Warm and Cosy Setup of a Content Creator in the UK

Name: Robert McCombe

Location: Wallasey, UK

Occupation: Content Creator (Ex-Graphic Designer)

Room size: 10 m² (108 ft²)

Cost of setup: Around £7K ($9K). It’s really hard to put a number on it, as some of the items were gifts from brands.

Social media: Instagram, YouTube

Hello! Tell us a bit about yourself

Hey!

At the moment, I’m lucky enough to say that I am a full-time content creator, with my content focused on my desk setup, design, photography, and cool products.

I studied graphic design at university and was fortunate to land a job in the industry soon after graduating.

Since graduating, I have worked at three different companies over a four-to-five-year period.

My main focus in graphic design was branding, which is how I started my content creation journey.

I initially did what all of us designers do — posting our work online as a kind of portfolio.

Later, I started to create posts about design tips, sharing my own experiences and trying to give insight to younger designers.

This then led to me expanding my niche of content, so I started posting about my desk setup, which fortunately seemed to resonate with everyone.

This kept going as I made more and more content about what I enjoy — my wildlife photography and tech.

And somehow, I now do this as a full-time job. Strange world!

Take us through your setup

My first desk setup was in a spare bedroom at my dad’s house, which is where this journey started for me.

My setup there was in a small alcove with a black accent wall.

It was quite a dark, moody setup, to say the least.

But after saving up, I was finally able to make a deposit and buy my first house.

One of the key things I focused on while house-hunting was deciding which room would become my home office.

I spent a lot of time planning, researching, and experimenting with ideas for my home office design.

Since my setup at the time was fairly dark, I wanted to go in a completely different direction and create a warmer, lighter, and more relaxing space.

When I was building this setup, I was still working from home, which made it easier to put my office together.

During lunch breaks, I’d move things around and browse online for items to improve the space.

The biggest struggle I faced when setting up my office was my own impatience.

After working in a small room for so long, I was eager to finish the new space quickly, but that led to some rash purchases that I later sold or donated.

I wish I had taken my time more thoughtfully.

Now, it’s hard to think of what I would add to my setup next.

One thing that’s always been on my list is a Herman Miller chair — I think it would tie everything together and hopefully fix my back.

Other than that, maybe some more prints on the walls to jazz up the space a bit more.

What’s your favourite item on your desk?

My favourite item on my desk is the Apple Studio Display.

I bought this monitor while I was working as a graphic designer and creating content for social media.

Before that, I was using a fairly cheap Samsung monitor, and the colour accuracy was pretty bad.

A lot of the time, I’d export a video, check it on my phone, and the colours wouldn’t match at all.

This was frustrating as a content creator, but even more so as a designer, because I needed to be 100% sure that when I sent something to print, it looked like the export.

So I decided to upgrade to the Apple Studio Display, as I wanted a monitor that would last me well into the future.

With its 5K resolution, I knew it ticked that box.

Also, since most of the content I work on is viewed on Apple devices, I was confident that the edits would match the exports exactly.

This has eliminated a lot of self-doubt and saves me so much time.

If my monitor ever broke, there’s no doubt I’d buy it again right away.

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

As a former graphic designer, I use Adobe products every day.

Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign are my go-tos for freelance work, mockups, and design templates.

However, the app I use the most is Figma.

I rely on it for all my carousels, stories, and for creating listing imagery for my wallpapers/templates — basically anything that isn’t a video.

For video editing, I use Final Cut Pro.

I used to use Premiere Pro, but I had the issue of the edits not looking the same after export. So, I switched to Final Cut, and that problem disappeared.

It has also saved me a lot of time — it’s faster in every way.

The only downside is the amount of space it takes up when editing a video, but that’s a small sacrifice.

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

At the moment, I am reading Stay Awake by Megan Goldin.

I always like a book that is somewhat of a thriller and allows me to try to solve it for myself, only to be gobsmacked by what actually happens.

So far, it’s a great book, so I would highly recommend it.

As for podcasts, I usually have Caleb Hammer’s Financial Audit playing.

I’ve always been interested in finances, and he is such a character, so it makes what could be a boring subject quite engaging and interesting.

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

Take your time!

Don’t rush into anything.

It’s much better to take your time and truly build your dream setup, rather than rush and end up with something that’s just “pretty okay.”

What does your typical day look like?

Because I am a full-time content creator now, my daily routine can vary a lot.

Since I’m still new to doing this full-time, I’m working on getting into a good routine, but here’s what a typical day looks like.

I wake up around 8 am and relax in the living room for an hour or so, having breakfast and watching a show like Brassic.

I find this time to unwind before work essential since I’m more of a night owl, so easing into the day works best for me.

Often, I’ll take a quick walk around the park near my home to wake up a bit more.

Then, it’s upstairs to begin the workday.

I use a website called Toggl to plan my days and weeks and try to stay organised, though some days don’t go as planned.

Most days, I’m scripting, recording, and editing at least one or several pieces of content.

Honestly, this can take up most of the day, with breaks here and there to avoid burnout.

Some days, if I lack motivation, I’ll switch things up and do something creative like a product photoshoot, even if it’s not on the schedule — at least I’m staying productive.

When I’m not working, I usually spend time with my girlfriend on the weekends, often going to Chester Zoo with my camera for wildlife photography — one of my favourite hobbies.

It’s a great way to get outside, stay creative, and, let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a fluffy red panda?

The hardest part of all this is being my own boss. I control how much or how little work I do in a day.

If I’m really tired, I can sleep in.

If I don’t feel well, I don’t have to work.

But I’m also responsible for my own salary, so balancing it all can be tricky.

I also made a YouTube video on this topic, which may be useful.

Your tips for working from home?

My best advice for working from home — don’t sleep in until the last minute.

Doing this will just make you feel sluggish for the rest of the day, and it’s a routine that’s hard to break.

Even though it’s tempting to grab that extra hour in bed, you’ll feel so much better if you get up an hour earlier, have breakfast, and properly wake yourself up before starting work.

Keep your desk as clean as possible.

The worst thing is waking up, sitting at your desk ready to work, and finding plates and clutter everywhere.

Make it a habit to clean your desk before bed every night — it will make a huge difference to how your day goes.

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