Customization or Hacks?
Designing—or reimagining—your home studio can mean almost anything. For some, it’s simply moving a few things around. For others, it’s full-on construction: new walls, new floors, new electrical, custom furniture, acoustic treatment, and professionally tuned monitoring.
Studios can be built on almost any budget, designed for multipurpose use, or tailored very specifically for recording, mixing, or mastering. This post sits firmly in the middle ground—a moderate approach with a realistic budget.
The Dream Scenario (That Probably Isn’t Happening)
There’s nothing I’d love more than to hire a studio designer and an interior designer, leave my house for a few weeks, and return to a completely customized space:
new floors, upgraded electrical, purpose-built synth racks and storage, custom studio desks, acoustically treated walls, and professionally tuned reference monitors.
And sure—if someone wanted to quietly add a Dave Smith Prophet Rev2, a Moog of some kind, maybe a Novation Peak or an Arturia PolyBrute 12, I suppose I’d politely accept.
But like many people, that level of transformation just isn’t in the cards.
And honestly? I’m more than okay with that.
I’m genuinely happy with how my studio has come together so far, and I’m excited about the upgrades I have planned for 2026.
Where This Question Came From
The idea for this post came from remembering how much fun I had installing shelves, setting up lighting, and slowly building my synth wall. That process sparked a simple question:
Customization or hacks?
Are you someone with the budget for fully customized solutions—custom racks, stands, desks, acoustic panels, and purpose-built furniture?
Or are you someone who prefers hacking premade furniture into exactly what you need?
If you’ve watched my channel for any amount of time, you already know where I land.
I’m Definitely a Hacker
I fall squarely into the hack category for two reasons:
- Customization is expensive
- Hacks are creative—and fun
I genuinely enjoy the process of figuring out how to adapt something into what I need. That experimentation is part of the joy for me.
Another thing you’ll know if you’ve watched my videos: I’m a big fan of IKEA.
If I weren’t already in my dream job—teaching—I think assembling IKEA furniture might be my backup calling. Hand me the Allen wrench. I’m ready. Let me build the display room.
(Okay… slight detour there.)
But that explains a lot about my studio.
The IKEA Studio
Nearly everything in my studio is an IKEA hack:
- Picture frames? IKEA
- Lighting? IKEA
- Ceiling lights? IKEA
- Both production desks? IKEA hacks
- 19-inch rack unit? IKEA hack
- Entire synth wall? IKEA hacks
My chair, computer, and instruments don’t count—but IKEA makes up the backbone of the studio.
None of it was designed to be studio furniture. All of it became studio furniture.
And that’s the point.
Customization or Hacks?
At the end of the day, whether you go the fully customized route or the creative hack route, I think we’re all aiming for the same thing:
A studio that feels comfortable.
A space where you can relax.
An environment that supports creativity and getting work done.
There’s no right answer—just the one that fits you, your space, and your budget.
Happy music making.
