Office Desk Evolution

Before the invention of the printing press, all books and literature had to be copied by hand. It is widely thought that the Chinese invented paper possibly as early as 100BC.

The constituents of this early paper was quickly improved upon and people were probably using it for writing within a few years.

12th Century Chinese Editing Desk

Therefore we can safely assume that some form of writing desk would probably have evolved at the same time. So the desk or bureau has been with us for at least 2000 years.

Before the moveable type printing press appeared in the 15th Century, text was hand printed with blocks or written by hand. This led to the evolution of desks with special slots and spaces for writing instruments and tools.

Circa 1450

The first recorded mention of writing deskes in England was around 1450. These early desks were little more than portable boxes with a sloping, hinged lid used for writing.

Circa 1660

Bureaus began to be imported from Europe and were widely used by the upper classes and aristocracy, mainly for writing letters. Bureaus also had sloping, hinged lids which could be pulled down for writing on and for storage inside.

Circa Late 17th Century

After the bureau came the Bureau Cylinder and Roll-Top Bureau, both from France. The Cylinder Desk had a curved wooden lid that rotated inside the desk when open.

The Roll Top had a lid made from slats of wood glued to cloth which allowed the lid to also be pushed inside the desk to reveal the writing space and storage inside.

Circa 1700

Around about 1700, the first proper desks appeared with knee space that we are familiar with today.

These were called Knee Hole Writing Tables and allowed the user to be able to write at the desk without compromising comfort, storage or freedom of movement.

Circa 1850

The Victorians advanced the design of the office desk still further with their pedestal desks which generally had large flat, stretched leather writing surfaces with plenty of drawer storage space and legroom.

Circa 1900

By 1900, in the US alone there were around 100,000 people working in offices in clerical and administrative roles.

With the rise of the white collar worker, innovations in ergonomic office furniture design and space planning was essential. This led to many advances in the workspace including steel mass produced desks, filing cabinets and creative office layouts.

Ultimately, this all leads us to the present day where ergonomics, cable management and flexible, modular office furniture are paramount in modern day working environments.

To read more click the following link:
A Brief History Of The Office & Office Furniture – Part 1

Office Furniture – Modern & Contemporary Office Furniture Suppliers – BT Office Furniture UK

Office Storage

Although there is no conclusive proof that offices were used by early humans, we do know that neolithic people were building storage shelves.

This picture taken from Skara Brae 5, Orkney, Scotland clearly shows this.

The site is thought to date from around 3100BC and in addition to the storage shelves and dresser, there is other stone furniture such as seating and preparation surfaces. Even stone shelving above the bed areas is evident, perhaps for storing more personal items and possessions.

Of course there is no specific evidence that these shelves were used for storing anything other than pots and pans. However, it does serve to highlight that early humans were more advanced and organised than we might otherwise imagine.

It is certainly true to say that people have been trading with each other since time immemorial. Therefore we can assume that those who acquired possessions from others would need a safe place to store them.

In a sense this can be viewed as ‘business’ and these acquisitions would no doubt have to be organised and stored away ready for the next transaction.

The word salary itself is thought to derive from the latin word salarium, which links employment with soldiers. In other words, early Roman soldiers were paid in salt which was considered a valuable commodity. Again, the soldiers would need a place to store this salt and it could be argued (perhaps tenuously) that this was the origin of the home office.

Organizations & Government Offices

It is a fairly safe assumption that ever since people organised themselves into hierarchical structures, those who held the power base at the top would need to have a space for issuing their commands and dictates. They also needed an office of one kind or another to perform their clerical and administrative duties.

Developed nations would have had some form of office space for hundreds of years. This has evolved rapidly in recent times, especially in the 19th and 20th Centuries with the advent of modern communications and networking.

Office Technology & Communication

The use of offices and office furniture for business, both private and commercial increased exponentially with the invention of the telegraph and telephone.

During the 19th Century in the US for instance, as the rail and road networks rapidly expanded, so did the proliferation of offices. It became normal to conduct business from commercial offices, especially with the advent of electric lighting, the typewriter and calculating machines.

Wherever there were manufacturing facilities, an office would be required to handle the administrative duties.

