I finally got my first desk after working remotely for over a decade. The goal? Make it as cozy as possible.
See, I started a “real” job as a Project Manager (which I LOVE btw and plan on writing posts about it to help others get started). It was important that my space was inviting, cozy, and made me want to work. I didn’t want it to feel like a dark space where dreams die.
My cozy desk things
I created my dream office for under $800. This includes a….
- Crossed-legged chair (which is a thing that I never knew about)
- A white glass standing desk with ports
- Samsung curved screen (I got refurbished)
- 2 glass monitor stands
- Light up keyboard and mouse
- Ergonomic wrist rest for keyboard and mouse (not my exact one, but this one is better and cheaper IMO)
- Cute stationery items I bought from a local stationery shop 🙂
- Crystals, pins, candles, and plants
How to do this on a budget
While $800-ish isn’t the cheapest way to create a cozy space, it’s also not the most expensive either. Standing desks can get really expensive, yet I find the $200 standing desks are just as good as the $1,000+. This is according to my research from people who have had standing desks in all price ranges.
If you’re strapped for cash but want to make your space more inviting, I recommend…
- Buying refurbished technology on Amazon
- Use Facebook Marketplace or secondhand stores to get items for cheap
- Don’t worry about buying everything all at once – there are things I still want for my desk, but I’m waiting
- Decorate with intention, not clutter
- Use free cute wallpapers for your desktop background – elevates a space fast
- Print out free or cheap art on Canva or Pinterest
Why has this been a game-changer
Cozy isn’t just a luxury, I think it’s a game-changer. I show up to work excited and energetic. I just love working in this space! It’s so calm and inviting.
The benefits have also been…
- Makes work feel less like “work” and more like “I’m sitting in this fun/cozy space and doing cool sh*t”
- I feel more creative because of the space, which translates to my work
How to make your space even better
There are many ways you can elevate your space right now. This includes adding a cushion or pillow to your desk chair, adding warm-toned light bulbs, stringing lights on your desk, and adding handmade art or candles to your workspace.
The key thing with elevating a desk is simply organizing and decluttering stuff. That truly makes the biggest impact.
So this is the end
This is a quote I saw online (not sure from whom) that really stuck with me.
“A calm space creates a calm mind. The cozier your setup, the easier it is to show up and do your best work.”
Oh, and in case you’re wondering why I have a piece of pottery on my desk that says “Ba’cho – Good Boy”, it’s because we had an urn made for my favorite boy in the world, but the first urn broke, so the pottery maker made me a second urn, and allowed me to keep the broken one as wel. 🙂
In memory of Ba’cho
Alexis Schroeder is the CEO and founder of FITnancials.
With budgeting and side hustles, Alexis paid off over $40,000 of debt and made over $100,000 in side hustles in college.
Since starting this website over 10 years ago, Fitnancials has reached over 3,000,000 readers. We’ve been featured on sites like Forbes, Yahoo, Side Hustle School, GOBankingRates, Mint, and many more.
If you want to contact Alexis, please send an email to alexis@fitnancials.com.