My Honest WFH Setup Review

I have watched countless hours of YouTube videos about how to make the most productive workspace. Considering that everyone in my network is studying and working from home. I have decided to compile a list of the gear needed to make a home office as ergonomic and exciting to use as possible.

Old Setup

Here is a picture of my old desk and chair setup. As you can see, I was using a chair with no ergonomic support. I could feel myself slouching all day and I realized that I needed to pay closer attention to my posture. Although I was still productive, I felt the need to stand up and walk around about every hour.

I reached out to a Canadian startup called EffyDesk to see if they could help upgrade my setup. In 5-days I had my Effy Desk and Aery chair delivered directly to my home. When I initially looked at online vendors, they were all being shipped internationally. Some sites are actually seeing a shortage in standing desks as so many employees are now #WFH.

I decided to try out the EffyDesk and Aery Chair because they offer a 30-day free trial, in addition to an 8-year warranty while shipping directly from Canada. 

Standing Desk Mat

If you are already a standing desk owner, I would recommend checking out the https://effydesk.ca/products/standing-mat. I find it extremely comfortable and necessary for standing work sessions over 1 hour. I find it provides a perfect cushion for your feet especially if you work barefoot.

Ergonomic Setup 

I chose the Medium-Sized Business Office Sit Stand Desk and the Aery chair because I spend a lot of time on my computer. I wanted to ensure that I kept proper posture while working. The small desk could have fit all my stuff, but I wanted the extra space just in case. After working at the chair for 7-weeks, I will say that it is a significant improvement over my previous chair. 

Setup was super easy, it only took 20 minutes for the chair and 30 minutes for the desk. from taking it out of the box to having my monitors all plugged in. Check out a video of my setup here.

Some of my favorite features of the Effy standing desk are:

1. Standing has improved my productivity because I am now going for fewer mid-day walks. I now take 100% of my video calls standing up, which keeps me energized through long calls.
2. The business desk frame has reinforced squared columns and tapered off feet. Both help with stability at higher heights compared to other competitors that use thin rectangular steel columns and standard rectangular feet.
3. EffyDesk offers affordable prices for high quality standing desks. I actually tested standing on my desk and it was completely sturdy. EffyDesk offers much higher quality parts than competitors such as IKEA who offer standing desks at a similar price point. Save $25 off all EffyDesk purchases with this link or use the code savemoney.

Cable Management

In terms of cable management, I took the advice of many YouTubers and opted for the CalDigit TS3 Plus. The TS3 is a beast considering that it charges my MacBook Pro while connecting my audio, dual monitors, ethernet, and up to 5 USB ports all through a single USB-C cable. I love how neat it looks considering that I used to have all four USB-C ports on my MacBook used by my devices and the Audio Jack. Check out this TikTok to see exactly what it looks like. If there is one single product that I would recommend to improve cable management it has to be the CalDigit TS3 Plus because it is very quiet and allows multiple external devices to be connected through one single USB-C cable. I took the advice from this YouTube video and spray painted an IKEA Signum rack black to match the frame of my desk. The rack fits my power bar, cables, and the CalDigit TS3 Plus perfectly.

Lighting

In terms of lighting, I reached out to the team as Signify (Phillips Hue) and asked them what they recommended for my setup. They sent over the Phillips Hue Colour Starter Kit which I replaced my current lights in my light fixture with. Take a look at this TikTok to see the whole system connected through the Phillips Hue App. I switched out my lamp for the Phillips Hue Go which amazed me with how bright it gets and the colour spectrum that it offers. The last addition was two Lightstrip Plus base V4 80 inch, one was placed around my desk, and one behind my TV. The best part is that all the lights sync up with different scenes within the Phillips Hue App. I have had different lights and LED strips in the past, but none of them compare to the ease of use and quality of the Phillips Hue products. The products are designed to last for years and the quality is unprecedented. I personally love being able to control my lights from my phone. I have set up a wakeup mode and a bedtime mode that changes the lighting based on the time of the day. Although Phillips Hue products are on the pricier side of LED lights, the quality truly is unprecedented. 

Art

I knew that I needed to improve the visual experience in my room. Most of my art has been handed down or pieced together from thrift stores. I wanted a piece of art that would make me more creative and really change with my space throughout the year. I reached out to the team at Canvia and they provided me with the Canvia Digital Art Frame. However, the Canvia frame is far from just a digital picture frame. It uses ArtSense technology to adapt to lighting conditions to make all art look like real painting or prints regardless of surrounding light conditions. While I am not an art aficionado, I like that Canvia allows me to experience artists such as Claude Monet within the comforts of my office. 

I love the Canvia Smart-Frame because I have set it to change artwork every five-minutes which has added a few moments of joy throughout my day as I get to experience art that otherwise would not be possible. When I look at the other artwork in my office, it makes me wish that I had opted for numerous Canvia Smart Frames as I can get the ability to change between different artworks and change the style of my room as the day goes on. I am a big fan of the upload feature within the Canvia App because it allows me to upload my brother's designs to the frame and photographs that I have taken throughout my travels. Setup took 5 minutes and was easier than hanging a typical picture. 

Hair Management

Although not common in WFH reviews. I have been using the HairStrong Band which keeps my hair tied up all day. It was started by Nicole Baranowski at Western University. It is an awesome product that has been incorporated into my day-to-day routine. 

Aspirational

In terms of the next steps with the setup, I plan on updating my speakers, lighting, mouse pad, microphone, headphones, and Webcam.

Speakers: Beosound Edge or a pair of Adam Audio A8X’s + the Audient iD4 

Microphone+Stand: Blue YetiX and the Yeti Compass

Webcam: Logitech Brio or the Insta360 ONE R 

Headphones: Beoplay H95

Brands can submit all review requests here: https://forms.gle/AfxSchkPiwGAv9ii7 or message me directly on LinkedIn.