Making Desk Decisions
There are millions of desks out there. They vary in how they are built, they vary in what materials they are made of, and they vary in size. A certain desk might be ideal for your home but awful for your office or vice versa. It can be difficult to determine what features we are looking for and what some of the terminology means. Do not stress when you start looking. Just remember there are desking basics to ensure you make the right decision for the right workspace.
Size
The most important factor when selecting a new desk is the size of the unit. Will it fit where you want it to? Will it have enough work surface for your needs? These are just two of the question you need to consider. A quality desk can dominate a room, it makes a style statement, and has a major impact of a space design aesthetic. In contrast, a desk can be a small work area that sits in a small area of a room that goes unnoticed but is functional. In order to ensure you buy the right desking product for yourself you must first determine what you want. If you prefer a formal look, go big. If you prefer a casual setting, a small more modern work space is for you. Additionally, remember that desks come in all sorts of shapes and configurations. So consider what works for your individual needs and determine your desks footprint. Once you have done this you can move on to details.
Material
The average consumer thinks of a wood desk is the best option; however, most people do not know or realize that solid wood desks are not common. Solid wood tends to warp and twist its shape over time. Most high end desks are wood veneer. A veneer is a thin slice of wood that is typically glued onto a core panel for stability. Most of these panels are made of particle boards of varying densities. Higher density boards are heavier and stronger then lower density ones. The veneer gives the desk its natural wood look and style and the particle board ensures it doesn’t warp and is solid.
The other common material used for desks is called laminate. Similar to laminates used in floors, these desks are constructed with synthetic materials that is designed to look like wood. Just like in veneer desks, laminate material is applied to a core board that is designed to provide strength and stability. Laminates get their wood grain look through a printing process and typically have a shiny finish.
So what is the difference? Wood Veneers are considered higher end because they do have natural wood style and components. However, they are also a bit more difficult to care for. Laminate desks are often more resilient to scratches and stains. You can get a high end desk made of either material, it comes down to preference. So look at the materials and learn about the care instructions, then make the best decision for your purposes.
Storage and Wire Management
A key component of any desk is the amount of storage space it has and how well it can conceal wires. Older desks tend to have more storage drawers while newer desks focus more on integrating technology. This should come as no surprise, there was no desktop computer 50 years ago. Back then people needed to keep reference materials handy and have a place to store said materials. However, people can now fit thousands of pages of information on a hard drive that takes up almost no space. As a result modern desks are more open and typically take up less space, although this doesn’t have to be the case. Instead, many companies now focus on ways to hide wires to ensure our workspaces remain neat. We now need cords for our computers, monitors, and whatever other devices we might have on our desks. In the days before computers, the only electronic thing really needed was a lamp.
Why do companies still sell desks with large amount of drawers? Tradition and style definitely has an impact here. A traditional desk has a lot of drawers, it has always been that way. Additionally, drawer hardware is a great way to add customer high end style to an office. However, we must also remember that some people still prefer pen and paper. Working with traditional means sometimes yields better results for some people. So as a result, there is still a market for desks with a lot of storage options.
Finally, many desks also offer storage hutches. These can be used for a number of purposes from actual storage to displaying almost anything. Some people like hutches for the aesthetic look they provide and some people just need more space for books and files. So if you have a large space to fill or need to have large amount of storage in a small space consider a hutch with your desk. It can solve a number of design and storage issues for you.
The Height Adjustable Era
The final feature to think about when purchasing a desk is what position we will be working in. Over the last decade we have seen a dramatic increase in the rhetoric involving our workplace. Health and activity has been the major topic of discussion and as a result we are seeing many more height adjustable desk options. These units allow us to work sitting or standing based on our mood. We can change the work height at the push of a button. Some desks raise and lower completely while others have components that change work height independent of other parts of the desk. The down side is height adjustability usually raises the price of the desk by a decent amount. The cost per reward is entirely subjective. So make the decision that fits your needs. No amount of advice anyone can give really matters. Do what you want on this front.
Desks will continue to change with the times. Technology and style will continue to evolve; however, the materials we use, out personal preferences, and our specific needs should be what affects are purchasing decision. When you are in the market for a new desk don’t make a rash decisions. If you need help feel free to contact us at sales@furniturewholesalers.com for some advice.