How to choose the right desk for working from home

Regardless of the restrictions on workplace safety gradually lifting, a post-covid work environment will never be the same. Many companies have adapted to this ‘new normal’ and seen a consistent trend in team productivity. It’s no surprise then, that working from home will evolve into a flexible working approach i.e. 2 days in office, the rest working from home. How to choose the right desk for working from home is easy to overlook, but employers and freelance workers should read on…

The percentage of staff working exclusively from home dropped from 38% to 33% per cent in June, which the ONS said marked a shift away from remote working. (Source: People Management Magazine). That said, there are over 2 trillion google results for ‘home office desk’ so here’s our addition: How to choose the right desk for working from home…

1. Measure the space available
   This is the easiest and most obvious first step in your search for the ideal home office desk. Measure the space you have available to accommodate a desk – you could even use masking tape to get an idea of dimensions. Keep the measurements handy as you’ll need them to cross-reference desk styles and prices.
   
   
2. How will you use the desk?
   Mostly computer/laptop work: you might want to consider a desk with a cable tidy and pullout drawer for the keyboard if you have one.
   Paperwork city: ideally you have space for a big surface area to sort through those paper piles and bulky folders. If you’re restricted with space, you might consider a desk with built in storage or think about shelving.
   Meetings: if you work from home, but are starting to think about physical meetings – we recommend you seek advice from your employer or trade union representative.
   
   
3. Consider your work habits
   AKA…how messy are you? If you’re someone that thrives off a neat and tidy desk, you might want to consider a smaller desk with drawers to avoid clutter. If you flourish in chaos, a bigger desk might suit your needs.
   You might prefer working standing up or walking around, in which case we would recommend a SitStand desk which can utilise your existing tabletop.
   
   
4. What are you willing to spend invest?
   A desk should absolutely be considered an investment; for most professional workers, it’s where they spend most of their time, so it’s important it’s fit for purpose. Your budget will determine a number of features such as desk surface and overall durability. Glass top desks are typically more expensive than laminate or wooden surfaces.
   Edging, weight, wheels or no wheels and built-in storage are factors you’ll need to think about.
   
   
5. Don’t ignore ergonomics!
   If you’re prone to aches and pains, a SitStand desk might be the way forward but if not, we strongly recommend pairing an ergonomic chair with your desk. No point investing in a director style desk only to suffer back problems due to a cheap office chair with no back or arm support.
   

The above tips will help you narrow your search for the ideal office desk for your working lifestyle but if you’re intrigued by the SitStand desk option, either head over to the shop to peruse options, or read our blog ‘Benefits of SitStand desks Vs Traditional‘ for further guidance.

Please don’t hesitate to call us to discuss any requirements 020 3551 6957 or email us.