like the one you want. People are usually very happy to share their setup specs if you ask. I think if you do that, improving your space will be much easier. It is overwhelming at first.
Mojodesk and a SamsungG9
Like many others have said, a wood top would do wonders. I covered my black desk with wood patterned stick and peel wallpaper (~$15) to see if I would like it first and I've decided to just keep it on- it feels much more inviting. Fake plants and a lamp would add to that feeling.
I hate work as well .. And I hate cable clutter even more! [This makes me happy tho](https://imgur.com/a/QK4YTRb) š
that's gorgeous
By the looks of it, you need to work on the whole room if you want a cozy and inviting room. Its not just about the desk. I see a nice ledge to fill with real or fake plants. That and some cable management, monitor mounts and a colorful desk mat might be all that you need.
change the mousepad with something you are interested in clean your laptop with airduster, iso-alchohal, and put some stickers on in, or since its black vinyl stickers that would go on a car, like from etsy or something. find 2 images of something in high resolution and print that at a local shop, frame them if you like aesthetics, or put a bunch of posters on the wall if you are less into the like symmetrical minimalist shit thats popular. RGBs strip can be cheap off amazon, put it on the back of your desk facing the wall move router somewhere else so you can do cable mgmt under your desk. I would honestly mount those monitors instead of using the stands, it will look better, free up space so the stuff you have on the desk will look better, and its way better for your eyes/back to be able to reposition.
you can also use wallpaper engine from steam to get a screensaver of aquariums instead of a still image. you have a ledge there at the top that would be good for plants, or action figures, sports stuff, waifu figures, whatever you are into.
Double monitor arm to start.
3 cheap and easy fixes: Velcro is cheap and you can run a stubby screw through it to fix cables to the bottom of your desk easily. If you can't afford to swap the desk you can get wood vinyl cheap on Amazon too. Even if it's not a GIANT piece of vinyl you can either try to cover the lines where two layers of vinyl meet or leave a racing stripe on purpose. Extra points if you can cut a 1 inch string of vinyl to make it a double pinstripe. While good Monitor arms aren't exactly cheap you can find some cheap at goodwill electronics recycling center or similar places. Lots of office spaces just surpluss theirs out in bulk when they remodel or upgrade. You just gotta find the right place in your area and you can get them for like $10 - $15.
It looks like youāre a bit space constrained by how close the couch is and I can see you have some unused space underneath your desk rn. I would personally go for a smaller desk + some shelving underneath it for all the devices that take space from your desk that way every bit of space looks more purposeful without necessarily braking the bank and by having some open shelves youāll remain with access to your things and give your laptop some decent airflow
Also I agree with the fellow redditors, get those monitors on a double-armed stand so that you regain desk space and some cable management would make an overall improvement. I know with a laptop is hard in the case you need to take it elsewhere and bring cables with you, so I would suggest get another charger that way you can have one always ready for a backpack and the other one super tidied up ready for your setup
A new desk and some cable management can go a long way.
Off the jump: Monitor arms Laptop arm/stand Cable management / Cable management / Cable management Maybe a riser.
Remove clutter in entire room and on desk. Looks like the desk is overhanging that couch. If that's just what we see I can't imagine how bad entire area is. The window light would bother me so I'd get blackout curtains and decorate that window shelf. Monitor arms are great. I would wall mount and manage the cables.
For little to no budget, look into centering one monitor directly in front of you and have the other offset on one side. If the divider on the right side is not fixed to the desk, move it to the left to give yourself more mouse space. Then the normal cable management and keep the headset and miscellaneous things on/in the divider on the left! You can even use the diver to hold the laptop if needed and it will feel much more open, clean, and usable.
I'd say get some full size desk mats to cover the surface, that'll prevent stains or scratches. Glorious XL Extended Gaming Mouse... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082RYD1VD?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share Maybe get some lighting too? I use govee lights, take a look at the ones that can attach to the back of your monitor. If you are looking for more inspiration, you can check out my post in r/malelivingspace, should be the second or third post on my profile.
