Calm and Creative Desk Setup in Canada

Name: JuSong B.

Location: Canada

Occupation: Product Designer

Room size: 18 m² (194 ft²)

Cost of setup: ~5-6,5K CAD ($3,4-$4,5K)

Social media: Instagram, TikTok, X, Bluesky

Hello! Tell us a bit about yourself

Hi! My name is JuSong. I was born in South Korea, grew up in Mexico, and currently live in Canada.

I’ve always considered myself someone who’s creative and loves to express themselves through learning, creating, and sharing their interests in this fast-paced technological era.

I’ve been a Product Designer for almost three years, focusing on designing both the user experience and user interface for websites and applications at my company.

I’ve always been drawn to trying things I like, so naturally, I leaned towards my interests.

As an avid fan of technology, I studied Computer Science and learned the fundamentals of software engineering and programming.

However, even though I finished my degree and was on track to get a software engineering job, I realised that spending five hours trying to centre a button was certainly not my calling.

Things took a turn when I took an Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction course.

I realised there was a path where I could focus entirely on the design aspect while still applying my Computer Science background.

Having received offers to be either a software engineer or a product designer, I decided to follow my gut and pursue design — and I haven’t looked back since!

Outside of being a product designer, I usually express myself and share my projects through different mediums, most recently music.

You could say I’m currently in my “music era” and have released two original songs (so far!) on various streaming platforms.

Depending on when this interview is released, my latest song Let It Snow — a fresh rendition of a classic holiday song — by me (JuSong) and Rein, will be available on all streaming platforms.

If you have Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube and like indie music, feel free to give my songs a listen — I’d really appreciate it! :^)

(You can search for “JuSong” on streaming platforms, and I should hopefully appear, lol.)

Take us through your setup

I have a standing desk, currently made of an IKEA KARLBY tabletop, and an Ergo Frame.

I use both a PC and a MacBook, so whenever I need to switch between them, I use a docking station and a USB hub.

I rotate between sitting on my Steelcase Leap V2 office chair — with an ErgoFoam footrest not to keep my feet dangling — and standing up while I work.

Under my desk shelf, I keep my audio interface and keyboard handy for when I’m working on music.

I wanted to make my workspace as cosy as possible.

It definitely wasn’t before. I used to have just an IKEA desk someone gave away and a foldable chair.

During COVID, I realised I’d be working at my desk a lot more, so I slowly started gathering pieces to build the setup I have today.

My workspace evolution spanned five years and went through the following iterations:

• MICKE Desk
• ALEX drawer with ANFALLARE tabletop
• ALEX drawer with KARLBY tabletop
• Ergo Desk Frame with the KARLBY tabletop

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What’s your favourite item on your desk?

I would probably say my mechanical keyboard.

It’s been a fun journey setting it up and accessorising the look and feel.

I fell deep into the mechanical keyboard rabbit hole, learning about different layouts, keycaps, switches, frames, and more.

It made me truly appreciate how much I rely on a keyboard.

Plus, there’s something incredibly gratifying about tuning and styling it to match my vibe — and changing it whenever I please.

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I totally get why people end up building multiple keyboards, and I’ve been tempted… but I really can’t justify building another one when this one is already perfectly functional and great!

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

Need to design? Figma.

Wow, I just love Figma so much.

I use it whenever I’m working on prototypes and wireframes, creating a mood board for my creative projects, or quickly making a vector logo or icon.

Need to draw, design thumbnails, or create logos? Procreate on my iPad feels like magic. With the Apple Pencil, it makes my life so much easier.

It feels incredibly natural and does everything I need.

Video editing? Final Cut Pro has me covered. I haven’t felt the need for anything more.

What about music? Logic Pro to the rescue. Still overwhelming compared to GarageBand, but powerful and surprisingly accessible!

What I really love about these tools is how seamless and intuitive my workflow feels.

The Apple ecosystem — as much as I get the dangers of relying on one company — man, they do such a good job with it.

And the best part? They’re all either a one-time purchase or free — a blessing in a subscription-infested world. (Looking at you, Adobe.)

What books, blogs, or podcasts recently caught your attention?

Recently, I’ve been watching a lot of Caroline Winkler’s videos.

If you love interior design (I’m guessing you do if you’re subscribed to this newsletter, lol) and appreciate someone with an authentic personality, you’ll love her channel.

Whether she’s talking about interior design or her life in general, what draws me to her content is her innate ability to express herself and explain the “why” behind her choices.

I came for her interior design videos and stayed for her advice and wisdom.

Here’s one video I really enjoyed.

Another source of inspiration is from Maisy Leigh.

Her desk setup embodies all things cosy.

She was a huge inspiration for my own desk setup — it made me realise I could create a calm, cosy environment at a time when I didn’t see many people embracing that aesthetic.

Whenever I want to feel calm and cosy, I put on her videos while doing chores or snuggling with my cat.

I mean, just look at her setup.

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

Take your time building your ideal desk setup, especially when it comes to bigger investments like an office chair and accessories.

I often see videos of people doing complete overhauls — getting rid of all their old stuff and replacing it with brand-new gear.

While that might work for some, it’s not always realistic.

Start with what you have, and build gradually.

I slowly collected and bought things I genuinely liked over time. My desk didn’t start out like this.

At first, all I had was an IKEA desk (that someone gave away) and a foldable chair.

It took me around five years to get to my current setup.

Also, most desktop setups you see online — perfect and pristine — aren’t very realistic.

Even the picturesque desk setup I submitted doesn’t look this neat most of the time (and that’s okay!).

