Last updated: 21st Jan 2026
I’m an office furniture nerd. The type to visit an Officeworks on a Saturday morning (and be appalled at their selection of standing desks). Does this make me a tragic loner with no life? Probably.
But if you’re looking for standing desk setup inspo ideas, you get to reap the benefits.
Because I’ve bought – or was gifted – over 20 standing desks in the last few years.
By the way, my review of Australia’s top standing desks has received over 500,000 visitors so far. If you’re on the fence about which standing desk to buy, it should be your Bible.
1. Scandi Nostalgia.
Above: 9am Home Atom Pro Standing Desk.
You can create an airy, breezy, welcoming look by buying a standing desk with white tubular legs and a light-coloured desktop (e.g., birch or American oak) and placing it against a white wall.
Create contrast using black furniture and green foliage.
Add dark tan highlights.
Finish off with a rug that pulls in the white and dark tones.
Expert Tip.
Don’t forget to create a pool of light beside the desk. Here I’m using a photography studio lightbar, but you can use a standing light just as successfully.
2. Rich Guy Vibes.
Above: UpDown KLIK standing desk.
This standing desk setup achieves a very different vibe with a couple of tweaks.
I swapped out the light-coloured desktop for a hardwood walnut one. And the white legs for black ones.
Also, notice how the square legs on this desk give this setup a more masculine look. It’s a subtle detail, but has a big impact on the overall feeling of the space.
Important!
I paired this desk with a Sihoo Doro ergonomic chair to dress the space down a little. If I wanted to dress it up, I’d use a more “grownup” chair (e.g., a Steelcase or a Herman Miller).
3. I Want To Be A Tech CEO.
Above: Steelcase Migration SE Pro standing desk.
This setup is ideal for a young tech executive. A Steelcase Karman chair is paired with a Steelcase Migration SE Pro desk.
It’s an expensive setup – definitely not for people on a shoestring budget.
Expert Tip.
Notice how the unusual palette (purple and yellow) looks great – this is because both colours are positioned opposite each other on the colour wheel. The rich browns, meanwhile, create a sense of warmth.
If you want to avoid the “young dude in his 20s” vibe that many standing desks give off, this setup is for you.
4. YouTuber’s Den.
Above: Artiss standing desk.
Are you aspiring to be the next YouTube superstar?
Start building your standing desk setup with a background for your videos. You’ll need a stylish set of shelves. Fill them with items that reinforce the context of your YouTube brand.
Your standing desk won’t appear in the shot, so it doesn’t have to be a fancy one.
(The Artiss in the setup above is only $400).
Spend the money on a microphone, lights, lenses and cameras instead (in that order – trust me).
Important!
Invest in a monitor stand like the one in the setup above – it’s a great hack for adding real estate to your desk. You’ll need it.
5. Industrial Luxury Chic.
Above: Secretlab Magnus Pro standing desk.
You can combine leather and metal for an unexpectedly edgy-looking standing desk setup.
Here, the all-metal, leather-topped Magnus Pro is paired with a luxury armchair to invoke a warehousey, arty vibe.
The round pillow and green foliage add a dash of femininity.
Did You Know?
It’s an unusual setup because the Magnus Pro is a gaming desk that’s popular among men in their 20s. Yet here, it looks more “grown up” – because I elevated its look with the expensive armchair.
I can see this setup in an architect’s or a photographer’s studio.
The only downside is that the armchair is obviously not ergonomic – I wouldn’t recommend sitting in something like this for 8+ hours per day.
You can “solve” this problem with a Herman Miller Eames Executive chair – if you have about $12,000 to spend.
Steven