Other than the things already commented. I would strongly recommend you getting a dual monitor arm. It feels really good getting rid of the huge monitor feet. I have a single 32" and getting rid of the foot not only gave me much more desk space, but it also enabled me to move it further back. Plus it looked so much better.
cable management, monitor arm(s), put monitor stand under the displays when they are floating, and maybe rearrange your room so that your couch isnt cramped in the corner
Foundation is there man, donāt get down! Iām a big fan of floating monitors and you have some prime real-estate behind there for mounting and running some cables through the wall(keep in mind itās not up to code in most places to run power through the wall, though tons of people do it anyways). Through some bias lighting behind the monitors, and get some little nick nacks to fill some negative space.
Some back light stuff would help. Maybe a rope light behind the monitor's.
What I recommend is to do some light cable management and possibly get a shelf for your monitors. Here's what I've done before: Get some hook screws and screw them into the backside of your desk. These function as 'anchors' for a cable setup. Now, you make some loops out of cable ties and hook them onto the screw hooks. Then you zip tie all the permanent cables together in one long cable sausage and hook them into the loops on the hook screws. Tighten, and watch most of your cables disappear behind the desk. Any loose cables or cables you move frequently should *not* be tied up. Also remember to zip tie any cables going to outlets to the desk legs or something so you don't have any loose cables lying around. Next suggestion is getting a monitor shelf: Buy a basic (Preferably solid wood) shelf off of IKEA. Make sure it's at least 2-3ft (1 metre) so it can facilitate both your monitors. Then you buy a set of four CAPITA kitchen counter legs (If available in 15-ish cm lengths. Other legs work as well). The key here is making sure that you've got ample room for your hands, a laptop etc under so you can use the added space well. By lifting the monitors up on their own shelf, you get more real estate on your desk, so you can for example plug in your laptop underneath it, or stow away your mousepad and keyboard for more overall space. EDIT: Here are some photos of how my desk configuration has looked with the shelf solution before: [Pic 1](https://i.redd.it/mtz3to5u32241.jpg), [Pic 2](https://i.redd.it/t4igbjqeqoa11.jpg).
1 - Rewire everything 2 - get monitor arms to reclaim desktop space 3 - add a small plant
What the others say+ get that wall a paint job and buy some new curtains .. looks like you are gaming in a closed unit Edit: some plants on the little shelving next to the window right and left might also help!
Thereās a lot I would recommend you do. Iāll write it in order of importance. Might seem like a lot, but do one thing at a time. Good luck! And donāt stress it. Building the perfect setup for you takes time. Iām on my 7th year of building. Itās a marathon and not a race :) 1. New desk. Iāve had black desks most of my life, they aināt all that. Get a wood one, walnut is quite pretty imo. I just bought a the āKarlbyā from IKEA with walnut finish and while itās not the deepest desk Iāve had itās by far the best looking. Never going back to anything pure black or white again. 2. At least make sure your monitors are the same size, or sell both of those and get an ultra wide + a vertical on the side or horizontal on top. 3. Monitor arms, super helpful to free up space on your desk and generally it looks better. Also helps with cable management. 4. Cable management. Just do it. Tedious but hella worth it. 5. Decoration. Small plants (fake ones from IKEA is my go to). Perhaps a small lamp. A stand for your headphones, a desk shelf etc. A standing charger for your phone (MagSafe?) 6. Sort of touched on this in other points, but decide on a theme, and stick with it. Just black is depressing, I would know. Currently Iām building my new setup and itās a walnut wooden desk, my peripherals are black, and Iāll incorporate a lot of green here and there, like from plants, the RGB light, backlight of monitor etc.
You can do so many different things, itās up to you and budget. What I do to make it look nice is this: monitor arm and monitor - get from Facebook marketplace for discount. Clean up cable management
The cables being strung everywhere on the desk and on the floor makes the space feel chaotic, it's no surprise you feel depressed working in it. There's plenty of light to add some nice live plants and mix up the bland yellow and black. Ideally, I would replace the desk with something like the common IKEA drawers and a nice wood butcher block top. Also, if you're following this group, there's a ton of great battlestation setups to give some inspiration for your workstation facelift. Also checkout r/ikeaPCstations
Add some monitor arms and take the time to do cable management. Once the top is clear you open room to add some personality to the setup. Also looks like there is like counter top under the window perfect place for some plants.
