About this time a year ago, I lamented my lack of office space, and while making due with the old dinner table in the basement, I prophesied my future workstation. And like all prophesies I make regarding things I’m resolved to do, it came true. Imagine that!
Desk space gets allocated quickly, but my primary irritation over the years has been the trend towards smaller and more mobile technology. That’s cool and all, but there are ergonomic limits–a point at which a device is too small for a human to use comfortably. Laptops struggle with this.
But I’m all about maximizing productivity, rather than convenience, so I don’t want a tiny laptop. I want a big machine with multiple monitors. I want a permanent station for my computers, but without the restrictions of a desktop. Basically, I have my own specific preferences and nothing was accommodating them to my satisfaction.
And I was sharing the table with the kid, and the growing mess directly correlated with my growing irritation, and when the glitter made an appearance (resulting in my workstation appearing as if someone had taken a 12-gauge to Tinkerbell), I had had it. I started looking for desks.
My goal was to convert the far corner of the basement into a work area. As of late, it had become a temporary trash heap of cardboard boxes awaiting proper disposal upon the city’s annual unlimited trash pickup event. So, there wasn’t any competing demand for the space. With pocket knife in hand, I reduced the mess to a pile, vacuumed the space, measured some options, and began researching.
Sadly, the oak executive desk was beyond my price range. But more surprising was the lack of mere available options. I wanted a large L-shaped desk, so that I could load it up with my personal/company computer and peripherals, but apparently no one else had that idea in mind. I searched Amazon and Office Space with limited success. Then Liz suggested IKEA.
IKEA, despite its reputation, has surprisingly sturdy furniture. Unlike its competitors’ products for the given niche, IKEA doesn’t bow and break within the first couple years. And besides their quality, their stores are just plain exciting to visit. When we do, I suddenly feel the need to rent a shitty New York apartment and maximize its function for the tiny space.
So after some perusing, I bought two generic desk/shelves. And after an evening of assembly, I had the L-shaped desk area that I wanted.
It’s minimalist, granted, but fits the unfinished basement theme. More importantly, I haven’t had a desk in 7 years, and can finally sit down to an actual workstation–my command center. Damn that feels good.
–Simon