Of course the single most important invention that has contributed to office evolution is the computer. They allow users to perform complicated administrative tasks more easily and effectively. Computers enable people to network and share files within their own office environment, and also with other users in offices all around the globe.

Office Space Evolution From 1904 – Present Day

Circa 1904

American mechanical engineer Frederick Winslow Taylor is credited as being one of the first people to actually design an office space.

He was obsessed with trying to improve industrial efficiency.

Consequently he came up with the idea of packing his workers onto the floor with the senior staff and management in individual offices on the perimeter.

This is similar to the factory concept and is still common in countries such as China and India.

Circa 1950 – 1960

Eberhard and Wolfgang Schnelle created a new type of office planning called Burolandschaft – which means office landscape.

They based their layouts on the type of open plan offices that developed in the US around 1940.

These offices were a lot less formal than the type that Frederick Taylor created. In fact their office landscapes did away with office screens and often used strategic placement of plant pots and lighting to further enhance the working environment. The idea was to make it easier for people to discuss ideas with each other.

Circa 1964 – 1968

The Action Office was first designed by Robert Propst in 1964 and sold by Herman Miller.

Inspired by the Burolandschaft, it is essentially a cubicle system which is still in use today in some offices. It was the first example of modular office furniture with flexible office desk spaces and dividing screens.

It was eventually superseded by the Action II Office Range which is still in use today and is essentially what we think of as a cubicle system.

Circa 1980

Cubicle Farms (also known as Cube Farms or Sea Of Cubicles) appeared in the 1980s and in retrospect are probably one of the most unpleasant office working environments imaginable.

The Sea Of Cubicles shown in the image almost certainly arose from a desire to maximise working office space, while offering a degree of privacy for employees.  Additionally with the rise of middle management, there was a need to accommodate their office requirements and give them an illusion of importance without supplying individual offices. These were reserved for senior management only.

Circa 1994 – Present Day

Networking and the virtual office appeared with the phenomenal and exponential computing power of CPUs in the early 1990s.

There is a classic story about an Ad agency in the US whose CEO decided it would be a great idea to have an open plan virtual office with no individual desks.

Each morning, there would be a mad scramble as employees grabbed themselves a laptop and ran to claim the best available office chair and desk.

Needless to say, productivity dropped and the company became something of a laughing stock.

Nowadays of course more and more people are able to work remotely from their home office or in fact from pretty much anywhere that has an Internet connection.

For those that still work in a traditional office environment, most computers and peripherals will be networked together.

To make the most use of available space and to keep desk space clutter-free, there are many ranges of office furniture which are modular and can be configured in almost any way imaginable.

To read more click the following link:
A Brief History Of The Office & Office Furniture – Part 2

Office Furniture – Modern & Contemporary Office Furniture Suppliers – BT Office Furniture UK

1. Tinkering With An Office Chair

I’m not sure if this has been staged or not but the first of these 3 videos shows a prank played on a rather large guy’s office chair.

Hilarious…

3. Office Screen Prank

A classic office cubicle stunt.

This one should get you laughing out loud. A guy phones his colleague and while he is distracted moves his office screen.

Very funny.

4. Office Full Of Junk

For this prank, you will need a cardboard box and a colleague with a window in their office door.

Your cardboard box will need to be slightly bigger than the window. Firstly, cut off one end and tape it to the window with the open end at the top.

Next, fill the box with junk. When your colleague looks through the window it will look like the entire office is full.

5. And Finally – A Very Funny Office Video

 Office Furniture – Modern & Contemporary Office Furniture Suppliers – BT Office Furniture UK

All the following testimonials are genuine.
Copies available upon request.

Hi Leigh

Your guys have now finished and I must say what a fantastic job they have done. They have quickly and efficiently installed everything as well as being pleasant and friendly to our staff, who have interacted with them – a complete credit to your company. They have installed everything, and have left everything clean and tidy with no rubbish about.

Look forward to working with them in the near future.

Many thanks

Andy Weaver
Europa Group

Hi Dave & Derek

Please pass my thanks on to the team – another great job. Few pictures attached of the final office.