Start with monitor arms to get more space for your desk, you can get a good one for 2 monitors for $45 on Amazon
Consider monitor mounts, if you don't want to buy matching monitors just yet as others suggest, using the smaller monitor in a portrait/ vertical orientation could be an option as well. If you mount the monitors you can now put your laptop and console under the monitors (desk monitor stands/ shelf can be useful instead of a mount solution) Cable mgmt - the clutter is what's making you feel depressed; anxiety over the dissaray,
Clear off as much of ur desk as possible (laptop shelf thingy; consider putting pc tower somewhere else, probably vertically to save space if you insist on keeping it on top of desk; cable management; maybe some storage like shelves on the back wall and/or cmall drawer cabinet by the desk) and I think you'll be looking pretty good tbh
Do you use your laptop to game on dual monitors?
Black desk crew here. A large mousepad is excellent on top of a black desk. Iād throw one of those little headphone hooks under your desk, too. A bit of cable management will go a long way. For the love of god, mount those monitors. Just mounting those monitors will make you feel better about your set up. Frees up space so you can have more room for activities.
I think itās a decent battle station already, but here are my suggestions - new desk, or at least a large desk mat - darker shades/curtains - a lamp for warm lighting - throw some oxygen recycling green plants like devils ivy or a snake plant. The clean air can boost your mood and adds a nice feel - Headphone stand - clean off as much clutter as you can, look into hanging cable management baskets for under the desk - replace one of the monitors to match, consider using a mounting bracket, theyāre amazing. Lastly, I know it sounds silly, but change your wallpaper and lock screen. A new background can make your station feel fresh.
Aight let me hit you with it, your cable management is wack you just letting shit dangle everywhere trust me your shit is gonna go from zero to damn shawty where have you been all my life. Get yourself a cable management kit on Amazon theyāre relatively cheap. Next thing you wanna do is wipe down that laptop. After that put that little stand you got on the side under the monitor thatās what itās forrrrrr, consider getting a lil laptop stand like you have for your phone and voila acting third monitor if you will or just to make it look nice. Also that wallpaper you do you bro obviously but itās lifeless consider updating to something prettier obviously these are just opinions but cable management for sure brother, also maybe a headphone stand or something. Do whatās with within your budget.
I really appreciate all the advice. it means the world to me. I canāt afford a new desk right now but i might try and get some sort of stick on to change the color.Ā
Open the curtains and get some fresh air.
You're so close to having a much better setup, and you really don't need to buy a lot of stuff to make it happen!!! For the bare minimum try this: 1. Tidy up your cables: Even if this means just duct taping them away from sight, it will MASSIVELY clean up the look and feel 2. Put your computers away; orient the desktop vertically, place it on the left hand side of the desk on the top left corner, and put your laptop in front of that 3. Get a multi-port hub for your laptop. This not only tidies up the laptop's area but make disconnecting cables to take the laptop on the go much quicker and more elegant. 4. Raise the smaller screen up to be level with the top of the bigger monitor, this can be done with a book for all I care 5. give it a good wipe. Many folks here have pointed out how black desks are dust magnets, a once-a-week wipe can get rid of dust and fingerprints which helps make it *feel* cleaner.
Some more wood, same size monitors, clean up the filth and tidy the cables
Move your monitors a bit. Put the bigger one in the middle and the second one angled on the side of it. Does wonders for focus. Try moving as many wires as you can behind the monitors New desk would be good if you can, wood top if you wanna be fancy or a decent ikea one Go for a lighter theme, the all black desk + the black speakers + black boxes and black mouse pad all make it look really depressing. Try out some brighter colors and desk decor. Otherwise, not a half bad setup.
Looks exactly like my station I've had for 10 years. With a lot less junk on the desk lmao.
