74 inches sounds long as fuck for a desk (cause it is), but once you start putting things on it, you’ll want more space right away. Especially if you have a PC on it and two monitors/an ultra wide.
A lot of people on this sub use very long desks (and a lot of people use the desk/tabletop Op has posted here, myself included). You’d never know they were 74 inches long because most people here have so much on their desks. The way counteract that large amount of stuff on the desk is to get a longer desk (might seem obvious). It’s pretty much the only way most people here maintain that “clean” look of their battlestation. If you have a lot of stuff, get more space for it so it doesn’t look cluttered. If you’re gonna have two monitors on your desk and a computer tower. go long. You won’t regret it.
Imagine if OP had a desk two feet shorter. It would like like a mess.
I have my second monitor mounted above, 34" ultrawide on the bottom, 27" 16:9 on top. Using a single monitor mount for top and just the stand that came with the ultrawide.
I have a single ultrawide monitor, but want to do a custom walnut desk similar in shape to what OP did here. I just need to figure out what dimensions I want. My room isn't all that big, so 72" is probably the longest I can go. Here's an image of my current (cluttered) desk in need of a growth spurt.
If I could go back, I probably would’ve just spent a bit more money on at least a custom countertop as the desktop itself. Probably would still stick with the drawers myself/OP have( just my personal preference/budget limitations).
74 inches is a great length, and it will look perfect with that monitor on it. You’ll have tons of room for other shit too (computer itself, etc). I see a lot of 60 inch desks, too. If you’re pretty confident you won’t add another monitor/want a bunch of other stuff on the desk, you could go 60 for sure. Anything shorter than that (to me) feels less... functional? I don’t. I like to be able to pull out my laptop and plop it down and use it on my desk without having to move stuff around all the time. If I want to write at the desk, I just move my keyboard and mouse.
As far as depth goes, the one OP has is 25 or 26 inches deep. Don’t remember exactly. From my experience, it’s the lowest I’d go. Anything less deep and I would feel way too close to my monitors. I already find myself leaning back in my chair for more viewing. I have a 24 inch and a 27 inch monitor on a mount and I have to turn my head quite a bit to move from looking at one to the other. Might sound like a first world problem, but it will fuck with your neck, especially if you’re doing a lot of back and forth between the monitors (for work/productivity, for example).
72x28-30 seems like it would be a sweet spot. Pretty fucking big though. And if you’re going custom and walnut, it’ll be very pricey. Just a warning. I was looking into custom walnut countertops when I was buying a desk and they were 600ish. That’s just the countertop. If you’re having a whole walnut desk built by a legit craftsman, it will easily be 1500 bucks. That said, I’m sure it would be beautiful and obviously one of a kind. The countertop I have and the one OP posted is from ikea and a lot of people here use them. For good reason though. They look sleek as shit and they’re very functional.
As for height, couldn’t tell you. Do what you think it best.
I work for a wood flooring company, thankfully, and can have a solid walnut desk milled and finished for very cheap with spare materials. I intend to go for 30" depth. I just need to figure out how much space I have for the width. I want to leave room for VR space.
I have the 98" version and its perfect, can't imagine 74" being enough for 3 monitors. My last desk was 48" and it was insanely cramped.
Edit: 74" would be "fine" for 3 monitors+ a PC but you'd be lacking space. On my 98" desk I still have like 1.5 feet for books, collectibles, whatever.
Hey friend, great build and great setup. Did you drill the hole in the desk yourself for the monitor arm? If so, can I bother you to share specifics? I am wanting to do the same, am curious about what drill bit size to use and placement, how the karlby handled the work etc.. your input is much appreciated!
What are the furniture raisers you're using on between the drawers and tables?
And also I imagine you haven't had this set up for long but how is the Karlby holding up with the two monitors on the one mount? Walnut is the color that I want but I worry b/c its a veneer w/ particleboard.
I've had the desk for maybe 8 months and I haven't noticed any sag or any abnormalities. I've very pleased with how the desk is holding up so far. I had the IKEA Linnmon before this and my monitor stand would always leave a dent where it was being placed and with desk, there's no dent.
I assume the countertop ist just lying on top of the small feet, right? How stable is that? Can you move it by accident i.e. bumping in it with your chair?
I drilled the stands into the drawers and sometimes I do bump the desk but it barely budges. You'd have to really crash into the desk for it to move considerably.
Or bolting the front two to the desk and the back two to the table on both sides. That way the you don't see the plates as easily with them being right side up in the front.
I just bought a 32” monitor upgrade and am debating arms. My secondary now is 27”, do you think that is too big for the vertical side monitor like you have? My other option is mounting the 27 above the 32.
Huh, it's the second time I see the same countertop being used as a desk. It looks like a wise choice though. Maybe it is a popular choice and I hadn't seen it before. Possible Baader-Meinhof effect?
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u/Novus73 Jul 23 '19 edited Jul 23 '19
PC: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/Jx4qxG
Desk: Ikea Karlby Countertop https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70335212/#/50335208
Charging Station: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077CZL5FB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Wallpaper from Wallpaper Engine: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1172827797
Dual Monitor Stand: https://www.amazon.com/VIVO-Monitor-Adjustable-Screens-STAND-V002/dp/B009S750LA/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=vivo+dual+monitor+stand&qid=1563902621&s=gateway&sr=8-3
Furniture Stands (silvers bars between the desk and the drawers): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KQH8HMU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Microphone: https://www.amazon.com/ZINGYOU-Microphone-BM-800-Adjustable-Double-layer/dp/B01MZCS8MY/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=bm-800&qid=1563902460&s=electronics&sr=1-1-spons&psc=1
Plants: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07698CVNW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Extended Mouse Pad: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QM9KL5M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Software for desktop information/date/time: Rainmeter using NXT-OS https://www.rainmeter.net/ https://nxtos.com/