Choosing an Office Desk

Choosing the size and shape of your desk should be a consideration of personal style - how do you want your office to look - with a practical consideration of the space available - how many desks do I need in the office? If you are constricted by space, many compact design office desks are widely available. Rectangular bench desks offer an excellent space-saving design coupled with shared structural components to reduce costs. Call centre pods, usually in circular clusters of between four and eight desks are another compact, space-saving option. If you have more space, ergonomic shaped desks such as single wave, double wave and radial - or crescent - desks provide a stylish office look with plenty of desk area. Desk sizes usually vary between 600mm to 1000mm deep and are available in widths between 800mm and 2000mm. If standard under desk pedestal drawers are to be used, 1400mm wide desks are the minimum I would recommend to provide adequate leg room. If narrow pedestals are to be used, 1200mm wide desks are the minimum width I would recommend.

The materials used for your desks are largely a personal choice, influenced by the look you wish to achieve. Melamine faced chipboard (MFC) is the most common material used and is usually available in a wide range of wood effect finishes and some basic colours. Laminate desks finishes are usually slightly more expensive and offer some additional colour choices. Solid wood desks tend to be very expensive and are usually reserved for executive offices. A cheaper alternative is a wood veneer desk - a cheaper material, such as chipboard, with a very thin layer of real wood applied. An important indication of quality is the thickness of the desk top. Thickness can vary between 18mm and 30mm depending on the quality of the desk. This can determine the rigidity of the desk and 25mm minimum is recommended unless the office desk has a strong under-frame.

The leg style of the desk can also affect the strength and rigidity of the product. Cantilever leg office furniture desks are an entry-level style offering plenty of leg room, usually at low-cost. Once again, an indication of quality is a double cantilever leg, with two upright support columns at each side of the desk frame. Another thing to look for is a support beam under the desk. This is common on 'I' frame desks and bench desks and provides excellent strength for the work-top.