A small desktop computer or a laptop takes up very little room, so the rest of the desk can go to the things you actually look at and touch: a monitor, a keyboard and good light.

Put the top of the monitor at or just below eye level and about an arm's length away. If you work from a laptop, a stand plus an external keyboard and mouse gets the screen to the same height without hunching over it.

A mini PC can sit beside the monitor or on a shelf underneath it. Leave a couple of inches of space around its vents, and keep the front ports within reach for drives and headphones.

Plan cables before you tidy them. Run power along the back edge of the desk, use one cable per device, and label the plugs at the power strip so you know which is which.

Light the room from the side rather than from behind the screen, and add a lamp for evening work. A plain wall behind the monitor is easier on the eyes than a bright window.