Many thanks

Hello Amanda,

I received 2 chairs from you that I have ordered recently and would just like to thank you and the delivery guys for being so professional and helpful!

I was out of the office yesterday on an inspection and when I returned there were the 2 chairs I had ordered, fully put together waiting by my desk!

I was told the 2 lads who delivered the chairs, struggled up the stairs with them – this just shows the commitment and level of customer service so a massive thank you to the lads and yourselves at the office!

Many thanks

Ben Woodman
Medivet

Dear Leigh

Just had to send you a quick note regarding my experience with your company, and in particular Nigel who I have dealt with. Of course the product and the price have to be right but I must say that Nigel is one of the most helpful and friendly people I have had the pleasure of dealing with and is a credit to you and your company.

I run my own small family-owned firm and know all too well how important customer service is and how our staff have to wow our clients. Nigel certainly did. So much so that had I found another website that offered a better product, I would have called Nigel back to see if I could buy it from BT Office Furniture as I really wanted the business to go to him. And if I had found somewhere cheaper for the same product I would still have placed my business with Nigel just for the experience.

I look forward now to receiving the goods ordered and using your company again the next time I need more furniture.

Regards

Steve Blofield
SBA Financial

Many thanks for what was a superb delivery yesterday. Without a doubt one of the best jobs I have seen in a while. My wife said your team were very professional and I am certainly happy with the finish – not something I say lightly.

Thanks again

Gary O’Sullivan

Dear Leigh,

They’ve just arrived.

Thank you VERY much for the speedy service!

Best wishes,

Yvonne Haddow
CCLI (Christian Copyright Licensing International)

…Only a pleasure – I’ve been meaning to email since the installation and keep forgetting! Really – a very well done to you and your team – my FD, MD and CD were most impressed.

Kind regards,

Lyn Preuss
Medicine-Man.net

Hi Nigel

Thanks for this, I would also like to pass on my thanks to Dave and his team, they were brilliant and their attitudes were a breath of fresh air. A job very well done by all.

I have a small favour if at all possible, would you have someone who could move our HR desks around, they want to face each other and the IS chap has gout so can’t move anything. It would be a half hour job.

Many thanks

Lynda Cartledge
4com.co.uk

BT OFFICE COMMENT: This was carried out as per Lynda’s request

Hello Sarah,

Thank you for sending the replacement wheels so quickly.

Excellent customer service!

Kind regards,

Hi Leigh

Just a quick email to say thanks for your help with the glass table, it was installed today and looks fantastic. Can you send Dave my thanks for the help with the delivery today.

Cheers

Chris West
Harts Office Solutions

Hi Derek and Leigh

Thank you so much for the lovely bottles of wine that arrived for me today, that was a lovely gesture and much appreciated.

And thank you as well for your fantastic service as per usual this year and your ability to deliver the furniture to me to such short deadlines. You’ve been a great help and enabled me to be able to meet the deadlines I’ve been set.

Thank you again gentlemen and have a wonderful Christmas.

Kind regards

Rachael Bate
Updata Infrastructure UK Limited

Hi Leigh,

Many thanks for the invoice and your help with the order – if only every time you had to place an order it was that pain free and quick!!

Kind regards,

Linda Casey
Cleaning & Support Services Association

Hi Nigel/Dave

Just to thank you for yesterday and for doing the Plymouth installation – all looked very smart and client very pleased – top service as always – many thanks.

Best wishes

Paul
PHI Concepts

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for the two replacement units delivered today.

It has been a pleasure to deal with you.

Yours truly,

Dr John Farthing

Hi Chris

Marvellous! Thank you, wish there were more efficient companies like you around.

All the best, and thank you again

Andy Parry

Dear Sarah

My chair has now arrived and is all there. I can’t than you enough for all the help you gave me.

The service I received from you is so unusual in today’s world.

Once again thank you.

Brian Hobden

Hi Nigel

Thank you for emailing. It went very well thank you. Both of your guys were really helpful and efficient so thanks to them.

The screens were fine. I decided in the end to reuse 3 and leave the others. All looks very impressive!

Kind rgds

James Newton
Animal Friends

Dear Chris

Just wanted to say that we are really pleased with all the furniture that you supplied – our receptionist was “thrilled to bits”.

