Never Underestimate the Drawers
There was a time when offices required large amounts of storage. Every bit of relevant information was written down or printed and filed in an organized way. The pedestals on our desks were valuable real estate and only the most important materials were kept there. Now these once valuable locations have become hiding places for all our junk, snacks, and things we think we need, but do not. For this reason, we often overlook this valuable part of our desk. We can learn a lot about the quality of our furniture by the way the drawers look and function.
Before we begin, we must assume that not everyone is familiar with office furniture quality. A bank of drawers is called a pedestal. These pedestals come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can sit under a desk or hang attached to a desk. There is not rule to their sizes; however, most pedestals have at least one file drawer. These drawers are engineered to hold large amounts of files sorted in neat and organized folders. Additionally, some desks are designed as all-inclusive units while others are made up of pieces of a casegood line. These casegood series have interchangeable pieces allowing designers to create a great number of variations of a certain desk style.
Why Look at the Drawers
Researching or physically opening a drawer on a piece of furniture is one of the first things to do when assessing quality. How smoothly does the drawer open and what material is it constructed of? Higher quality pieces of furniture have metal drawer slides with ball bearing extensions. This allows drawers to be opened easily and with minimum effort. They also prevent the drawer from getting stuck in place. In contrast a cheaply made pedestal uses wood channels to facilitate movement. This is less effective and can lead to door jams and other problems in the future.
The next thing to consider when looking at drawers is how far they open. Most people think drawers should open all the way, but many furniture pieces have drawers that only open ¾ of the way. It is important not to judge a pedestal by one drawer though. Some are designed so all the file drawers extend all the way out for easy access while the smaller box drawers only open partially. This is done to save some money, especially because box drawers do not hold as much stuff. Also, a fully extended top drawer can create some balance issues if the file drawer remains empty.
The final thing to look at when inspecting a pedestal is the quality of the drawer materials. Most will have nice quality front panels, but many will have thin pieces of particle board on the drawer’s side and in the bottom. So, inspect or research the parts of a pedestal before passing judgement. Some might look nice but will fall short when looked at in detail. Lastly, do not judge a pedestal or any drawer based on its hardware. These small accessories can be changed easily and can make a huge aesthetic difference.
Ready to Assemble Vs. Casegood Series
Most major office furniture manufactures offer full series of products that give you the ability to customize any desk for any room size. However, some specialize in ready to assemble desks. These are units designed to be all inclusive and come in standard sizes. These desks used to be considered cheap and poorly made, but this is not necessarily true. Some desks in a box system can be well made, affordable, and even stylish. So how can you tell if you are purchasing a good one. First read the specifications. What is the desk made of? What type of drawers does it have, and does it have any professional accreditations? Compare what you read with the major brands out there. The major furniture manufactures will post similar information. These companies rely more heavily on casegood series and will have plenty of informational articles about them. Just remember, even though a casegood series desk seems nicer that does not mean it is the best option for you. Some are not as well made as others. Casegoods typically have a more commercial look and are usually more expensive and not every company cares about quality. Finally, consider the purpose of your desk. If it is for a small home office, a small, simple desk might be the best choice.
Material
What a piece of furniture is made from speaks volumes regarding its quality. Solid wood furniture sounds nice but solid wood tends to warp and can be easily damaged. In contrast, poorly manufactured particle board can be cheap but often falls apart easily. You must find the middle ground. The most common desk material used today is wood laminate. This is particle board coated with a laminate material designed to look like wood. This material holds up extremely well against water and wear and tear. Not all laminates are equal so always consider a tabletop or the side panel’s thickness when assessing quality. Keep in mind, particle board construction has gone a long way as well and is much more durable than years past.
For the people who want something nicer, look at wood veneers. This material is like laminate; however, the top layers covering the base particle board is strips of genuine wood. This is considered high quality but also is higher risk from damage from water and scratches. Finally, glass and other similar materials can be used as a tabletop or countertop. These surfaces have their own pluses and minuses to consider.
When deciding on a new desk or piece of furniture do not get overwhelmed by its look and its price. Consider what features you are looking for and how much use it will get. Ask yourself is this desk for function, for show, or for both? If you have questions email us at sales@furniturewholesalers.com and remember do not forget to check out the drawers.