Standing desks are known for being a good solution for maximizing your ergonomics when you’re working at a desk. Sitting in one position for several hours a day may lead to pains in your back, neck, and wrists. However, standing desks may help with managing that pain by allowing you to both sit and stand whenever working to help limit the strain on your back.
If you’re interested in one, you could either buy one or make it yourself using different materials. So, should you build a standing desk at home yourself? Well, we’ll explain in this guide.
Should You Build a Standing Desk At Home Yourself?
There are some benefits and compromises that you may have to make with choosing either a fully designed standing desk or a DIY one. In this article, we’ll go over both of those so that you can make an informed choice. Here’s what you should know.
Benefits of a DIY Standing Desk
We’ll begin with the benefits of a DIY standing desk.
More Cost-Effective Than Buying a Standing Desk
One of the biggest reasons you may want to build a DIY standing desk at home is that it can be a cheaper option than buying one. While it may be a good idea to invest in some dedicated materials, you can also repurpose some household items into a standing desk.
For example, you could use a bookcase as your standing desk. Of course, this would only work if the bookcase is set at the appropriate height. In addition to that, it should have enough space for you to place your monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
Moreover, if you already have a table at home, you could consider placing it over something to raise its height. This way, you can repurpose it into a standing chair. If you want to sit down and work, then you can lower for a seated position. It may help to use an ergonomic chair in your home office for better lumbar support and neck support.
Another way you can save money with a DIY standing desk is that you won’t have to pay shipping charges to get one delivered to your home. Standing desks are large objects, and the shipping charges for them are typically higher because of that.
May Offer Good Customizability
As indicated above, you may have quite a bit of customization options if you choose to build a DIY standing desk at home. There are a variety of household items that you can make into a standing desk.
For example, if you want something simple that saves space, you could simply install a slab of wood on your wall using mounts. You’ll free up plenty of space beneath the desk, giving you a cleaner setup.
One downside of this option is that you will forgo the ability to adjust the height. Therefore, it’s vital that you get the height correct during installation because incorrect height can compromise your ergonomics. Another downside of no height adjustment is that other people (of different heights) living in your home may not be able to use the DIY standing desk. You could consider using mounts that offer height adjustment to counteract this issue.
Other options of customizability include adding or removing certain accessories, storage compartments, and so on. If you’re particularly crafty, you can design your standing desk to fit your own unique preferences. Therefore, you can even create compartments for cable management and so on.
You Can Incorporate Fitness Elements into the Design
If you’re looking to prioritize fitness and better health while working, you could also place an exercising bike or treadmill below your standing desk. This setup could work with a shelf mounted to the wall. In addition to that, if your treadmill has space, you could even install a flat piece of wood onto it, which you can use as a desk.
One of the benefits of a standing desk, in general, is that it helps with burning more calories than you would if you were seated for the same number of hours. Therefore, incorporating exercise can help with increasing the number of calories you burn, allowing you to stay healthier. In addition to that, you can also ensure that your legs are moving so that there’s enough blood circulation.
Can Be Easy to Build
So, should you build a standing desk at home yourself? Well, they can be relatively easy to build if you choose to create a basic yet functional setup. In some cases, a DIY standing desk can be as easy to build as placing a table on a platform to raise it. So, all you would be doing is moving around some furniture. That said, if you want a more complex setup, you’ll need to put in the time and effort to create it. However, there are some parts available that you can purchase that you simply have to assemble yourself.
Cons of a DIY Standing Desk
When you build a DIY standing desk at home, you may have to deal with some compromises that you may not experience with a ready-made product. Here are some to note.
Compromised Ergonomics
You may not be able to find peak ergonomics with a DIY standing desk as you may with a ready-made product. Your project may not have enough or any height adjustment options. Moreover, you may not have enough desk space to accommodate all of your essential items.
For example, if you’re using a laptop, it’s a good idea to keep the screen and keyboard at different heights. Typically, you’ll need an external mouse and keyboard so that your screen is just below your eye level while your elbows are at almost 90 degrees. So, you may compromise your ergonomics if you don’t have enough space for a laptop stand and your keyboard and mouse.
In addition to that, some DIY standing desks may not offer superior stability. So, a wobbly desk may affect your speed at typing or your overall concentration on your work.
It May Take a Lot of Time and Effort to Create
If you want to create a high-quality and elaborate DIY standing desk, it may take a lot of time and effort. So, if you have a busy schedule, it may not be an easy process, and you’ll also be compromising your ergonomics during the time you use another setup while your standing desk is still being created.
When to Consider a DIY Standing Desk
You can consider a DIY standing desk if you work from home occasionally or for a few hours a day. For example, if you have a hybrid work set up in which you work most days at the office and a few at home, you won’t be spending many hours in your home.
In that case, it may not be beneficial to invest in a well-made, fully-adjustable standing desk. However, if you want a long-term solution, a proper standing desk is the way to go. It will give you all of the necessary options to maximize your ergonomics and efficiency, which can help with maintaining better health in the long term as well. So only build a DIY standing desk at home as a short-term solution.
Consider a Ready-Made Standing Desk Instead
If maximizing ergonomics and comfort is your priority, then consider getting a high-quality ready-made standing desk instead. For example, the E7 model by FlexiSpot offers easy and smooth height adjustment with the press of a button.
In addition to that, it also saves your height settings. So, if two or more people use that desk, you can simply go into the memory settings to choose your preferred height settings. This feature is also beneficial if you want to switch between a standing or sitting position at your desk.
Moreover, it includes a spacious surface, allowing you to place multiple things on your desk at once. This way, everything you need when working will be within your reach. Also, the frame is built to keep the large desk surface stable so that you have an exceptional working experience.
It also includes an anti-collision feature, in which its sensors will detect if there’s an object that will obstruct its path during height adjustment. So, you won’t have to worry about damaging it if you don’t realize that something was placed beneath your desk.
Last Few Words
We hope that this article helped you answer the question, “Should you build a standing desk at home yourself?” Whether you choose to buy one or make one, be sure to learn about ergonomic working positions so that you can use a device that helps you achieve that.
For more options on ergonomic desks, office chairs, office furniture, and accessories, visit FlexiSpot today! There are currently some fantastic discounts on these unique products.
