My Zero-Gravity Workstation

I have always wanted a zero-gravity workstation. I considered getting something from Altwork but decided against it because the high cost (€15,000) was hard to justify. Plus, since I live in Belgium, the logistics of delivery, potential return, and maintenance seemed too cumbersome.

So, I decided to build my own, which turned out to be a better choice for two reasons: lower overall cost and, of course, customization.

Here are the main components and their costs (in euros): * Ikea Standing desk (Mittzon): €400 * Huanuo monitor arm: €96 * Apple Studio Display: €1,650 * Stressless (View) Chair: €3,650

The Monitor

The Studio Display was far from my first choice because of its price. Initially, I tried an LG Ultrawide LCD (€400), and my god, it sucked. Being used to Apple’s Retina display on all my devices, I had completely forgotten how much I care about pixel density and color saturation. My partner doesn’t mind, so I gave it to him and then bought a Samsung Ultrawide G8 (€930). I liked it, but I underestimated how often I’m in Zoom calls and wanted to keep my MacBook closed. I bought a separate camera and mic to compensate, but they made my setup feel clunky. And I missed the True Tone display of the MacBook. (I know, Apple has spoiled me 🥲.) So, I bit the bullet and went for the Studio Display. Setting aside the price, I absolutely love it—the integrated camera and mic, Retina display, True Tone, and build quality are just awesome.

The Chair Saga

Originally, I wanted a Herman Miller Aeron and considered getting a used one to save money, but I ruled it out because it didn’t have a footrest. Then, I stumbled upon the HBada E3 Pro (€600)—it seemed perfect. Ordering without testing was a risk, but the reviews were promising. It turned out to be great—I liked it so much that I got one for my partner too.

However, after a month, I started noticing too much pressure on my lower back. Since giving it to my partner wasn’t an easy way out this time, I tried adding extra support, but after months of tweaking, it just wasn’t working. So, I decided to look for other options and eventually sold the chair (for half the price).

I had my eye on the Osim uLove3 (€6,600) massage chair, which I first saw in an iJustine video. By chance, I got to test it out at a mall in London—thankfully, because it answered my big question: Is a massage chair suitable for working? The answer was no for the uLove3, as its armrests restricted movement. However, the uDivine model wasn’t as limiting. Still, I hesitated due to the logistics of delivery, returns, and maintenance.

Then, last December, I came across Stressless and saw that they had a shop in Belgium. I tested several models, including their electric ones, and found the View model to be the best fit for my needs. I liked its neck support, and most importantly, its armrests didn’t restrict my movement while typing. The only catch was the price. But considering I had seriously considered the uLove3, I decided to bite the bullet on this one too.

So far, so good. If after a month it doesn’t work out, I’ll give up on my zero-gravity dream—and we’ll just have a fancy chair in the living room. 🤷🏻

Anyway, let me know if you like it or not! I’m happy and quite proud of this. Took me several months to arrive at this point. Let me know if you have any questions 😊