Dawn Matthews | Oct 29, 2024
What’s The Perfect Size Desk For A Home Office?
10 Minute Read
Creating the perfect home office starts with choosing a desk that’s the right size. It is often underestimated just how important the size of a desk actually is; yet it is essential to your comfort and productivity. The desk’s dimensions will take into account factors such as the space you have and the nature of your work, whether you need room for dual monitors, paperwork, or simply a space for your laptop.
Why should you consider a home office workstation?
Apart from keeping you comfortable and free from neck and back strain, a good home office space can help you separate your work from your home life. The act of sitting at a desk, as opposed to working from the sofa, the kitchen table, or even from bed (we won’t tell – we’ve done it from time to time!) means that you are much more likely to get into the right head space for working, and perform better.
Not only that, if you have set up a home office in a room that is dedicated for that purpose, when you finish for the day, you can close the door on your work and allow yourself to transition into the next part of your day more effectively.
Why does the size of a desk matter?
There’s a number of reasons that the size of a desk matters when you’re creating a home office setup – and the aesthetic of the room is just one of those reasons.
Ergonomics and comfort are most important to consider, especially if you’re likely to be working from home for extended periods. If you get a desk that is too high or too low, at best you might be uncomfortable, and at worst, you might encounter neck, back, or shoulder strain – none of which are good for your productivity!
How you use the desk will also be a consideration. If you’re using the desk for occasional work on your laptop, you might be able to choose a smaller, lightweight desk compared with if you are using a larger tower PC with multiple monitors. If you need to spread out paperwork while you’re working, you will need a bigger surface area.
The design of the room and how you use the space will have a big impact. If you’re setting up a home office workstation that is in the corner of another room, then you’ll be looking for a small desk, perhaps even a fold-away style. But if you are setting up a dedicated room, such as a home office in your garden room, you might want a bigger desk. If you’re squeezing a workstation into a small space, you might want to consider a corner desk, or a wall-mounted desk for optimum space.
You’ll also need to consider the measurements of the room. The desk needs to be a good fit, and allow for easy movement around the space. You’ll want at least a metre of space behind the desk so that you can roll back your chair, and stand up easily.
What is the perfect size for a desk?
There isn’t a perfect size desk for everyone. It very much depends on your height, how you’re using the desk, and your comfort. However, there are plenty of guidelines that we can look at to make sure you get a size that suits you.
The work surface of most standard desks tend to be around 120-180cm wide, and between 60-75cm deep. This suits most setups, from using a laptop to a typical one-screen setup and paperwork. However, if you’re going to be using multiple monitors and lots of files for paperwork, you might want to consider a wider or deeper surface.
The height for most standard desks is between 73-76cm, which is usually about the right height for sitting and working. If you’re considering a standing, or adjustable desk, you’ll probably want one that ranges between 70-127cm.
What is the best material for a home office desk?
The majority of home office desks are made from wood – either solid wood, or an engineered wood like MDF or plywood. That’s because it looks great, and feels nice under your hands. Desks made from materials like metal or glass may feel cold to touch, which isn’t ideal when you’re sitting for longer periods.
Why solid wood is better than MDF & plywood...
You know how we feel about solid wood. It is gorgeous to work with, and with the right wood finish, it can match existing furniture perfectly.
Texture and character - Every piece of timber is unique, each with beautiful grain patterns, knots, and textures that engineered wood simply can’t get close to recreating. The natural character of each piece of wood provides warmth, and elevates the look and feel of your home office. And with the right maintenance, solid wood will age beautifully, with any wear from long-term use creating a patina that you’ll admire for years to come.
Sustainability - The best reason to choose solid wood, rather than MDF or plywood? Sustainability. While solid wood requires trees to be cut, if you buy from businesses that choose responsibly sourced wood or reclaimed timber, it significantly reduces the environmental impact. You can reduce your impact further by planting trees as part of your purchase – and buying from businesses that give back. We contribute funds to plant 10 trees for every tree we use. Finally, make sure that the business you buy from makes the best use of their offcuts, sawdust, and that use sustainable packaging – just as we do.
Solid wood lasts much longer than MDF and plywood, which can chip, swell, and be damaged more easily. Choosing solid wood means less waste in the long run.
Durability and value - Solid pine furniture is an investment that is worth making. It is strong, resilient, easy to repair if scratched, and solid wood can withstand years of use. This makes it a sustainable choice when compared with engineered woods, but provides better value overall – as well as looking stylish in your home, no matter what décor style you choose.
For a desk that lasts, feels luxurious, and is best for the environment, solid wood is the clear choice.
Where can you get a bespoke size desk?
If you’re setting up a home office in a small corner, or in a room that’s an awkward size, chances are you’re going to be looking for a desk that’s not a standard size. But finding a desk that is the perfect size isn’t as difficult as you might think if you buy bespoke.
We hand make every piece of solid wooden furniture in our range, which means that we can make your desk the exact size you’re looking for. When you know the measurements that your home office desk needs to be, have browsed our range, and made your decision, simply choose the size that is closest to the specifications that you want. Then, when you’re placing your order, type in the Order Note box the size that you want us to make your desk.
What if I want a bespoke colour desk?
Because our bespoke desks are hand made to order, as with all of our wood furniture, you can choose the best wax finish to suit your space. We apply our wax finishes by hand to ensure that we bring out the best of the grain, and there are nine shades to choose from, from our darkest walnut finish, to our palest shabby chic and all the shades in between. Our solid pine desks (as with the rest of our furniture range) can be personalised to fit your home perfectly.
Not sure about matching the colour? Order one of our sample packs. Our indoor colour sample pack contains just enough of each wax finish for you to make your decision, especially if you’re matching to other furniture.
If you want to apply your own wood finish, then let us know in the Order Note box and we’ll simply sand your desk to perfection before packing it.
For customers that would rather talk to someone ahead of placing an order – which we understand, especially if you’re ordering a bespoke size – then give us a call on 01403 582740, or send us an email to help@bensimpsonfurniture.com.
Our final thoughts
Searching for the right desk – from the size, to the colour, and the style – can be a huge task. But the benefits of finding that perfect desk are such that it is well worth the effort, especially if you spend long hours staring at your computer screen. Be sure to carefully assess what you need before making your decision; after all, a well chosen desk is a quality investment in your productivity, your health, and even how much you enjoy your work.
Whether you choose one of our standard sizes and wax finishes, or you want a bespoke size, when you’ve received it and set your desk up, be sure to let us know by tagging us in your Instagram and Facebook posts – you’ll find us @bensimpsonfurniture.