Your guys were very efficient and had all the furniture made up in good time.

Thank you for all your assistance.

Kind regards

Valerie Terry
Carter Bells

I want to thank you for what can only be described as exceptional service.

I ordered my desk and asked if it could be delivered on a specific day. You told me this could only be the case if there was a lorry coming up to Worcestershire.

But you really helped me out, kept me informed and when you realised the desk was going to be delivered to you on the day I requested, you had it delivered directly to me and assembled.

This is quality customer care and service, not to be forgotten and not to be kept to myself – I’m telling others how impressed I’ve been with you.

Once again, thank you.

Best wishes

Jo Lunn
Bowen Technique Training

Sarah

The table and chairs have all been delivered and installed now and I just say we are impressed with the products, value for money and the quality of the service we received.

Many thanks

Zoe Matthews
Harlow Council

Just wanted to say to all of you at BT Office Furniture, thank you once again for sorting out our furniture and making it as easy as possible!!

Claire M Levick
A&P Falmouth

Hi Chris

Just a quick mail to say the furniture is in and looks great. Your installation chap was fantastic, so thank you very much indeed. We will probably change the rest of the furniture later in the year including a new reception desk and boardroom table.

Once again thank you.

Kind regards

Mark Hilferty
Space the design practice

Attn. Leigh.

We’ve just had delivery of our 2 black cupboards. Thank you.

I felt we should let you know that your 2 drivers were absolutely lovely.

When I asked if it was a problem to take the cupboard up some stairs (2 flights), they responded that it wasn’t  a problem and said “it’s our job”.

We have many deliveries to our offices and many times we are faced with miserable, unhelpful drivers. It was a pleasure to deal with your 2 guys today.

Olwyn Gibson
on behalf of Library HQ, The Castle, Carlisle

Chris

It’s all done. The fitters worked very hard and have done an excellent job.

Thank you very much; I won’t hesitate to come back to you for future needs.

Regards

Steve Barker

I have been meaning to send you these not very good photographs for ages, to let you see how well your screens worked with the one way vision film and also the orange operator chairs and funky coffee table.

The owner is delighted how we were able to squeeze a quart into a pint pot and transform a smelly old pet shop!

Thanks again for your help

Best regards

Val Plummer
McConnell Travel

Hi

I’m just sending a quick email to say thanks for the delivery of our table and chairs – I’m really impressed with the quick and professional service!

Kind regards

Sarena Parry
Solar Technologies

Leigh

10 OUT OF 10

All delivered on time, please convey my thanks to your fitters. Your service from start to finish was very professional.

Thanks

Chris Bushell
AON

Good morning Derek,

The headmistress was very very impressed (can’t stress how impressed) with the plans and we should have an order with you by the end of the day. Thank you so much for all of the hard work that you have put in.

It is greatly appreciated.

Cerys Parker
Director of ICT
Ipswich High School

Dear Sir/Madam

Firstly, this is a thank you for the professional manner with which the company has dealt with my husband and myself from calling in at your showroom and placing an order – and talking to not only the administrator – but also the stockroom workers – ie. Chris in particular.

Very knowledgeable and helpful. Your Admin Assistant was kind and patient in advising on products. To delivery – on the day very courteous and helpful gentlemen – including unwrapping and taking away the packing.

I know this would not be the biggest sale in your organisation but you made us feel no less important.

Once again thank you to all who make it a joy to do business with such a professional organisation.

Yours faithfully

Shelia Gray

Hi Leigh,

I just wanted to say a big thanks for getting us our Actiu office desks in time for our deadline – and also to say how great your guys were who delivered and assembled them all – they were fantastic!

Thanks,

Kristina Brown
Q Developments

Morning Leigh

Thanks for the prompt delivery of our furniture yesterday and the excellent service by the chaps that delivered it, they are a credit to your company.

Kind regards

Teresa
Wolsey Securities

Dear Derek

We are delighted with the new reception counter and have had plenty of compliments from our patients too!

Many thanks for your help and patience.

Best wishes and kind regards

Karen Dexter
North West London Medical Centre

Dear Leigh

Thank you so much for arranging the delivery of the Black Leather Executive Armchair last Thursday, the very day of the birthday for which it was planned as a very special present.

