This is my first homelab setup. It’s already running and stable, but I’d love feedback from more experienced folks on how to improve it and make it feel more professional over time, both in design and presentation.

Current setup (photo attached):

• Router / Firewall: Fanless Protectli box running OPNsense • Switching & Wi-Fi: TP-Link Omada managed switch + Omada APs (controller self-hosted) • Virtualization: Proxmox VE • Backups: Proxmox Backup Server (PBS) • Networking: Multiple VLANs (mgmt, servers, clients, IoT, DMZ) • Core self-hosted services: • DNS: Unbound + AdGuard • Reverse proxy: Caddy • Auth / SSO: Authentik • Git: Gitea + runners • Monitoring: Prometheus / Grafana • Media & photos: Jellyfin, ARR stack (Radarr, Sonarr, etc.), Immich • Mostly Docker containers on dedicated VMs 

Everything works well so far, and I’m happy with the functionality, but now I’m trying to clean things up and do things “the right way” early, before it grows too much.

What I’m looking for:

• Ideas to make the setup look and feel more pro • Hardware or accessories worth adding (apartment setup, no rack yet) • Physical layout and cable management improvements • Architectural best practices you’d apply early on 

Questions:

• What was the first change that made your homelab feel “serious”? • Anything you wish you had standardized from day one (naming, VLANs, IPs, backups)? • Patch panels, labeling, UPS, power distribution: what’s actually worth it? • Where do you personally draw the line between good design and overengineering? 

Trying to keep things clean, quiet, low-power, and maintainable, rather than just adding gear for the sake of it.

Thanks in advance for any advice.