Pick the Right Desk for Your Office | Seven Things to Consider to Help You Make the Right Choice

So you need a desk for your office… or two… or two hundred! Where do you begin? A quick search online for desks will return a tidal wave of results. Working with an interior designer and a workplace furniture dealer can help you streamline the process and ensure you find a product that meets your goals and aligns with your budget. To make things easier for you, here are seven important points you should discuss with your designer or furniture dealer to help you make the right choice when it comes to purchasing one of many desks for your office:

What is your budget for the desk for your office?

Before you meet with a designer or furniture dealer, make sure you know what your budget is for your desk(s). Obviously, that will depend on how many desks you need, so knowing those numbers in advance is important. Don’t forget that you will also need chairs for those desks, and likely some other items, as well, so account for those additional costs in your overall budget to ensure you have covered all of your office furniture needs.

 

What type of desk would meet your needs?

There are many different styles of desks on the market, so your choices will likely feel endless, but having some goals in mind for how you want to use your space will help you narrow down your options. Do you want a height-adjustable desk that will allow you or your employee team to transition easily from sitting to standing during the day? Do you need extra worksurface space that will allow you to spread your materials and devices out? What about a built-in bulletin board or whiteboard? Having some ideas of what you need in advance will help you and your designer and furniture dealer choose the right product.

If you’re purchasing multiple desks for your organization, you also need to determine what type of offices you are creating. Do you want an open office layout that incorporates several desks into a benching or cubicle design? Do you have individual private offices you need to outfit? Or, maybe you have a combination of both. This information will dictate the type of desks you order, as well.

 

What size should your desk be to optimize your office space?

Accurately measuring your office space is critical to making the right desk selection. This can be done by a member of your employee team, but having your designer and furniture dealer do the measuring for you will help you ensure you got it right. A furniture dealer will also measure other parts of your workplace like the entrances to the building and the elevators and stairways to make sure whatever desk you select will fit through those spaces during the installation process.

 

What kind of technology do you need to be able to use at your desk?

Knowing the types of technology you need to use in your office will help you determine the size of your desk, where it needs to be placed in the room relative to power outlets, and how cords will need to be organized. It will also help you to know how many monitor arms you need to order, as well as what type of data and charging stations you need to have convenient access to during the work day. If you know you will need multiple monitors at your desk, additional monitor arms can be ordered. Identifying all of those needs in advance of selecting and ordering a desk will help you avoid the hassle of ordering the wrong product.

 

What kind of storage do you need to have at your desk?

While many organizations have leveraged technology to go paperless, some form of storage is often still necessary, even if it is just for pens, a purse, and a jacket. More substantial storage solutions are available and may include filing cabinets, drawers, and overhead storage. Wall-mounted or desktop accessories like stackable trays and pencil holders can also be used to keep your desk organized. Keeping the items you need to store but also access frequently within easy reach will help to streamline your day and protect you from common ergonomic problems that can come from excessive reaching and straining throughout the work day. Keep these factors in mind when talking to your designer or furniture dealer.

 

What kind of lighting do you need to have at your desk?

Adequate lighting is important both for your productivity and maintaining healthy vision. If you have a large window in your office, placing your desk near that natural light source can help ensure you are not straining your eyes to see your work. Adding task lighting to your desk top or an under-mounted light to your overhead storage area can help direct light onto your worksurface from multiple angles, ensuring you can work efficiently and safely.

 

What do you want your desk for your office to look like?

This is the fun part! What creative vision do you have for your office space? Many desks and related office furniture and accessories are customizable, which means you can chose the shape, style, fabrics, finishes, and more to craft a solution that is just as beautiful as it is functional. Your interior designer and furniture dealer can help you find the right design aesthetic for you and your organization that aligns with your brand and culture.

 

 

Equipped with these seven considerations, you and your project team should be able to find just the right desk and other office furniture and accessories solutions for you. If you’re in the Central or South-Eastern PA region, CONTACT our Benjamin Roberts office furniture experts to get started, today!

 

 

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