A collaborative post
written by BOOM BOX POST
Building out your studio desk and workspace can become very expensive. But not every upgrade has to break the bank. Sometimes it’s the small, thoughtful additions that end up having the biggest impact on your workflow, comfort, and overall studio vibe. Here are five wallet-friendly upgrades you can make to your home or professional studio that make an impact without hurting your wallet (too much).
3D-Printed Audio Interface Mounts
If you’ve ever struggled with your interface sliding around your desk or being just out of reach when you need to adjust gain or swap inputs, this is a gamechanger.
A small Etsy shop called IronPrintsStudio makes 3D-printed mounts for popular interfaces like the Focusrite Scarlett series and more. At around $15–$20, these mounts let you secure your interface underneath or alongside your desk, making your workspace cleaner and your gear more accessible. I personally use one for my MOTU UltraLite Mk5 and can’t imagine going back.
But now that you’ve mounted your interface under your desk, you may need some under-desk cable management as well…
Under-Desk Cable Management
Cable clutter is one of the biggest eye sores and creativity killers in a studio. A good cable management system can instantly make your space feel more organized and professional.
For lightweight setups, an under-desk cable management net ($18) does a great job wrangling loose cords. If you need something more robust, the VIVO metal cable tray ($20) is a solid pick, it can support power strips and heavier cable bundles.
Bonus tip: You can also find clamp-on options if you’re trying to avoid drilling into your desk.
Under-Desk or Side-Mounted Headphone Hooks
Staying on the under-desk theme… Where do your headphones live when they’re not on your head? If the answer is “wherever I set them down,” a simple hook might be the tidy upgrade you never knew you needed.
The Elevation Lab Anchor ($12) mounts under your desk and can hold two pairs of headphones. Other options like the KiaoTime wall mount or this magnetic hook let you attach your headphones to just about any surface.
It’s a small upgrade, but one that keeps your space neater and your headphones in better condition over time.
Speaker Isolation Stands
Vibrations, resonances and low-end rumble can muddy up your monitoring accuracy. If your monitors are sitting directly on your desk, you could be missing out on tighter transients and cleaner mids.
The IsoAcoustics ISO-130 ($99) are a trusted solution for small-to-medium monitors. They elevate your speakers, reduce resonances, and can be raised and tilted to aim the sweet spot right at your ears. They also let your monitors perform more like they’re meant to: free from unwanted desk vibrations.
Once your speakers are perfectly placed, let’s turn our attention back to your desk one more time…
DIY MIDI Keyboard Sliding Tray
If you use a MIDI keyboard in your work but are constantly trying to make desk space for it, a sliding tray could be the solution you need. This is one of the more involved DIYs on the list, but still comes in around $100 total and the convenience of a hidden yet accessible keyboard is well worth the effort.
Using a pair of heavy-duty drawer sliders (~$25), you can create a custom pull-out tray for your keyboard. For the tray surface, an IKEA Besta panel (boujee pick) or a pre-cut wood board from Lowe’s works great depending on your keyboard’s size.
For reference: 49-key keyboards: 31–33” wide, 9–11” deep. 61-key keyboards: 38–40” wide, 10–13” deep.
You don’t need a huge budget to make your studio more ergonomic, organized, and inspiring. With a few smart purchases and a bit of DIY spirit, you can personalize your studio setup and dramatically improve your workflow without draining your budget.
What are some of your favorite studio upgrades? Let us know in the comments!
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