I realise that a few strings had to be pulled and am genuinely grateful that the effort was made. The recipient is utterly delighted with the chair, in fact it’s a problem tempting him out of it!

Thanks again and all the best,

Avril Bardoni

Derek,

I was very impressed with your men. They were pleasant and hard-working and did a brilliant job in record time (they finished at around 3.00).

Please pass on my thanks to them.

Thanks,

Dee Whitelock
VT Land

Derek,

Thank you very much for your generous gift this Christmas.

The hamper has just been delivered and Angela and I will enjoy unwrapping it and exploring and sampling the goodies over Christmas.

I was pleased to be able to make the recommendation to Selecta, without expectation of any recognition, as I knew you had previously provided us with  first class service in Stratford and would not let Selecta down.

I know they are happy with the outcome and have considered you for other fit out projects.

My best wishes to you and the BT team for a happy and peaceful Christmas.

Roger Seddon

With many thanks.

Your delivery guys were v.impressive.

OwenJames Events Limited

Many thanks for excellent service

Terry Beasley

Office Furniture – Modern & Contemporary Office Furniture Suppliers – BT Office Furniture UK

1. Vespa Workstation

How about this for an office desk…

An Australian blogger decided to customise his 1968 Vespa Sprint and convert it into a fully functional and comfortable office workstation. According to the creator, the Italian scooter was beyond restoration.

“I have tried to maintain the traditional characteristics by converting the back half into a functional workstation, complete with adjustable lap top stand.”

Vespa Workstation

2. Portable Office

Could this be the ultimate in office furniture chic?

Welcome to the Louis Vuitton Portable Office Trunk!

Louis Vuitton Office Trunk

This stylish and classy office comes complete with DVD player, TV, solar power and coffee maker. The coffee maker is actually powered by a small can of petrol.

I recommend you check this can is empty before embarking on any international travel. Explaining the petrol can to customs could result in severe embarrassment, or even worse – arrest!

Not recommended for destinations to the Middle East or USA!

You will probably need a suitcase of equivalent size stuffed full of cash to pay for this!

3. Kruikantoor – Portable Office Furniture

This takes some beating.

Dutch designer Tim Vinke has created this impressive office ‘suite’ which can be wheeled around like a wheelbarrow.

His lightweight office is actually made from EPS foam and covered with a coating of polyurea hotspray.

Amazingly, this office comes complete with 2 office chairs, an office desk, light, electricity connection and office storage. As you can see from the images, it can be put together and wheeled around to almost any location.

Not quite as cool perhaps as the Louis Vuitton Office Trunk but certainly a lot more practical. You’ll be the envy of your friends when you wheel this down to the park to work on a sunny afternoon. Be aware you may get stopped and asked if you sell hotdogs.

Kruikantoor Portable Office Furniture

Office Desk With 2 Chairs And Storage

4. Hip Office

All the health experts agree that you should avoid sitting for prolonged periods at your office desk. This next unusual office accessory is called a Hip Office and has been ergonomically designed to provide a solution for those who wish to get up more often from their office desk.

For fitness fanatics and the more adventurous amongst you, why not try stretching while you work or perhaps even go for a gentle jog around the office.

A bit of friendly advice – just like you shouldn’t use a mobile phone while driving, avoid typing while jogging and remember to look up occasionally. You don’t want to knock over the tea lady.

Hip Office

5. The House On The Table

This final offering is probably my favourite. Created by design studio Design Mong it is literally a house that fits on top of your office desk.

We all need a bit of space and some quiet time away from the hustle and bustle of the office. For many of us the only way we can achieve this during the working day is through multiple extended visits to the office convenience.

Of course by doing this you may end up being the subject of office speculation concerning the frequency of your movements. It’s also possible you may be disciplined for spending too much time away from your office desk.

The solution? This wonderful office den which gives you all the personal office space you could ever need. Imagine how pleasant it would be spending your working day cocooned inside your own personal mini house.

If you get really creative, you could perhaps use it for holding regular private meetings with the office hottie!

