CUSTOM-MADE DESKTOP COMPUTER STAND
(Please click each image for a larger version.)
The computer station corner of the Designery Den was equipped with a small but nicely fitting desk with a desktop shelf addition that provided much needed additional surface space. (Desk configuration from IKEA GALANT Series.)
The desktop shelf was slightly customized by moving one of its supports to a new position in order to clamp it onto the half-round top extension (which simply involved the drilling of two new holes into the shelf’s underside in order to attach the second support to its new desired location).
This small desktop shelf customization was done in order to maximize desktop surface by not having the shelf add-on sitting right in the middle of the desk length but rather line it up with the most left desk edge so that there would be enough desk space available to the right between the shelf and the wall/window.
The idea was to fit the desktop computer in this most convenient for that purpose desk corner.
The composition worked well thus far, but a problem arose from the realization that if the Macintosh machine was to be placed right onto the desk surface on its own stand, its left side was going to be colliding with the right shelf edge and thus would not fit in the designated corner.
It was becoming clear that the only way to proceed with this desired workstation configuration was to create some sort of an elevation to raise the computer just enough so that its bottom edge would slightly overlap the right edge of the shelf.
Once presented with this clarified challenge, it was not long before the usual design wheels were turning fast, going through the inventory of knowledge built from previous custom fit projects, analyzing familiar ready-made items that could be repurposed/adjusted/modified for a reasonable, easy to implement and inexpensive solution. A quick measurement of the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the space that was to be worked with led to the selection of a simple square LACK shelf in combination with 4 adjustable BESTÅ legs (discontinued by IKEA at the time of writing).
Here is how the implementation unfolded:
And shown in full use:
As shown in the pictures, this easy to make stand provides a simple but solid and secure height boost for the desktop computer to stand on and fit in the designated location. As a bonus, additional desk levels for placement or tucking things away appeared, also giving a means to partially hide cables from direct view.
Conclusion
The solution for this, yet another, small space challenge was just another example that we do not need to settle for compromised ergonomics just because a ready-made solution would not fit well a custom situation. There is always a way to improve/adjust/reimagine what is already available and with a little bit of extra time and effort spent we could enjoy lasting benefits and payoffs for a smart investment. ♦
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