Name: AJ
Location: Switzerland
Occupation: Software Developer
Room size: 18 m² (194 ft²)
Cost of setup: ~$19K
Social media: Instagram
Hello! Tell us a bit about yourself
I’ve been interested in technology and coding since I was a teenager.
Now in my mid-30s, I’ve been a software developer for the past nine years at a software company based in Zurich.
I love everything technology-related, and my biggest hobby is gaming.
My favourite game by far is League of Legends, which I have been playing for the past 13 years.
Take us through your setup
Main tech
| Item | Model |
|---|---|
| Monitor | LG 38GN950 38″ UltraGear |
| Laptop | MacBook Pro 13″ 2023 M2 |
| Gaming TV | Samsung 65″ S95D OLED |
| Monitor mount | Arctic W1 |
| Monitor light bar | Corsair iCue RGB |
| Laptop stand | Amazon Generic Stand |
| Docking station | CalDigit TS4 |
| Web camera | Logitech Brio 4K |
PC specs
| Item | Model |
|---|---|
| Case | Hyte Y70 Case |
| Motherboard | Gigabyte Z790 AORUS PRO X |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D |
| GPU | ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 |
| RAM | Corsair Dominator Titanium DDR5 6000MHz CL30 64GB (4×16gb) |
| Case fans | 8×Corsair iCUE Link QX120 RGB 120mm |
| CPU cooler | Corsair iCUE Link H150i LCD 360mm AIO |
| SSD | WD_Black SN850X 4TB NVMe |
| PSU | Super Flower Leadex VII XG 1000W |
| RGB cable extension | Lian Li Strimer Plus V2 24-Pin |
| Internal display | Phanteks 5.5″ Hi-Res LCD Display |
Peripherals & Audio
| Item | Model |
|---|---|
| Mouse | Logitech G502X |
| Keyboard | Logitech G915 TKL |
| Mouse mat | Custom made from Etsy |
| Headphones | AirPods Max |
| Soundbar | Sonos Arc |
| Speaker | Sonos Era 300 |
| Subwoofer | Sonos Sub Mini |
| Microphone | HyperX QuadCast |
| Lights control | Stream Deck |
| Wall lighting | Nanoleaf Wall LED Panels |
| Game controller | PS5 Pro Controller Edge |
Furniture & Decor
| Item | Model |
|---|---|
| Chair | Herman Miller Embody Gaming |
| Desk | IKEA KARLBY (oak) |
| Wall art | iPhone 1st Gen (disassembled + framed) |
When I started planning my office at home, as I work from home, I considered both the gaming part and the working part.
The main goal was for the space to feel cosy and comfortable, as I would be spending most of the day in it.
When I knew my significant other and I would be moving into a new apartment, I started planning how to set up my office.
I created a 3D version of the office and planned everything before even buying a single piece of furniture, so that I could be sure everything would fit exactly as I wanted.
It took me around two months of planning and researching. There were no real struggles, as I took my time to carefully plan everything.
The natural light is perfect.
It’s really a joy to wake up in the morning, enter the office with the sun shining through the big windows, and start my working day.
The key feature of my entire setup is having the gaming PC connected via HDMI to the TV.
So when I’m not playing League of Legends or FPS games, which I prefer to play at the desk, I use the TV setup to game in 4K and enjoy the audio from the Sonos Atmos system.
A very immersive experience.
Another super important feature of the setup is having a USB switcher connected to both my desktop PC and my laptop hub, so that I can use all my USB devices (keyboard, mouse, webcam) on both my working laptop and my PC.
With a press of a button — located under the desk — I can switch inputs!
Currently, I don’t think there’s anything I would improve, and the next item I would buy is a new monitor — but I’m waiting for a 3840×1600 ultrawide OLED to be released.
That is my favourite size to be productive!
I’ll probably also upgrade the armchair I’m using in my TV gaming corner, as that’s the only piece I didn’t buy specifically for this office — I just had it around.
Maybe I’ll get something that matches the theme colour of the office: white and teal.
What’s your favourite item on your desk?
I have a couple of favourite items.
First of all, my mouse and keyboard. I’ve been using a Logitech G502 series for at least 10 years, replacing it with a new one every couple of years.
The latest G502x wireless is really amazing — same for the G915 keyboard. I love it!
I also love the Stream Deck, which is set up with all my lights via iCUE, so I can quickly turn them on or off and change the colour theme!
Finally, the best part is my USB switcher setup.
I have a button under my desk, and the switcher is connected to my PC and laptop dock.
This allows me to use the same mouse, keyboard, webcam, and monitor with both devices — and it just takes a click to switch between them.
Ah, almost forgot — with the amount of time I spend sitting at my desk, one life-changing item was my chair.
The Herman Miller Embody Gaming is like sitting on a cloud!
What apps or tools do you use to get things done?
The main apps that I use are iCue along with Stream Deck software to manage and control all my lights.
That’s basically the only software I really need, as most of my accessories are from Corsair and Logitech.
What books, blogs, or podcasts recently caught your attention?
All my inspiration came from Reddit, honestly — I don’t really listen to podcasts or read blogs.
r/battlestations is a great source of ideas!
Any tips for other makers who want to improve their workspaces?
I would advise anyone to start by planning everything in detail.
That goes a long way — especially when it comes to furniture sizes that fit your room nicely, decorations, and where to place them.
Don’t rush it — plan and buy accordingly.
It took me around six months to finish setting everything up after buying the first components.
What does your typical day look like?
I usually start working between 6:30 and 7 am — I’ve always been an early riser.
First thing is coffee and reading the news, and then I start my day.
The goal of building this office space was to create a room I could enter in the morning and get that cosy feeling that puts me in a great mood to start the day.
Reddit is definitely the first app I open on my phone.
As a software developer, my day is usually focused on coding, testing, and reviewing code.
I spend around 8 to 12 hours at my desk each day — eight hours of work, and afterwards I like to game for a couple of hours to relax and unwind before hitting the gym.
My go-to game has been League of Legends.
Each match takes around 30 minutes, so I can be very flexible — sometimes I have time to play for two to four hours, and sometimes less than one hour.
I’ve been working from home since Covid. That’s probably the only good thing Covid brought to the IT industry.
It changed people’s minds — realising that anyone can be productive, even at home.
I usually go to the company office a couple of times per month for important meetings.
Your tips for working from home?
Surely having a cosy and tidy office space helps a lot — at least, it helps me.
After the morning coffee, entering the office and finding yourself in a welcoming environment is a great way to start the day.
If you’re going to spend a lot of time in your home office, comfort becomes the number one priority for me.
That’s why I invested in a super comfortable chair that allows me to sit at my desk all day, and also added an armchair behind my setup.
Besides being great for gaming, it’s also perfect for reading documentation — where I can lie back and stretch my legs a bit.
One good habit is to stand up and stretch your legs every now and then.
Your body will thank you.
We’re a reader-supported publication. This article might contain affiliate links. It means we may receive a commission if you click a link and buy a product that our maker has recommended. The interview was done independently.
