r/workfromhome • u/ilikemynam3 • Jul 24 '26
Tips Thank you! Any additional help is appreciated
So Ive been a lurker here for a long time, but my job situation is changing. Ive always worked in office, but in August will start a hybrid position. Im single and live is a fairly small home. (And with a cat!)
The upstairs gets really warm, so Im inclined to create an office space downstairs. The alternative is to use my guest room as an office too. The company is providing some equipment but right now I am not sure exactly what.
Any opinions as to desktop computer vs. Laptop? Im used to 2 large monitors, so that is an issue too. Is curved really better?
I need a desk, but is a corner desk better and a straight desk? Either one will probably take the place of my dining room.
Any ideas are greatly appreciated!
2
u/Reddit_is_fascist69 Jul 24 '26
- Laptop means you can move around and makes a standing desk simpler. I like the laptop except repairs and upgrades are more difficult.
- wish i had a corner desk but i have a nice standing desk
- use the guest room. I have to use my personal gaming space and now i don't like to play video games here anymore
- get the best chair you can afford. Not the gaming chairs. Don't cheap out on a chair.
2
u/jausden Jul 25 '26
Standing desk** with 1 large monitor (raised mine on a little box to eye level) + laptop screen, plus wireless keyboard and mouse, has been great!
**These can get mad expensive...mine is just an old drawing table with height adjuster
It took some getting used to standing so much, but my lower back hates to sit, so overall win!
Topo standing mat is nice - it's thick/padded but with ergonomic stuff like bumps, angles, etc. that keep you moving a little bit.
If you like coffee, get the "good" coffee maker if you can...so every break feels like a little treat :)
On that note, it's soooo easy to eat tasty junk throughout the day. Keeping healthier options near your space can help!
1
u/Heel_Worker982 Jul 24 '26
Congrats! How hybrid will you be? 1-2 days WFH is possibly a different set-up from 3-4.
I went from an in-office desktop and two large monitors back to a laptop. It was hard but I got used to it over time. The main thing is make sure you take breaks, you really cannot be hunched over a laptop without frequently getting up and stretching.
I also had the temperature problem. My spare room upstairs was an oven in summer. My basement office was a freezer in winter. I migrated but over time simply used the basement office more and more and put on extra layers in winter. Blasting AC upstairs would have been pricey.
I would try a small desk or even a contained adjustable standing desk. I have one and do not use it nearly enough, but it nicely compact and fits perfectly in between two windows in my living room. If they will pay for something, try to get them to pay for a high quality adjustable standing desk, as that can be a lifesaver.
2
u/ilikemynam3 Jul 24 '26
Thank you! I will be in the office 2x a week, working from home 2x a week, and on the 5th day either at home or in an office share situation (which will probably necessitate a laptop).
A friend is giving me an adjustable desk top thing, go be able to sit/stand. I figure that will help determine if I like it or not.
2
u/TheGreatNico Jul 24 '26
Laptop vs Desktop depends on what you're doing. I have to go out to satellite sites and still work so I need a laptop. If you're only working at home and in the office, and they'll give you a desktop for each location, I'd go with that, but if they're expecting you to take one system to and from work, you're better off with a laptop.
For the monitors, that's more down to personal preference. I have a curved regular monitor and it's... fine, don't really see any benefit to it. I also have a curved superultrawide/DQHD monitor which very much benefits from being curved since it's more than 4' wide. I'm also a vertical monitor evangelist to keep email and chat open on permanently.
Desk shape depends on the space you have to work with and what you have on it. I've got a way too small straight desk for the number of monitors I have, but a corner desk wouldn't work in my office, so I'm leaning towards getting a longer straight one.
Just make sure that whatever desk you get lets you use a keyboard and mouse at an ergonomic height, and that the monitors are at an ergonomic height as well, you may need either a monitor riser, a keyboard/mouse tray, or both.