What’s on my desk? 2024 edition!

For some reason I didn’t do one of these last year, despite me taking some time to give my home office a bit of an overhaul. So, time to share my current home office set-up to the world. Whether it’s of use to anyone I don’t know, but it may give someone some inspiration.

And, yes, I’ve gone for a moody night shot, but only to demonstrate the lighting that I have in place.

As you can see, the room is small, and I favour the deep, rather than wide, desk.

And here’s what all these things are…

1. My MacBook Pro 14 M1 Pro, sitting in a Twelve South BookArc stand. There’s just two cables coming it – USB-C connector that plugs into my monitor, and the MagSafe power cable
2. Creative Pebble V3 Bluetooth and USB-C speakers. I connect with Bluetooth and use the USB-C for powering it. I use these speakers for video calls and general laptop output
3. Attached to the underside side of the monitor (bottom right), is a 4-port, aluminium USB-3 hub – it’s a quick and convenient way to plug in USB-A devices to my laptop
4. My LG UltraFine 31.5″ 4K monitor. There’s no stand, but a multi-direction arm that clamps to the edge of the desk, freeing up space. It has a 2-port USB-C hub and speakers
5. BenQ ScreenBar Halo. This is a high-end, remote screen light, complete with a remote control down on my desk
6. A Logitech StreamCam sits on top of the monitor, plugging into the rear it, via a USB-adapter (the StreamCam is USB-C, my monitor hub is not!)
7. A Stream Deck+. Intended for streamers, it’s also got a life outside of that too. Everything from simple shortcuts to video editor controls, the tactile buttons and touch screen of this version makes it a worthy upgrade
8. An Audio-Technica AT2020USB+ Microphone, shock mount and pop filter.
9. A Belkin BoostCharge PRO, keeps my iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods wireless charged with ease. Whilst working, my iPhone magnetically snaps to it on landscape mode, making use of the standby mode
10. ShuttleXpress video jog/shuttle. I like video editing but this can actually be configured to control any app, so it’s great for simple shortcut keys, etc.
11. An OG Apple HomePod. This has a great sound and I mainly use it for listening to music, connected directly to the Apple Music app on my laptop. All other sound is directed through the monitor speakers.
12. An Elgato Wave Mic Arm LP. LP stands for “low profile”, so the arm sites more horizontal than the usual “up and over” of most microphone arms. This is great. I just push it to the side when I don’t need it. It’s also incredibly well built too, with magnetic cable covers.
13. Mug coasters, made from recycled vinyl singles – in this case, all of them from Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds. A great Etsy find.
14. Nordik Vegan Leather Desk Mat in blue
15. Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Apple Magic Trackpad 2. I prefer the trackpad over the mouse (yes, I do have one), and is still my original, now 7 years old. The keyboard is new, now sporting the Touch ID (which has allowed me to keep my laptop closed)
16. My chair is the rather comfy Humanscale Diffrient World. All mesh and very simply built, I’d recommend it
17. My rather splendid sit/stand desk, with adjustable height controls. This is the DeskRite 300, but with the added extra of replacement, brushed steel, inserts. However, what’s under the desk is also of interest…
    1. Underneath, at the rear, is a metal cage/tray, which is used for tidying cables, as well as to store the monitor PSU.
    2. A 7-port, powered USB hub also sits inside the cage. This plugs into a USB-C port in the back of the monitor
    3. Next to the cage, is an under-desk mounted 7-way power strip. This means that only a single cable goes from the desk to the floor, which on a desk that can be raised and lowered, is a God-send
18. An Eve strip light lines the outside of my desk (well, the rear part of it so they’re not visible from the front). Controllable from both my phone but also my Stream Deck.
19. Govee Glide Hexa light panels add a dash of colour to the wall. I often have these set up to light up based on music but otherwise can be used to add a warm glow to the room.

Underneath the desk is hiding the following…

1. Stream Deck Pedal. For when I need to slam my foot down to end a Zoom call. But. yeah, configured for all sorts of uses depending on what I’m doing.
2. A half cylinder foot rest cushion. Foam filled and with a non-slip coating on the outside, I’ve had this for years and has served me better than anything metal or plastic equivalent.
3. An APC UPS. 400VA, 8 outlets and surge protected, all my network kit is running through the battery backup outlets. The remaining outlets are used for powering things on my bookcase (see below).

This is the view to the left of me. I find having a white board always useful for quick notes. Under that is an Ikea SKÅDIS pegboard and accessories.

On the radiator shelf, the main thing of note is the timer, which I use as a Pomodoro timer. It visually shows time remaining and is nicely analogue in a setting way, but is battery driven with an adjustable alarm.

To my right, is a couple of bookcases and, on top, from left to right (ignoring the rock-salt lamp and fake plant for now), we have…

• Synology DS223 NAS, with 2 4TB Seagate IronWolf HDDs
• Apple AirPods Max or an aluminium stand
• Eve Room – a very compact, connected, air quality sensor
• Netgear Orbi RBK753 router
• Nordik Leather Valet Tray. Usually contains..
  • My wallet, which houses an Apple Tag
  • Apple AirPods (3rd Gen), in a navy blue silicon case

Behind is the wall that I painted last year, so I’m going to make sure I include it! Not much to say, other than to highlight the Bresser wall clock, which is a radio controlled (so no need to adjust the time) clock in stainless steel, and is near-silent. It also shows temperature and humidity as well.

Plans for the next year? None. Other than moving things around, I have no plans for anything to change or be added to, but who knows?

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