Standing desk in a bookcase

Got a bookcase with adjustable shelves? Want to see what using a standing desk feels like? Here’s an inexpensive way to try it out. You’ll need a separate keyboard and pointing device (mouse, tablet, trackball, whatever).

The middle shelf of an Ikea Billy Bookcase is perfect height (About 42″ or 106cm) for a keyboard and mouse for me (I’m 5’6″), so I put those there. I emptied out the next shelf and placed it about 8 inches above that one. My 15″ laptop, 19″ external monitor, and a power bar fit up there. I could run wires behind the shelves (taking advantage of the bendy rear surface of the Billy) to connect the 2 areas.

It took about 10 minutes to set up, another 10 minutes to tear down, and proved that getting a standing desk at home was worthwhile to me.

Be wary of using this long-term because you might be too close to your monitor. My face was 13″ away from the screen instead of the usual 19″ I find comfortable.

More examples

Similar idea, using up 1 shelf instead of 2 for laptop

http://offbeathome.com/2011/06/ikea-bookshelf-standing-desk

A fancier version of my Ikea hack with stow-away monitor

http://www.ikeahackers.net/2013/05/stand-up-billy-bureau-or-mini-bar.html

Similar idea with shorter bookcase

http://huntergatherer.com/upstanding-citizen-235-how-to-be-more-confident-on-the-phone/

Cat image is from Neko