Snow days aren’t a thing in Florida, but with my latest office refresh, I looked to bring that clean winter aesthetic indoors. Powered by the latest offerings from Secretlab, Dygma, and Fluidstance, I was able to build a dream setup that can change with the seasons.
The Desk
Sitting across from my standing desk last month, I was dismayed at how cluttered it looked, even with an enormous cable tray hiding underneath.
Doing a bit of research on potential solutions, I came across the Secretlab MAGNUS Pro. I’d seen their desks before but the all-black desk didn’t really jibe with my aesthetic. So when I saw that they now had an all-white version that could be paired with a custom Nanoleaf RGB strip, I lept at the chance to make the change.
The Secretlab MAGNUS Pro is an all-metal sit-to-stand desk with a hidden cable trough at the back of the desktop.The secret to this setup is the integrated power outlet. You plug in the desk at the base of one leg (with a black power cable, tsk) and then have an outlet in the cable tray itself. All those cables in the first picture? They’re still there, just expertly tucked away. The setup is blissfully clean.
Speaking of setup, assembling the Secretlab MAGNUS Pro is simple work. It took me an hour or so because I was going slow and taking pictures. Though at least half of the setup time was spent figuring out how to deal with all the packaging.
After getting the desk setup, you install a magnetic desk mat, or “magpad” as Secretlab’s branded it. I went for the white leatherette and, yes, my cat has already gotten paw prints on it. I opted for the monitor stand since it integrates nicely with the cable channel but there are also monitor arms available.
The cable organization pack is a must. The magnetic cable holders thunk satisfyingly onto the desktop and keep your cables from going astray. I also appreciated the cable cover for the legs to hide the one stray power cord that I had to run to the floor.
The best part is the integrated magnetic Nanoleaf MAGRGB strip. It attaches securely to the edge of the desk and is hidden by the cable tray. Setup takes just a few minutes in the Nanoleaf app. It comes preloaded with a bunch of Secretlab-specific color scenes but you can easily add your own favorite scenes and integrate your desk lighting into any smart schedules or automations you’ve set up.
The motor on the Secretlab MAGNUS Pro is quiet and smooth with no jerky operation. The controls are integrated right into the edge of the desk, so your cat won’t accidentally raise or lower your desk by sitting on them (this happened more than once with my previous desk).
The only thing I found lacking was an option for storage. Luckily Uplift Desk makes a white hanging storage cubby for $99 that works perfectly (it also doubles as a cat corral).
The Secretlab MAGNUS Pro starts at $799 and has several bundle deals and accessory discounts available right now for Black Friday.
The Keyboard
While I still love my original Dygma Defy, a black keyboard just wouldn’t do. But after typing on Dygma’s split keyboards for years, I also couldn’t go back to a regular keyboard. Thankfully, Dygma has a silver and white Defy! This time around I chose Gatreon Yellow switches and am finding them satisfyingly thwoky. The LED add-on is a must so that you can coordinate your keyboard with the Secrelab MAGRGB strip.
I’d also recommend the integrated tenting kit. While I wasn’t sure I needed tenting when I first starting using the Defy, I quickly discovered that natural hand position is only part of the issue when it comes to strain on your fingers and wrists from typing. With the tenting, I can angle the keyboard so that my hands can rest at a natural angle.
The added benefit of refreshing my deck was that I discovered I was running an out-of-date version of their Bazecor control software. All of the inconsistencies in control and battery reporting have been fixed with this latest version.
The Defy just looks incredible on the desk, I shift the two halves of the keyboard slightly throughout the day as I change positions. It’s an infinitely flexible setup that keeps getting better the more that I use it. Dygma is running an early Black Friday sale. The Defy is 10% off right now, dropping the price to $329.
The Accessories
A Fluidstance Level board is the final piece of the standing desk puzzle. Their bamboo and aluminum deck keeps me moving throughout the day while standing…because it’s standing completely still all day that’s the problem with standing desks (despite what all clickbait headlines would have you believe).
I added a Lake blue UPmat to the Level because I work in bare feet and need the cushioning. I also got a polycarbonate base mat so that the bottom of the level wouldn’t get chewed up on my tile floor.
I’m finding the Level to be a bit more of a challenge than the Plane Cloud board I’d been using, this is due to the slightly smaller contact point on the board. It keeps my core more engaged throughout the day and forces me to maintain good posture.
Fluidstance also makes magnetic desktop organizers, which work quite well with the MAGNUS Pro desk. Their mini whiteboard is the perfect place to jot down notes and reminders. You can get four magnetic slates, so if you’re like me you can stick reminders all around your desk and still have spares ready to go. There’s also an orange slate in the pack so that I can stay coordinated next Halloween/Thanksgiving.
Fluidstance has discounts on just about everything on their site right now. The Level board is 28% off, so it’s just under $200. All the accessories and desktop tools are on sale as well.
But What If I Get Bored?
What’s nice about the setup is that the neutral tone gives me plenty of room to play with lighting effects. For instance, if I want to go full Miami Vice, that’s totally an option.
I’m really thrilled with how the office has turned out and look forward to tweaking and customizing things, especially as Secretlab comes out with additional magpads (if you’re an Arcane fan, they have a full Jinx loadout right now that’s absolutely drool worthy).
This setup will be my go-to for a long time.