Here are some of my old videos — you’ll see how much my setup has evolved:

• Building My First PC (big gamer vibes)
• Building My First Custom Keyboard (big thock and uwu vibes)
• TikTok video

Another thing to consider is modularity and upgradability.

For example, my previous setup was a non-standing desk made of a countertop and two ALEX drawers.

Once I had a bigger budget, I bought a standing desk frame and reused my existing countertop instead of buying a whole new desk.

]\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\bhn9 (sorry that was Egg, my cat, who wrote this section)

Egg just told me that getting a cat (plus lots of treats) would drastically improve your office setup.

Usability and practicality are other big things that you need to think about.

While aesthetics are nice, usability is just as important.

For example, I love the Orbitkey desk mat — it frames my keyboard and mouse nicely.

I was sure it would be my go-to desk pad, so I replaced my old mouse pad (which was getting scratched and worn).

But when I started using it, I found the friction too much — I really missed the smoothness of my old mouse pad.

So I ended up shaving down the rough spots (thanks, Egg) and kept it as is.

I also wanted to embrace imperfections in my setup. It’s okay if things look worn and used.

Not everything has to look influencer-perfect — it’s just not realistic, lol.

I could go on all day, but the main takeaway is:

Think about your desk’s purpose.

What do you need it to accomplish? Start there.

If you need inspiration, try Pinterest or another tool to collect images of your ideal setup.

Do you want your desk to feel energising? Cosy? Comfortable? Inspiring? Practical? Fun?

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Leaning into how you want your space to feel will help shape what belongs on your desk.

I think this video (though it’s about design style in general) translates really well to creating your ideal desk setup.

What does your typical day look like?

My typical routine varies from day to day.

If I’m in a productive mood, I wake up an hour before work, take a shower, get dressed, and — if I’m feeling really ambitious — blend myself a morning smoothie before tackling the day.

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Otherwise, I roll out of bed around 8:55-ish, hop onto my computer, and start working. (Please don’t follow my example. It’s really bad for you, but I want to be honest and candid, you know?)

On a good day, I work from around 8 to 4, but most days, I stick to the typical 9-to-5 schedule.

Random tangent: I used to wake up at 6:30 am to feed my cat.

Ever since I got an automatic feeder (Cat Mate Automatic Pet Feeder — C500 5 Meal), it’s been a complete game-changer. Now I can feed her while I’m away — or asleep.

When I log into my work computer, I usually check my emails and handle admin tasks before morning meetings to get oriented.

(Sadly, I’m not a morning person.)

Afterwards, I start tackling my tasks.

Some days, I do design work all day. Other days, it’s back-to-back meetings. My schedule really depends on what’s happening.

I switch between sitting and standing a few times a day — partly to keep things interesting, partly to appease my Apple Watch nagging me to stand up 12 times a day.

Unless I’m swamped, I always take my lunch break at noon. I step away from my desk to eat (or collapse on my bed or couch for a bit).

Sometimes, I get so caught up in creative projects — like writing this interview — that I forget to eat lunch. Speaking of which, it’s noon as I write this… I should probably eat and drink some water.

This is your friendly reminder to eat and stay hydrated!

As much as I feel incredibly privileged and grateful for my current desk setup, I can’t work there all the time (otherwise, I get more unfocused, distracted and tired).

Even with a nice, aesthetic setup, sometimes I just don’t feel like working at my desk.

So I switch it up — sometimes working in the kitchen or living room.

The newest addition to my living room is my lovely kotatsu [editor’s note: a low, heated table with a blanket], designed by Akirono, an Edmonton-based designer.

It’s been a dream of mine to have a kotatsu (Edmonton can get as cold as −40°C during the winter), so it’s the ultimate cosy experience when working or unwinding snuggled under my kotatsu.

He did an amazing job creating this custom kotatsu, which also doubles as a stunning coffee table.

Here’s a TikTok of me explaining what a kotatsu is.

Your tips for working from home?

I’d love to say I have a consistent morning routine and solid time management habits, but honestly, I’m probably the last person you should ask about those things (let alone take advice from, lol).

That said, here are some things that have helped me personally:

Whenever I get distracted, I set a timer and convince myself I’m working on something small.

For example, if I need to finish a full mockup, I tell myself I just need to add one element.

Once I start, it’s usually easier to maintain momentum.

If I still need to get work done urgently, I sometimes ask my coworkers or friends to hop on a call for body doubling.

Setting up recurring check-ins with others also helps — having to deliver something so I don’t disappoint them keeps me accountable.

As you can see, I mostly rely on external pressures to push me through.

The environment I work in also makes a huge difference.

Sometimes, I don’t want to work at my desk, so I move to the living room or kitchen for a change of scenery.

Since my desk is in my bedroom, separating my “work brain” from my “relaxation brain” can be challenging.

When I can, I try to dress up and not stay in my PJs.

While it’s nice to have the luxury of working in them (which I admittedly do more than I should), getting dressed helps shift my brain into “work mode.”

I can’t recall who said this, but taking breaks between meetings — when possible — has helped me a lot.

At the office, there’s built-in transition time between meetings: walking to another room, grabbing water, taking a quick restroom break.

At home, I try to honour that time too. Back-to-back meetings with no breaks can be exhausting.

It might seem small, but even short gaps help my brain process information and transition more smoothly — rather than turning into mush faster.

If I’m being honest, I should be the one asking you (yes, you, the person reading this)… I do not feel qualified to give advice, so if you have any tips, please let me know! :^)

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