My 3-Year Desk Upgrade Journey For Engineers, Students or Anyone On A Budget

Emman For Real
Jun 5
4 min read

Updated: 5 days ago

Three years ago, my desk setup was... terrible. The table was structured in a weird orientation with an awkward "U" shape with minimal space to work on, the chair was old and peeling, no nice monitor, and yeah, you get the point....

And so I transformed my work area, but it didn’t happen overnight. In fact, this whole transformation has taken me three years. So in this post, I’m breaking down every upgrade I made — what’s been worth it, what’s surprised me, and what’s still on the list.

This blog post is based on my YouTube video below. Check it out if you prefer to watch me talk about it instead!

Some of these product links are affiliate links which means if buy something through the links I'll receive a small commission. Note that some of these may be very similar products to the ones I directly mention, be sure to check them out!

1. The Desk: IKEA Mechanical Desk

Ikea Trotten Standing Desk: https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/trotten-desk-sit-stand-beige-white-s29434130/ (Ikea)

For the desk, I went with a mechanical standing desk from IKEA. It's not electric, as it's a budget-friendly alternative, but still life-changing. The desk's long surface gives me room for everything I need, and the standing option has saved my back during long study sessions.

If you're an engineer, student or just a desk worker in general, I recommend this desk as it has helped increase my productivity while giving me some stretch.

2. Monitor Upgrade

Acer 23.8 Monitor:

https://amzn.to/4m6Cek4 (Amazon USA)

https://amzn.to/4moL8cC (Amazon Canada)

Getting a monitor upgrade is a must, as it has helped improve my productivity across the board. I used to work off my laptop screen, only this was a big mistake. A monitor doesn’t just give you more screen space, it transforms your workflow.

3. The Mouse That Earned Its Own Video

Logitech MX Master 3S Mouse:

https://amzn.to/3Z930Oi (Amazon USA)

https://amzn.to/4mjfSvk (Amazon Canada)

I upgraded to the Logitech MX Master 3S. On the surface, it looks like a fancy mouse. But if you use a ton of keyboard shortcuts (which you probably do if you’re in engineering), this thing is a productivity beast.

4. The Ergonomic Gaming Chair

My Ergonomic/Gaming Chair (Be sure to check your local IKEA for it, GRUPPSPEL. Here's the Amazon link just for you to check out):

https://amzn.to/4eNsvKB (Amazon USA)

The chair honestly makes me more excited to sit down and get to work. When I'm studying or working for long periods of time at my desk, I feel it supports me in the right areas on my body helping me throughout the work session.

5. My Desk Mat and Keyboard Setup

SOJITAS Desk Mat:

https://amzn.to/3Jlu9sW (Amazon Canada)

Desk Mat Similar Alternative:

https://amzn.to/4iX6YkW (Amazon USA)

It’s brown, it’s sleek, and it completely upgraded the look and feel of my desk. Sometimes it’s the small stuff that makes your setup feel personal and complete. The mat creates a comfortable work space on the desk that feels nice to work on.

An honourable mention as well is my keyboard, another not mentioned in the video!

LANGTU Keyboard: https://amzn.to/437H0W4 (Amazon USA)

6. My Laptop Stand

Laptop Stand: https://amzn.to/3JBICB2 (Amazon Canada)

Laptop Stand Alternative: https://amzn.to/3SqMcPG (Amazon USA)

One of the few items that survived from my old setup. This simple laptop stand has made using a mouse and an external keyboard feel natural. Before this? I was stacking textbooks. It was... not great. The elevation from the stand gives me extra height for the laptop helping me decrease the strain on my neck.

7. Cube Timer

Cube Pomodoro Timer:

https://amzn.to/3Z3aXEo (Amazon USA)

https://amzn.to/45zDdll (Amazon Canada)

Time management is everything when you’re juggling engineering classes, content creation, and meetings. I love this cube timer for quick, visual countdowns. Especially helpful when I’m deep in work and forget I have a meeting in 10 minutes

8. My Desk Caliper

Digital Caliper:

https://amzn.to/3Zps8Sa (Amazon USA)

https://amzn.to/4fH3xig (Amazon Canada)

If you’re in mechanical, civil or any physical discipline in engineering, having a caliper or measuring tool at arm’s reach is underrated!

9. The Mic Setup

HyperX SoloCast Mic:

https://amzn.to/4ddFhmM (Amazon USA)

https://amzn.to/4mMKMfA (Amazon Canada)

HyperX SoloCast Mic Stand:

https://amzn.to/4iSkSEG (Amazon USA)

https://amzn.to/4mNTESd (Amazon Canada)

Between classes, content, and meetings, I’m talking a lot. This HyperX mic setup has been a major step up from the default laptop mic. If you're presenting, recording, or even just chatting with classmates, sound quality matters more than you think.

10. Cable Management Accessories (Still On The List To-Do)

The cables under my desk are... let's just say it's not pretty. So in the meantime, I would love for you guys to comment on the blog post or the YouTube video (Linked above) on some budget-friendly options or maybe expensive ones that are just too good not to mention.

11. My Desk Speaker

Ikea Symfonis Sonos speaker: https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/symfonisk-wifi-bookshelf-speaker-white-smart-gen-2-40506597/

It lives on my desk and sounds amazing. It’s not portable, but it can calibrate its audio based on the room, which makes my audio sound amazing.

Final Thoughts: This Setup Was Built, Not Bought

Everything in this setup took time. It wasn’t about throwing money at a problem. It was about building a space that supports the kind of work I do — and makes it feel better, easier, and more enjoyable.

If you're thinking about upgrading your own space, start small. One item at a time. It adds up faster than you think.

Looking for gift ideas for yourself or another engineer? I’ve got a full video on that here: Top 10 Gifts for Engineering Students

Looking for the best mouse for engineers? Check out this video for more information!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FszyLuKMBLo

Have more specific questions about engineering school? I'm offering 1 on 1 Engineering Student Coaching to help those all around the globe through their degrees, but this is really only for those who are serious about their degrees and careers in engineering. You can book an appointment with me here:

Click Me

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks for the support everyone, I listed only a couple items we use for equipment, but feel free to ask any questions in the comments if you have any about everything else we may have used and I'll do my best to help.