A comfortable home-office desk comes down to four things: raise your screen so its top sits at or just below eye level, type on a separate keyboard and mouse, add a USB-C hub for the ports your laptop lacks, and protect the desk with a mat. At Buyrouth, laptop stands cost $18 to $49, monitor arms start at $27, USB-C hubs at $13 and desk mats at $8.

Step 1: raise the screen

On its own, a laptop puts the screen well below eye level. A stand lifts the screen; then use an external keyboard and mouse so your hands stay at desk height.

• XO C136 Foldable Metal Tablet and Laptop Stand ($18): aluminium alloy, adjustable angles, for devices from 7.9 to 12.9 inches.
• Portable Folding Laptop Stand with USB-C Docking Station ($20): six height levels, with three USB 3.0 ports and two Type-C ports built in.
• Adjustable Laptop Hub Docking Station Stand #E13SU ($39): height and angle adjustment, a 360° swivel base and a USB 3.0 and Type-C hub, for 10 to 17-inch laptops.
• Portable Adjustable Metal Laptop Stand with Docking Station #T12U ($49): aluminium, with a 9-in-1 hub: 4K 60 Hz HDMI, three USB 3.0, SD/TF, 100 W PD, gigabit Ethernet and audio.

Step 2: set up a monitor

• Adjustable Single and Dual Arm Monitor Desk Mount (from $27): single arm $27, dual arm or dual desktop stand $39, single arm with stand $49. Fits 13 to 32-inch screens with VESA 75 or 100 mounting holes, up to 8 kg, and clamps to desks 10 to 50 mm thick. Tilt, swivel and rotate for portrait mode.
• Multi Purpose Bamboo Desktop Monitor Riser ($19): lifts a monitor or laptop 12 cm, with room for a keyboard underneath.
• Steel Monitor Stand with Dual Storage Drawers ($89): powder-coated steel with two pull-out drawers and a cable opening.

Before you buy an arm, check the back of your monitor for four screw holes 75 or 100 mm apart (VESA) and the monitor's weight.

Step 3: add the ports you need

Many thin laptops have only one or two USB-C ports. A hub adds HDMI for a monitor, USB-A for older accessories and card readers, and many pass power through so you can charge while connected.

• XO 4-in-1 USB-A Hub #014A ($13): three USB 3.0 ports and a TF card slot.
• LDNIO 5-in-1 USB-C Docking Station #DS-15H ($19): 4K HDMI, three USB 3.0, and a USB-C port with 100 W PD pass-through.
• 5-in-1 USB-C Hub Adapter ($22): USB 3.0 at up to 5 Gbps plus HDMI.
• 8-in-1 USB-C Multifunctional Docking Station Hub ($29): 4K HDMI (30 Hz), Ethernet, SD and TF readers, USB 3.0 and 2.0, and 100 W PD.

Pass-through charging still needs your own USB-C charger plugged into the hub. For a tidy power point, the LDNIO SC4383 70 W desktop power adapter ($34) puts mains sockets and USB-C charging on the desk.

Step 4: keyboard, mouse, mat and light

• Hoco GM17 Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Set ($21): a 2.4 GHz wireless 104-key keyboard and a mouse with 800, 1200 and 1600 DPI settings.
• Desk Mat (from $9): 80 × 30 cm ($9) or 90 × 40 cm ($12), with a polyester top and a non-slip rubber base.
• PU Leather Office Desk Mat (from $14): wipe-clean PU in brown or grey, 80 × 30 or 90 × 40 cm.
• BUBM Double-Sided PU Leather Desk Mat ($8): 80 × 40 cm, a different colour on each side.
• Memory Foam Keyboard Wrist Rest Set ($19): memory foam wrist rests for the keyboard and mouse, with a non-slip base.
• XO OZ07 Rechargeable LED Desk Lamp ($19): three brightness levels, a 1200 mAh battery for cordless use and a built-in phone holder.
• Stackable Steel Desktop Storage Drawer ($34): hidden storage with a flat top that can hold a monitor.

Working from the sofa instead? The Ergonomic Pro Lap Desk ($39) fits laptops up to 15.6 inches and has a built-in mouse pad and wrist rest.

Buying from Buyrouth

Standard delivery across Lebanon costs $5 and takes 2–5 working days, free on orders of $75 or more. Fast delivery costs $8: 24 hours within Beirut, 72 hours outside. Pay cash on delivery or by card, or pick up in Sin El Fil between 9 am and 4 pm.

Frequently asked questions

How high should my screen be?

A common guideline is to have the top of the screen at or slightly below eye level, about an arm's length away. With a laptop stand, use a separate keyboard and mouse so your arms can rest at desk height.

Will the monitor arm fit my screen?

It fits 13 to 32-inch monitors with VESA 75 × 75 or 100 × 100 holes, up to 8 kg, on desks 10 to 50 mm thick. Check the back of your monitor for the four screw holes.

Can a USB-C hub charge my laptop?

Hubs with PD pass-through, such as the LDNIO DS-15H and the 8-in-1 hub (100 W PD), pass power from your own USB-C charger to the laptop while you use the other ports.

Which desk mat size should I choose?

80 × 30 cm fits a keyboard and mouse. 90 × 40 cm, or the 80 × 40 cm BUBM mat, also fits a laptop or a notebook beside them.