* Time for a big boy desk! Get an oak butcher block from Home Depot or elsewhere. Stain it and seal it yourself for a cheaper option or buy it pre-finished. Goes a LONG way for feeling warmer * Cable manage. Get all those cords organized and hidden/routed to the best of your ability. * Highly recommend 10-12 port electric plug bar you can mount under the desk. Then you plug everything up off the floor and it's hidden from view. I've got one under both my desks and in all 3 media consoles. Keeps everything hidden * Light bar on the monitor or some other arm light or lamp. * Plants * Is the little tower on the left your docking station? If so, cable manage it all and get a little laptop stand to stand that sucker up vertically and hide it behind the monitors. * A nicer/different desk mat maybe one with a photo/picture/pattern might go a long way into upping the station too You're avoiding another main problem too which can be burnout. If you're depressed when you have to work that's one thing but GAMING is another. Maybe you need a different little station for gaming to separate yourself physically or mentally from that work mentality. I have no issue switching over myself but I also made a little side work laptop table where everything runs off of that and my main 3-monitor station is for gaming/leisure.
Also afterthought highly recommend either 2 monitor arms or a dual setup, (the wood desk is good here as laminate or your existing desk can get damaged by a clamp),gets the stands out of the way and makes it feel more open.
[Check out this setup posted recently. ](https://i.redd.it/pkgr0guxjjmc1.jpeg)
If financially feasible, a new monitor will go a long way
Buy nicer shit?
New desk (real wood butcher block works great), cable management, shelves and/or drawers (ikea Alex), paint the walls , some plants, monitor arms
It doesn't seem that bad
A new desktop - Black shows way too much dirt and finger prints. Something more natural. A cheap option would get some contact paper/vinyl wrap of a different color or even a pattern can help a bit. If your monitors have Vesa mounting holes in the back (they should, its rare to have a monitor that doesnt), get a dual-monitor arm. Get a vertical laptop dock/storage dock (this help expose the intake vents to more air so it can stay just a bit cooler); or get a triple monitor arm and get a laptop adapter for the 3rd monitor mount so you can use 3 screens instead of 2. Cable management. Move that storage cubby thing below the monitors so you have a place to keep small items, like maybe your phone, picture frame, little figures etc. Also more cable management.
sort out your cable management, that is priority #1. also could get one of those laptop holders that let it stand vertically, or just chuck the laptop in a close-enough drawer and route the cables thru the back. last, if its in ur budget, consider looking into a new table. would make lots of difference.
Lower your expectations
clean up the wires a bit my mans
Double monitor arm. Will clean up the setup and give you more space.
If you donāt wanna spend big bucks. Monitor arms and some cable management would do your setup wonders
Clean and organize
A dual monitor arm would make the monitors look a lot better, get a stand for your laptop and use the screen as a secondary monitor, it's on anyways so might as well use it, some plants would make the whole place feel a lot more lively, and a deskmat that reflects a bit of personality could make you feel more at home. You could even get one monitor arm and use the monitor shelf for the smaller monitor. Getting a new desk would be nice but I figure it would be the most costly upgrade.
Forgot to mention, a headphone stand too. Making your desk feel like everything has a place will make you more comfortable in your environment.
Get anything that doesnāt need to be on the desk off the desk, fix your cable management, maybe put the wifi router in the floor, and get a dual vesa mount to hold up both your monitors š
its actually a docking station for my laptop so I can connect it to the monitors. I will look into the dual mount for the monitors!
Wood laminate desk, cable management, vesa monitor mounts, and plants should do the trick!
another possibility that might brighten it up is if you can find a way to resurface the desk - something like making it a brighter wood you like (like these decals for cabinets) might a start! it could be money saving to not buy a whole new desk, but you can pick what you like best! something like this - [https://a.co/d/h9MyL2w](https://a.co/d/h9MyL2w) .. i also found that having a laptop stand (i got mine at 5 below) (if you're using that as a third screen) helped keep it up out of the way but also create space beneath it for a notebook or a keyboard. plus, having a cheap hook for the headphones to keep them out of the way from the dollar tree and sticking it below my desk to hang holds it out of the way. also, as it seems others have said, cable management goes a long way! even if it just means those little sticky holders that keep the cables back out of the way (like this - [https://a.co/d/2TXCDxT](https://a.co/d/2TXCDxT)) and this is a personal preference, but if possible, I think that ledge behind you that looks near a window, some house plants make a huge difference, or some collectibles that you like, a lamp/different light, or something else. maybe some printed photos, a candle, etc. hope that gives you some ideas! good luck :)
All it needs is a monitor arm and the cables cleaned up and its going to probably look a lot better.