The House On The Table

Many people have a clear idea about the type of office furniture they want for their office and even the design type and style.

However, it is not always immediately apparent how the office furniture will fit into the space you have available.

Of course if your office is a relatively uniform shape such as a square or rectangle, your office planning will be much easier. But this is not always the case and consequently problems can arise.

There are many considerations that need to be taken into account including work flow analysis (which involves analysing the organisational structure of the office), office desk type and shape, office storage and office chair ergonomics.

This is why it is so important to have a floor plan, or at the very least a clear idea in your mind about where your different items of office furniture will be located to maximise your workspace and employee productivity.

Of course, the size of your budget will largely determine your ultimate decisions and so it is important to be aware of the different types of material and finish available for your chosen product. You will no doubt want to balance quality and durability with cost.

Some office items often get overlooked, such as the water cooler for instance (if you decide you are going to have one).  Also, some people imagine that their office desks will by default be rectangular and this can cause them problems in office spaces that have an irregular shape.

Needless to say there are many different designs available for office desks including straight-edged, curved and L-shaped. Additionally some ranges, in particular larger workstations, can often be configured in many different ways, limited only by your imagination. This is great news if your space is limited or unusually shaped.

However, sometimes too many choices can make our ultimate decisions difficult to make. This can lead to uncertainty and items of office furniture being ordered that do not fully complement each other.

It’s a bit like choosing new toothpaste. Nowadays there are so many different brands and options available that having too much choice makes choosing more difficult (if you know what I mean)!

Ultimately, you will want your office workspace to flow naturally and to be optimised for productivity. This is why we recommend that you have your office space professionally assessed and designed.

At BT Office Furniture we are pleased to be able to offer a full 2D and 3D Space Planning & Design Service.

If you require an Office Furniture 2D & 3D Space Planning & Design Service, please click the following link:

Office Furniture – Modern & Contemporary Office Furniture Suppliers – BT Office Furniture UK

If you are reading this blog, there is a good chance that you are looking for affordable discount office furniture.

We are living in tough economic times and consequently individuals and companies are having to consider their budgets far more carefully than ever before.

Here at BT Office we have a huge range of office furniture to suit all types of budget. So if you are considering new office furniture but are concerned about cost, you might want to consider our Economy Range and Clearance Zone products.

Prices quoted include delivery, assembly and installation by our friendly team

This is something most other office furniture companies are unable or unwilling to offer. You will be hard pushed to find a better service anywhere in the UK.

Economy Office Furniture – BT Office Furniture

We have several different ranges in our economy furniture section each offering fantastic value for money, especially when you take into account our delivery, assembly and installation service. The furniture in this range is suitable for both every day and commercial use.

It is possible to match together different items of office furniture by looking at the group code. For instance, every product with the code BT come from the same range. In addition, we are currently running a special offer on all products with a BT code (see below).

Please note that we have many products available that you may not see on our website. If you like a particular office desk for instance and cannot find an office chair to match, we may be able to find a suitable complementary item.

Minimum 5% Discount On Any Product In Our ‘BT’ Range

We are currently running a promotion on any item of office furniture with the product code ‘BT’ at the start.

Please click the following link and ‘Like’ our Facebook page in order to redeem your coupon.

http://on.fb.me/bt-discount-coupon

Selfridges – London

It’s always nice to receive a positive testimonial from a satisfied customer, especially when it comes from an internationally renowned company – Selfridges of London!

Dear Dave & Derek,

Please pass my thanks on to the team – another great job. Few pictures attached of the final office.

Many thanks

Kate
Selfridges & Co

I was a little reluctant to use the title Cheap Office Furniture because there is a natural implication that cheap means poor quality.

However, this is not necessarily the case.

We have both Economy Furniture and Clearance Furniture to cater for all budgets. Our cheap office furniture is often discounted for genuine reasons (see below).

Economy Furniture

The economy furniture section includes furniture from several different ranges. Each range offers excellent value for money and is suitable for every day commercial use.

The office furniture in this section is grouped by code. In other words, all ranges with a code starting with ‘BT’ are from the same range and therefore match.

If a particular desk within this section catches your eye but is not the exactly as you require, please call or email as we have a large variety of stock that is not always displayed online.

