Written By: Austin Hull
Do you have a home studio? Is your desk way too small but you don't want to fork out 1000 of dollars on a "producer" desk? Here's how I created my perfect home studio desk for under $450.
If you are a producer that works in a home studio setting, I can imagine you have had some trouble finding a solid desk that won't break the bank. I was on the hunt for the right desk for over a year but I could never find anything I liked. Everything was either way too expensive or the layout wasn't fit for my needs. With so many people producing and mixing mostly in the box now, a lot of us don't need massive workstations with a space for a control surface in the middle and tons of rack storage on the worktop and underneath the desk. Personally, I was on the hunt for a large worktop that could fit my 61 key MIDI controller, my computer monitor, and would have some leftover space so I didn't feel cluttered. I had a couple of rack pieces that I wanted a home for, and I had an 88 key keyboard that is my secondary keyboard / MIDI controller. It was impossible for me to find a desk that had the space on top that I wanted, the space for my 88 key keyboard, and some slots for the rack gear I do have. I finally figured out the solution.
Personally, I was on the hunt for a large worktop that could fit my 61 key MIDI controller, my computer monitor, and would have some leftover space so I didn't feel cluttered.
The Massive Worktop
I ended up getting a large table from Ikea, the Ypperlig at $229, to be my main worktop. It's large enough to put exactly what I wanted on top and still have room left over.
The Rack Space
But what about my rack gear? I decided to get a side car from Sweetwater, for $125, that has 12U spaces for rack gear and a table top. This is great for my rack units and gives me even MORE space to put anything I might need to on top. But I STILL needed somewhere to put my 88 key keyboard.
The Keyboard Stand
I decided to get a cube organizer, the Kallax 4x2 from Ikea for about $79, which fits my keyboard perfectly on top and has 8 shelfs to put decor in, store cables in, and provide any extra storage I might need.
I personally love the aesthetic and the function of all 3 pieces that I combined to make up my new studio setup. Each one serves a specific purpose, they fit nicely in my space, and they were all very affordable. I highly suggest considering a setup like this where you keep a large, clean worktop, have your rack storage in a secondary unit, and have some shelving that can hold large keyboards, synthesizers, guitar amps, and other equipment.
Much love,
Austin Hull
www.austinhull.com
instagram.com/austinhull23
facebook.com/austinhullmusic
Great insights on creating a functional production desk without breaking the bank! It's amazing how smart design can deliver such value. Speaking of stylish setups, pairing this desk with mirrored bedside tables could elevate the overall aesthetic, adding both functionality and a modern touch to your workspace. Thanks for sharing these budget-friendly ideas!