Custom, Store-Bought, or DIY?

Finding the Right Way to Support Your Studio Gear

When you start designing a studio, one of the first things you quickly realize is just how much gear you actually have. For some people that might be very little; for others, it can mean rows and rows of synthesizers, racks, and peripherals. The more equipment you own, the more physical space you need—and in many home studios, space is at a premium.

That’s where clever use of stands, racks, cases, and mounting solutions becomes essential. Saving space isn’t just about fitting everything in; it’s also about making the studio usable, comfortable, and efficient.

Which leads to an important question: do you buy a custom solution, or do you build one yourself?

The Appeal of Custom Solutions

There’s no denying that professionally designed, custom solutions often look fantastic and function beautifully. You’re paying not just for materials, but for craftsmanship, experience, and design knowledge. Whether it’s a purpose-built studio desk, a custom rack, or a perfectly fitted stand, these solutions tend to integrate seamlessly and feel solid and refined.

Of course, that level of quality comes at a cost. For many home studio owners, fully custom builds simply aren’t realistic for every part of the setup.

Off-the-Shelf Options

Between full custom builds and DIY projects sits a large middle ground: premade, off-the-shelf solutions. Music stores and online retailers offer stands and mounts designed for popular gear—things like Korg Volca stands, tiered synth stands, rack cases, and desktop mounts.

When a well-designed stand exists for a piece of gear, it can be hard to justify reinventing the wheel. Sometimes ordering the right solution is faster, cleaner, and ultimately less stressful.

Building It Yourself

Then there’s the DIY route. This can range from carefully following a purchased or downloadable plan, to improvising something from materials you already have lying around the house. In some cases, DIY isn’t just a creative choice—it’s the only option. Not every piece of gear has a stand designed specifically for it.

If you’ve been following this series, you’ll know that my studio is a mix of all three approaches. I’ve repurposed laptop stands, used pole-mounted trays originally designed to attach to desks, purchased stands made specifically for certain instruments, and rummaged through my basement to piece together a 19-inch rack unit and other makeshift solutions.

Sometimes the deciding factor is necessity: no stand exists, so one has to be made. Other times it’s convenience—while a stand may be available, it feels easier (or more fun) to build something yourself.

There’s No Single Right Answer

In reality, most studios end up being a hybrid of custom, store-bought, and DIY solutions. The right choice depends on budget, space, available tools, and how much time you want to invest.

So what about you?
Do you prefer custom solutions, off-the-shelf stands, building things yourself—or a combination of all three? Have you ever built a stand or rack for your studio gear, and if so, what was it?

However you choose to organize your space, I wish you the best in creating a studio that works for you.

Happy organizing.