Minimum 5% Discount Coupon (Dependent Upon Quantity)

We are currently offering a promotion where we can give you a discount on certain products in return for a ‘Like’ on Facebook.

This discount will be added to any product with a ‘BT’ Product Code. Conditions may apply.

Just scan the following QR (Quick Response Code) and follow the instructions.

You will need a smartphone and a FREE App (eg. QuickMark for Android or QR Reader for iPhone)

Alternatively, click on the following link:

bit.ly/ya2oLW

Clearance Zone

The clearance zone is full of our latest promotional deals, as well as special offers from our manufacturers.

The office furniture in this section are often cancelled orders, surplus stock, discontinued products or simply items that we are promoting at lower than normal prices.

The section includes a wide range of furniture including office desks, office chairs, reception desks, meeting room tables, all kinds of office furniture.

White Bench Desk (£99) (from our Clearance Zone):

Office Desk Guide

When choosing new office furniture, most people will naturally place the most emphasis on choosing an ergonomically designed and comfortable office chair.

However equal consideration should also be given to choosing a suitable office desk for your workspace. This is often overlooked as simply an object of substance and that style and functionality are of little relevance.

In order to provide your employees or indeed yourself with a comfortable and productive working environment, the following points should be considered:

How Will The Office Desk Be Used?

The way your employees use their office desk should of course have an impact on your ultimate choice. These days, it is rare to find an office desk that does not have a computer perched on top.

CPU Holder and Monitor Arm

If your employee is using a desktop computer (rather than a notebook or laptop), it is a good idea to install a CPU holder and monitor arm. This obviously helps to maximise the working area of the office desk and helps to keep it free from clutter.

Cable Management

You may also want to consider different power/data solutions. With a little careful planning, it is possible to create your own cable management solution for your office desk. For instance, you could let your cables run through cable spines or cable baskets available in various lengths. Our 3WT cable channels stick on to the underside of your desk and allows cables to run through it horizontally.

We can also provide smart power / data solutions that fit into cable baskets or to the desk top. The space saving pop up or flip up versions are hidden in the desk when not required.

Additionally, some of our office desks have multiple cable management solution configurations built in. See our Opteam Office Desk Range for an example.

Office Desk Storage

This is another consideration that often gets neglected, in part due to the fact that most offices have subsidiary storage in the form of cabinets etc.

However, if you want your employees to be productive, efficient and organised it might be beneficial to add complementary storage and pedestal options. This ensures that your staff’s paperwork and stationery is always to hand.

Modesty Screens

If your choice of office desk does not have a pre-fitted screen, you may want to consider this in order to preserve and protect the modesty of your female employees.

Large Office Desks

For senior members of staff such as managers, supervisors and company directors, you will probably want a larger desk to accommodate different types of working scenario. An example of this might be holding a meeting with several people at the same time, all of whom need office desk space for taking notes.

Shaped desks often offer the best solution to these types of scenarios. ‘L’ and ‘U’ shaped office desks are popular choices as they will allow both you and your employees enough space to hold a meeting and have a solid surface for keeping notepads and paperwork.

Style, Colour and Materials

Naturally you will want your office desks to compliment the rest of your office furniture and therefore styling is an important factor to consider.

For instance, an ultra-modern glass desk in an old-fashioned office may stick out like a meat stall at a vegan convention. So you need to decide first of all if you want a glass desk, or a wooden desk. Also, desks are available that come with metal legs. This can provide a further opportunity for concealing cables because some are designed with built-in cable management features.

Additionally, wood desks come in a number of different finishes:

• Laminate
  great value | different finishes and colours available
  
• Metal
  sensibly priced | highly durable
  
• Solid Wood
  high quality | look great | different wood finish options | durable | more expensive than wood veneer
  
• Wood Veneer
  looks fantastic | cheaper than solid wood | less durable than solid wood

Needless to say, there are numerous different colours and shades of wood to choose from. Again you should make sure that your office desk does not clash with your other office furniture.

On a final note, remember that first impressions really do count, so if you want to impress your clients with your office furniture then please read my blog How To Impress Your Clients With Your Office Furniture.