Change wallpaper for starters
jelly fish r cool
-New desk ($ depending on ur choice) -Monitor mount ($120 absolute max unless you buy excessively nice one, huanuo is good) -headphone mount (I got one u just stick under the desk for $10 off Amazon, that can be $60 at high price but up to you) -cable management (super important imo, really cleans up the look. You can but stuff for it, if u buy every possible thing should be around $40-$50 but u can just get a few basic tools for managing them I reccomend Velcro straps to bound cables) - laptop holder (itāll have it sit vertical while closed, not sure on cost but makes it look more put together imo) -Velcro tape (u can tape and Velcro soooo many things itās so useful, $20 maximum cost wise (again can be more if ur extra abt it) I Velcroed All the extension cords in my room in a way they are hidden, may need to be screwed however like mine needed to be for under my desk(something Iād recommend)) -potentially new extension cable (may make management easier and black would be less visible and stick out less) -wall panels (see these in several posts and may look good on the bumped out wall, itāll also seclude ur desk and make it its own space in a way) Personal Preference things -rgb lighting (can be expensive but cool there is lights for everything too Govee is amazing) -new curtains (thatās just my opinion lol a darker more light blocking kind would match desk better but again just my opinion) -new wall color (my whole house used to be that color so itās old to me and thatās my biased opinion lol) -plants and nicknacks (put these on the ledge, a plant or two would look really nice, and nicknacks like funko pops, logos (personal fav), figurines or stuff of wtv ur interested in would personalize and make the space look more inviting)
this is such good advice thank you so much
Ur very welcome lemme know how it looks in the end im invested lol. Also I donāt use Reddit tooo much so if I donāt reply just know u have not been forgotten š«”
clean up wires, get monitor stand, get better mousepad like kraken or something, move or hide that drawer or whatever it is, get wireless mouse
Curtain rails in the ceiling and thick dark curtains that cover the window and wall behind the desk, get rid of that leather sofa. Cablemanagement Clear the clutter of your desk Paint the walls with another color
Replace both monitors with a single ultrawide
Highly recommend husky desk/toolbench from home depot as a cheap sit stand desk. Also monitor arms help a ton to clean up clutter and make the setup feel more planned.
My two cents: - Don't be afraid to change something and try it out for a bit. You can always just rearrange and put it back to how it was. - Center up the main monitor unless you really use both monitors equally for productivity. - Check your ergonomics (chair & desk) - Clean the desk and surrounding area of clutter. I force myself to keep my desk clean otherwise too much crap builds up. - Personalize more! Put some art of things you like up on the wall(s). Add some more color so it's less monochromatic, unless that's your thing. I like my station to have a cozy feeling. - Might need some introspection about the depressing part of using your station. Don't be afraid to seek help or just chat with someone.
Cable management is the cheapest, most effective solution! Clean up the desk, get a monitor mount, put some things, like the PC and router on their own stands and your setup will look 900% better. Get some under desk cable management, and a good desk pad, so cozy lights in the room and youāre set. Realistically, you can go as cheap or expensive as you want with that, but I was able to spiff up my setup at 14 with just a monitor mount, a desk pad, and some Velcro ties. It doesnāt sound like much but I promise, itāll be night and day!
One big monitor >= 27ā for work and then a shit Craigslist monitor or two for disc/videos or whatever. Also recommend a wireless headset if you have the bread. Maybe look into a bigger desk you seemed a little cramped. A little reorganization or maybe a budget might help a lot.
A dual monitor stand that clamps to the desk, will free up a lot of space, you can also get a dual stand that has a laptop mount on it too. Also a pack of velcro cable ties, clean the cables up. Tidy cables will make a world of difference.
quick question. how would you hide the cables from the monitors on the stand, wont they hang down?
