Dark and Cosy Desk Setup in Malaysia

Name: Harrison Niap

Location: Malaysia

Occupation: UI/UX Designer and Content Creator

Room size: 14 m² (151 ft²)

Cost of setup: ~$2K

Social media: Instagram

Hello! Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Harrison, and I’m from Penang, Malaysia.

I work remotely as a UI/UX designer for a company based in the US — that’s all across the globe!

This year, I also started creating desk setup and tech unboxing content on Instagram.

My setup serves as my home office by day and gaming corner by night.

I am also a keyboardist at church — my synthesiser is right beside my desk.

Take us through your setup

As you step into my workspace, you’ll notice it’s all about that minimalist productivity vibe with a good touch of functionality.

It has a dark theme but is very cosy with plenty of wood and green tones.

The accents of my home office are the black walnut tones, particularly the IKEA KARLBY countertop and the walnut desk shelf from Samdi.

The desk is spacious enough to accommodate all my essentials without feeling cluttered.

Tucked away neatly underneath the desk, you’ll find a cable management system that keeps all my cords and cables organised and out of sight.

My desk setup is powered by my 2019 Intel MacBook Pro which I use for work.

It is hooked up to a Razer Core X eGPU that houses a 3060Ti, which I use for gaming or video rendering when I switch to Windows Boot Camp.

My workspace is filled with plenty of natural sunlight during the day, thanks to a window spanning the entire stretch of the wall opposite my setup.

When I venture into late-night deep work, I have warm ambient lights around my setup to keep me cosy and productive.

What’s your favourite item on your desk?

There are so many favourites!

I personally think a desk shelf often acts as a centrepiece of a desk setup, and the Samdi walnut desk shelf adds a nice warm tone that ties the setup together.

What apps or tools do you use to get things done?

For UI/UX design, I largely use Sketch.

For content creation, I use Lightroom for photo editing, and CapCut for video editing.

In fact, I pay for the subscription of these tools — they’re really good and easy to pick up for a non-professional videographer who does content as a part-time hobby!

Any tips for other makers who want to improve their workspaces?

Start off with these three key things — cable management to keep the place clean and tidy, ambient lighting to make a space cosy, and plants to bring life into the space and make it more organic.

Next, pick something that acts as a centrepiece in your setup and build around it.

For example, if you have a white table and grey walls, try to build around that, instead of spreading yourself too thin or spending too much money to build from scratch in one go.

What does your typical day look like?

Morning:

9:00 am: I wake up feeling well-rested and ready to start the day.

After a leisurely morning routine and breakfast (I love eggs and toast), I head to my home office to kick off my workday.

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10:00 am: I begin my UI/UX design work, usually starting off with email and Slack catch-ups that come in overnight.

Afternoon:

12:30 pm: Lunchtime. I take a break and head out for lunch while browsing Instagram audios and brainstorming ideas for my next reel.

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2:00 pm: Time for a change of pace.

I switch gears to film a new reel — either a desk setup reel or a product unboxing.

3:00 pm: With filming complete, I edit the footage.

It’s a creative process that I enjoy, and it has grown into a serious hobby for me.

4:30 pm: I dive back into my design work.

Late Afternoon to Evening:

6:30 pm: Dinner time!

I usually like to use dinner time to catch up with some anime or YouTube videos while I eat.

8:30 pm: Again, I resume my design work — some of my colleagues from the US would have woken up at this point, so my work starts getting fast-paced as feedback can be given and received in real time.

10:30 pm: It’s time to post the content I have for the day. I usually take a 30-minute window to write a caption, post my content, and follow up with some engagement.

11:30 pm: I wrap up work for the day and take some time to relax.

Whether it’s playing some games, watching some shows, or spending some quiet time, I make sure to wind down before bed.

12:30 am: That’s bedtime, folks!

Your tips for working from home?

Establish a routine

Start your day at the same time each morning to create structure and consistency. A routine helps signal to your brain that it’s time to work.

Designate a workspace

Create a dedicated workspace that’s comfortable and conducive to productivity. Whether it’s a separate room or just a corner of your living room, having a designated area for work helps minimise distractions.

Stay organised

Keep your workspace tidy and organised to minimise clutter and maximise efficiency. Invest in storage solutions and declutter regularly to maintain a clean and functional workspace.

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I have an IKEA ALEX drawer to store items and documents I use less regularly, and for frequently-used loose items, I store them in my Orbitkey Nest desk organiser.

Communicate effectively

Always stay on top of your communication with colleagues and clients. Clear and concise communication is key to successful remote collaboration.

Prioritise tasks

Create a daily or weekly to-do list to prioritise tasks and stay on track. Break larger projects into smaller, manageable tasks to maintain momentum and track progress.

I no longer have long, recurring meetings with my boss or team — I work asynchronously based on a shared to-do list with my boss and make smart prioritisation so that it is as autonomous as possible.

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