Questions to ask when desk shopping
Buying a desk can be a big commitment and not just financially. You want one with style, that is well built, and fits all your needs. In the office furniture world, there is no one desk that is the best. There are countless features and their benefits are based on the user. However, there are some simple questions to ask when deciding what workplace furniture is right for you.
What size is best?
The simple answer to this question varies based on how much space you have available. The desk you buy should fit your area. Trying to fit a large desk into a small space will make a room look tiny and inadequate. In contrast, putting a small desk in a large space will make the desk feel out of place and make working at it feel like you are on an island. Where you put the desk is also a huge factor and affects the configuration. Basic desks do the job but having the room for a credenza to go with it adds storage, more workspace, and style. Additionally, L-shaped desks are a great way to add worksurface area when placing a desk in a corner and a U-shaped desk is great when even more work surface is needed. Ultimately the size of your desk and its configurations should be dependent on two main factors. How much workspace is needed and how much space is available in the room?
What material is the desk made from?
Like many household furniture items, desks can be made from a wide variety of materials and this diversity creates a wide variety of prices. When we think about traditional high end office furniture the material that we most associate it with is wood. Solid hardwood desks are nice but also rare. Solid wood tends to bow, warp, and crack over time without an ideal climate-controlled setting. Modern-day high-end furniture is constructed with wood veneer. This is a process where manufactured core boards, often particle board of varying density, are covered in small sheets of wood. The benefit to wood veneer over solid wood is it is more durable, and it still has the natural wood look. The most common desk material used today is wood laminate. This is a process where core board, just like the ones used in the wood veneer process, are coated in a laminated product. This laminate can come in countless numbers of colors and finishes and is more affordable than wood products. The average person is unlikely to be able to tell the difference between a laminate desk and a veneer desk. The final material that is common in desk production is metal. Metal desks are sometimes paired with a laminate work surface. These desks give a commercial feel and are often more durable than everything else available. The downside is they can rust without proper care, quality varies based on the type and gauge of the steel used, and they just simply do not look as nice.
One more thing that you need to consider when asking about the material a desk is made from is to ask about the drawers. Nicer desks will have full extension drawers that operate on a ball-bearing slide mechanism. A step down is drawers that only open partially. Finally, the cheapest drawers run on cut out channels and do not have ball bearing suspensions.
What style am I looking for?
To many, the style and appearance of a desk is the most important thing. As stated before, having the right size and configuration for an area is crucial. However, there is a lot more to the style of a desk then its shape and layout. Traditional and modern styles are always available and deciding between these two is entirely based on preference. Just remember it is important to stay consistent in an overall setting. You do not want a small traditional desk in an office designed in a modern style. It would feel out of place. A desks finish can make a break a room aesthetically. Currently lighter colors like grey and white are popular, but there will always be a place for traditional mahoganies and cherry finishes. Additionally, a feature that many of us do not consider is the shape of the desk front and the design of its front panel. There are bow front desks that have a rounded front that are inviting to guests and provide extra surface area. There are flush front desks that maximize leg space for its user and border walls and other furniture well. There are recessed front desks that maintain a desks rectangular front but allow for more comfortable guest seating. Lastly, there are table desks that have open panels to make an area seem more spacious. All these style desks are functional, it is up to us to decide which one we want, and which style matches the décor.
How much storage do I need?
Like most furniture features there is no correct answer to this question. It is very dependent on the type of work you will be doing at the desk. Someone in the IT field is likely to need less drawer storage and require more space for computers, wires, and other electronic accessories. In contrast, an architect needs a large work surface for blueprints and different type drawers to store drawing materials and large papers. Some people just like to have drawers to hide things in and others like open storage to show off rewards and accolades. Storage hutches can be added to a lot of different style desks and credenza and the type of added storage they provide differs greatly. Some have doors with glass, while others have solid coverings to hide what is inside. Some hutches do not have closed storage at all leaving all the books and other things on it to be seen by everyone. Finally, some hutches are a combination of both open and closed storage. Purpose, function, and style are they key things to think about if you when considering the amount and types of storage you want and need.
There are millions of questions that can be asked on just about any topic. This rule holds true when furniture shopping as well. However, when it comes time to buy a new desk, it is best to simplify things. If you start with these basic questions, you will be well on your way to getting exactly what you need. If you have any questions or need advice about what desk to purchase feel free to contact us at sales@furniturewholesalers.com. We are always happy to answer questions and provide expert advice.