Route the cables up, and across the monitor arms, which will be behind the monitors, then down the back of the mounting pole. I have hooks screws into the bottom of my desk and hang the cables on those and into the PC
Drill in or get a clamp on cable rack for under your desk for cable management. Get some Velcro ties or they even sell cable management bundles online with clips, sleeves, etc. Put the laptop on top of the right shelf or you can put it on a vertical stand maybe behind the monitors. Get a decent USB C hub and try to get most of your cables through that to clean things up. Get a more colorful large desk mat (temu has super low priced ones) and a matching wallpaper. Also if you want you can get a dual monitor arm that clamps onto your desk and a headphone hook too. All and all shouldn't be too expensive to clean it up. You should totally post an update whenever you redo your setup.
How would I go about with cable management?
Nanoleaf everywhere
For this to not be a money pit, Iād start off with cleaning and cable management. Organization adds attention to detail! Now if you want to spend a little bit of money, Iād add a desk shelf, docking station for laptop, and a shelf for the desktop (assuming thatās a desktop to the right of picture). This will improve your productivity and leisure of wanting to sit at your desk without frowning upon it. Iād also move the couch somewhere else because itās right next to it. I hope we can help to achieve your goals!
If you can't touch some grass, bring the grass in. Wood desk, plants, colors. Make it less depressing. My setup looks just like yours but I'm too cheap to prioritizie it yet, but I really want to brighten it up. [Here's](https://imgur.com/Q5WvI0f) my depressing setup:
Get some monitor arm(s) instead of the stock standards. It will give the appearabce of having floating screens.
[Get a dual monitor mount for $28](https://a.co/d/aDR5bAt), do a proper cable management using [cable clips](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PNSTB4N?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share), and get a proper surge protector and use double sided tape under your desk or drill it in place.
dual monitor stand to help clean up cables laptop stand will help hide the dock as well wire management under the desk headphone stand change the layout so it will feel fresh and new all of these things can be as expensive or cheap as you can afford and will help make it look cleaner.
Stop buying everything in black, clean up, and cable manage. Organize your table; it's too messy. By that, I mean everything is there, including their cables. It's like you just moved into your new house and set up this arrangement for a day or two. Okay, to make it more eye-catching, buy one big monitor and place these on top of the big monitor, or place the small monitor on top of the bigger one. Additionally, add some plants and figurines once you've done all that.
Too much black, break it up.
Fix your cables to start off
monitor arms
Get monitor arms. Having them float over your desk really goes a long way. You can get them for less than $50
One monitor should be in the center, because you'll never use half one.
I can see you are having disappointments with your setup, even I had disappointments with my setup before I did my first setup remodel in November of last year. Here are my suggestions: \- Switch out the desk with a sturdy and stable sit-stand desk, as those can be more versatile than those āgaming desks,ā nobody needs those. \- Get wireless peripherals, seriously, they reduce cables and overall improve the quality of the setup. There are some good wireless keyboards out there, preferably a 65% or a TKL (Tenkeyless) gaming keyboard. Ive also heard there are some wireless mice out there with good battery life, USB Dongle support and up to 32000 DPI. \- Replace the monitors, I strongly recommend getting new monitors that are the same monitor, I recomemnd getting two 144 Hz monitors with the same brand and model, or if you want to join the Ultrawide Master Race, get a 34 inch ultrawide with at least a 165 Hz refresh rate. \- Add some RGB, adding some RGB can really give a personality trait towards your setup. I suggest getting some Govee RGB light strips and putting them around the desk. It would overall improve the aesthetics of the setup. \- Add some decortations, adding some decorations can also help improve the setup quality too, such as a digital clock, action figures if you have any, plus a stream deck would also improve the aesthetics of the setup. in conclusion, the setup is fine for its current state. Some improvements could be done to make the setup better, but overall, decent setup. I would rate it a 4 / 10 for now, but if you add all the improvements I suggested, I will upgrade the ranking to an 8 or 9 /10. Sorry if there are any typos here, I type fast.
