Best workstation furniture for programming?

Question

I've used a variety of computer furniture over the years and was wondering what other folks liked? My current workstation at home is the couch because my wife has taken over my 48" Anthro Cart for her own computing needs.

To clarify: I'm in the market for new furniture myself workstation and while I'm looking for better than IKEA level products, those crazy $3,000+ motorized desks are out of my budget.

I need space for 2 monitors, a CPU, a laptop and a laser printer.

Answer 1

Joel talks about desks here: http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2008/06/06.html

Jeff talks about chairs here: http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/001146.html

Answer 2

I prefer a 'standard' desk/chair combination with the following caveats:

1. The desk height should be adjustable
2. The chair should have adjustable height, back angle, seat angle, lumbar support, and arm rests. (we do sit it them for 8+ hours a day!) A high quality, comfortable chair will be one of the best investments you can make.

For real comfort, get a foot-stand as well as an under-the-desk extendable keyboard cradle and an adjustable arm to hold the monitor so that it can be angled best towards your preferred sitting position.

Two or more monitors is also a general requirement, though I wouldn't list that as furniture.

Answer 3

Buy a good chair than make a desk out of the largest piece of 'easy to wipe clean' kitchen counter top you can fit in the space and 4 cheap legs from IKEA etc.

Remember you need enough space for 2 monitors + a laptop + a couple of books + a pile of paper and then all the other junk that accumulates on a desk (although that might just be me!)

Somebody said - "get a cheap desk and an expensive chair"

Answer 4

Two words: The WalkStation. No, I don't have one, drat the luck.

Answer 5

I'm also really liking the idea of a stand-up desk.

Answer 6

You mention no IKEA, but I built a great IKEA workstation for both my wife and I (connected desks) that perfectly does the job. The Galant series has tons of different shapes that you can puzzle together for almost any room configuration.

That and an Aeron chair, and I'm writing code like a madman.

Answer 7

I personally like those Norwegian style kneeling chairs that force your back to be straight while not tiring it because you are actually sitting. In concert a good keyboard position, possibly on an adjustable tilting tray helps.

Answer 8

I'm replying here because my comment is too big.

I personally like those Norwegian style kneeling chairs that force your back to be straight while not tiring it because you are actually sitting. In concert a good keyboard position, possibly on an adjustable tilting tray helps.

I mentioned at one company that I loved those chairs. So they got me one with casters on it. Turned out to be easy to move and turn with my feet while sitting.

In my office I had two computers each of which had a computer on it, plus one desk which I used in general. After a while I started moving from desk to desk without getting up. Then I started to go to the printer in the chair. Then just whenever I went somewhere. The final straw for my coworkers was when I started screaming as I moved through the halls. "EX-TERRR-MINAAATE, EX-TERRR-MINAAATE,EX-TERRR-MINAAATE"

Answer 9

Minor detail to check from the table surface is that it should not have sharp edge where your wrists land.