Skip to main content

Free standing desk (hack)

A no cost, free way to build a standing desk

We're currently house sitting (been doing that a lot over this xmas break).  Now at my sister in law's place looking after a cat.  One of the difficulties in being a nomad is my desk!  I haven't got it set up right anywhere yet.  Not even at my mother in law's place and even in Peakhurst when we hadn't settled in properly the desk or bench in that case was only temporary.

I have been inspired by a number of IKEA hacks found on the internet but I'm quote happy with what I came up with by scrounging around.



The box is 22cm high.  I found a bluetooth media keyboard (which has an inbuilt trackpad - helps as there is no room for a mouse on this box!).  The stool is a further 23cm taller than the box so my laptop is sitting on 55cm above desk height.  It could be a bit taller but not much more.  This is good for my height.  The desk is a standard height at around 73cm.

For comfort, the keyboard could sit a bit lower (or I could be a bit taller!) as my elbows are almost 90 degrees (which is meant to be ideal) but I think my hands want to be just a bit lower again.  Also this box doesn't have the width for me to pop my mouse in a good spot which I'd prefer.

I'll have to show you a photo of my makeshift standing desk at my MIL's place too when I am back as that isn't that much better -- actually some of the boxes I've used are even more precarious -- I'm using a cardboard box for the laptop but at least the monitor is standing on a guitar amp (photo will explain better).

So anyone wanting to try a standing desk this is probably a good solution for you to give it a go without investing anything.  No special tools, no installation required.  Just a stool (or you could use a chair) on a desk and then a box or something else to prop up a keyboard and mouse.

For those who want to get fancy and see the 'aha' IKEA hack article, check out the Standesk.  Supposedly $22 but that is using US IKEA pricing.  In Australia  (Eastern), IKEA is a bit more.
Lack table $9.99 or $7.99
EKBY Viktor $9.99 (The Tryvvge is cheaper at $4.99 and 79cm - the Viktor is 75cm)
Valter brackets $5 each at $10 for two (the EKBY STÖDIS is $2.50 each at $5 for two but doesn't look as good)
Total cost based on the original recipe in Sydney is $27.98 or $28 as we get rounded up anyway.  Or you can do it for a bit cheaper at $20 with the Laiva and Stödis.

Upgrades to the Standesk can be the Lack Coffee table at $29.99 and a longer shelf either the Lack (not sure how the brackets would work on that one!) or the Järpen at $24.99.  But at then a cost of $65 you may be better off with another hack...

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Fitness Passport membership locations on a map

My Fitness Passport membership is now live!  Woohoo!  So I get access to a heap of gyms and pools and classes.  For someone who isn't interested in a gym membership I'm not quite sure why I have joined!!  Peer pressure. I'm very fortunate that I have the opportunity to join this type of membership as then I can go just about anywhere in NSW.  The membership site gives you a list of them but I had no idea how close they would be to either work or home so I copied and pasted the details into a Google Sheet and then put them in a Google Map.  I thought it may be useful for others too. You can access the map by this link too:  ​ https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=10hH5PtKlBzeEzV6AoLev4vxqNoDxzR6y&hl=en&usp=sharing

Sauna at home and Vivid Dreaming

Due to the current situation where we are all at home and most public places are now closed I've invested and bought myself a sauna.  I got a Valo 2 person sauna and it's been great so far.  I purchased it for ~A$1600 (before a price rise due to the exchange rate).  If you are reading this in early April 2020 they may still have stock here of the same model:  https://www.luxoliving.com.au/Valo-2-Person-Canadian-Hemlock-Carbon-Fibre-Sauna-Cabin I had looked at a number of sites for a sauna that would fit into my 1 bedroom apartment and more specifically on my balcony.  I briefly thought of a 1 person sauna but I'm so glad I got a bigger sauna as it's already a bit like a confinement space and to have a smaller space again I think would be a bit too claustrophobic.  Originally I had thought to buy the sauna from Appliances Online due to my previous great experiences but the delivery timeframe was too far away so I cancelled my order and ended up buying it from Luxo Livi

The Croissant Diet Experience with a CGM - Sept 2020

I've been on the bandwagon of The Croissant Diet (TCD) for a little while.  Maybe 6 weeks or so.  And I thought I should document things a bit. There was a great summary by Brad Marshall on Twitter on what The Croissant Diet actually is: Eat LOTS of long chain Saturated Fat and avoid PUFA like the plague. Also avoid MUFA. If you want to eat some starch, go for it! But smother them in SatFat. That’s the whole thing, really. — FireInABottle (@fire_bottle) September 21, 2020 What I'm eating: Meat - beef or lamb mostly as this is low in PUFAs and high in stearic acid. Fats for cooking - tallow or butter.  Enhanced with stearic acid.   Eggs - cos they are a great whole food.  Usually cooked in tallow or butter (enhanced with stearic acid if I remember). Butter Cream for tea Coffee - usually black Low carb "carbs" -- Atkins crispbread and Woolworths Macro bread. These have vegetable oils so not great but I try and overwhelm it with lots of butter.  But generally not some