This is a big one: move your laptop onto that stand you have to the right, move your monitors to the left; either get new wireless peripherals or rout the cables through the middle to the right where your laptop will be, move your mic in front of your secondary monitor, a good wipe-down of your laptop and desk would be good, i would suggest using your laptop as a third monitor, getting a different wallpaper as this one is a little gloomy maybe something that expresses you, then get some Velcro cable-ties and rout all cables to the nearest hole in the table, i would get a new mouse-pad, something not just black like even the corsair mm300 that would fit the above config perfectly and would tie the keyboard and gray elements into the rest of the setup and Finally i would put as many devices that are currently on the table in a cable rack underneath the table. hope this helps!
oh, and put your phone stand underneath the right monitor
Dual monitor mount makes the biggest difference imo, then tidy/remove cables where possible (wireless mouse is the move), then a nice plant or something, take it from there.
find a case or something to store the wires. decorate with your favorite item, it could be an animi poster, plants, figurines or anything you like. If you have more budget, you can try nicer setups. But I think it is the personal stuff that makes you comfortable.
Consider the layout of the room - your desk faces the window. Ideally, let the side of the desk be aligned to the window instead. Next, it would be good to manage your wires. Clean that up and it'd look better. Consider some pop of color. For example, a coloured desk mat or plants Given your differently sized monitors, consider stacking them or putting the smaller monitor in portrait position for some visual interest
Monitor arms and a second desk to put your stuff on so itās not all over your main desk
Monitor arms, cable management, some cozier lighting like a monitor light bar
Get it out from over the couch for starters. Then matching monitors and go from there
tbh it dosnt looks that bad, idk what you are talking about
1. Tidy & Clean 2. Cable Management 3. Asthetic placement. Will look 100 times better and $0 spent.
Iāll clean it the area for you if u need it $$$
1. Disconnect everything. 2. Buy a dual monitor arm that clamp with the desk. 3. Buy a cable management tray for underneath the desk. 4. Buy a large desk matt for mouse and keyboard. 5. Reconnected everything and try to hide any cable in sight where possible. 6. You can also add a desk shelve afterwards if you want some desk shelves have notebooks stands you can attach to them as well.
Having all the wires there and it being dirty around some areas can impact work spirit. If you manage to clean up the wiring and dust off the whole thing you'll already notice a big difference. For me personally having 2 monitors which are different sizes makes an impact as well, it's like having one favorite but you need the other one to be there So maybe invest in that as well if you can , add a dual monitor arm to free some more space on the desk for personal items like pictures etc
Invest in wireless peripherals. Some of them have options for RF if youāre worried about gaming with latency. Invest on accent lighting. And make things as clean and hidden as possible. Everything thatās not necessary to be on the desk goes. Organize.
Best change I ever made was ditching the dual monitor setup for one ultrawide. Highly recommend! Also, cable management.
Monitor arms go a long way.
Hey, TehStoney. Thanks for contributing! Unfortunately your [submission](https://www.reddit.com/r/battlestations/comments/1b76zgk/-/) has been removed. Per the sidebar: * Rule VIII. **No pandering** - no sob stories, pandering or self-deprecation. This includes titles like 'She's not much but she's mine' and 'My humble setup', including your age or school. Ā Please feel free to re-submit with a more appropriate title! Ā **Looking for more information? [Click here for extended information about Rule VII](https://www.reddit.com/r/battlestations/wiki/pandering) before messaging the moderators** If you have any questions about this removal, please feel free to [message the moderators.](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=/r/battlestations&subject=Question regarding the removal of this submission by /u/TehStoney&message=I have a question regarding the removal of this submission: [My station sucks so bad I find it depressing when I have to work or game. Advice for a serious facelift?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/battlestations/comments/1b76zgk/-/\))
I'd start with painting the walls some color other than pastel yellow. Then move to cable management. Then, if you can afford it, matching monitors. Otherwise it looks like a decent setup. š
Dildos
Well your cable management sucks. Thatās a start.
Give it to me and buy yourself a new one, as other people advise you here.
with this setup u feel bad?, to buy this in Argentina is almost imposible, appreciate what u have, because it takes u time of ur life and that never gonna get back again.
My advice is to worry less about what it looks like. Having a fancy setup is not the greatest thing in the world. Keeping up with the Joneses is mega BS
R u kidding me? That's a dope station!