Desk design

The current socio-health situation has forced many workers at home and the dizzying increase in smartworking has led to a redefinition of domestic spaces, caused by new needs. The first residential environment that is needed today is the one intended for the study, designed specifically for remote work. The design desk is one of the key elements of the workstation and for this reason it is necessary to choose it carefully and measure it according to your needs. Starting from the type of support surface, to move on to the materials and related costs and maintenance, up to the shape and colors, everything must be analyzed with care and awareness.

Now let’s see how to get to know this important piece of furniture, through some useful guidelines.

The desk: types and sizes

To make an optimal choice, the first aspect to consider is the space availability within the home. The study corner is usually located in the living room but sometimes the sleeping area is also suitable for accommodating this new function. In fact, the bedroom is a private and less frequented area of the house, where the smartworker can find tranquility and silence, precious allies of work activities. The workstation is characterized by a seat, a support surface and some furnishing accessories that are intended to improve performance through light and the organization of space.

Usually, in small rooms, the rectangular desk with a maximum depth of 90 cm is the most suitable. The advantage of these models is given by the versatility and the simple and linear design, suitable for any style. If you have larger rooms available, one of the most popular solutions is the corner desk. The advantages of this model are the breadth of the plan and the possibility that the user has to get closer to it. This aspect is of fundamental importance to prevent unpleasant damage to posture caused by an incorrect daily position. In addition, a deeper desk also offers more space to accommodate files, documents and tools for work, without having to add additional furniture elements, which are necessary in the case of smaller desks.

Then there are the modular, extendable or compact desks, which are chosen if you need to achieve maximum flexibility. The importance of the desk top in terms of profile, depth and size is therefore evident. Another choice concerns the layout of the desk: in fact, you can opt for a floor model or a model placed against the wall, depending on the spatial conformation of your home environments. In this regard, it must be considered that the first needs space on the floor, while the second can be obtained from niches or made up of shelves. It will be possible to choose particular models equipped with drawers, wheels and shelves or, if the desk is used by several users, solutions that can be adjusted in height. Finally, when space is very limited, the support surface can be retractable, inside wardrobes and storage units which, once used, will enclose it behind a simple door. These are very popular types in small houses or where it is important to keep order and give more flexibility to the workstation.

It is therefore clear how the type of desk should be chosen based on its use and specific needs, in order to ensure the psycho-physical well-being of the person using it.
As for the size of the table, as for the typological choice, a lot depends on the size available and on personal needs. They range from small desks with a depth of 60 cm, up to 1.5 m deep shelves, perfect for accommodating even a desktop computer. From the point of view of length and height, they can be chosen according to the taste and functionality you want to enjoy. Usually the standard height is about 75 cm but you can choose adjustable models or alternatively, chairs that adapt to the support surface.

The importance of desk ergonomics

A fundamental prerogative for choosing the desk in an informed way is ergonomics. This piece of furniture must be designed to ensure the safety and health of the user. In fact, the problems deriving from the incorrect posture that workers maintain for many hours every day are more and more widespread. In addition to opting for a seat that follows the lines of the body, it is necessary to choose a desk that allows adequate housing of the legs and a correct arrangement of the arms.

In addition, it is good to take some small precautions in daily habits, thanks to which the user will increase their level of comfort. The space left empty between the PC keyboard and the worker must guarantee the accommodation of the forearms, while it will take at least 50 cm between the screen and the eyes to preserve sight. Furthermore, for the worktop it is preferable to choose light and not very reflective colors, able to calibrate the light and maintain the right atmosphere for the user.

In a period in which work has found a new dimension within the home, it is essential to pay particular attention to the choices that are made, to promote constant personal well-being.

If you want to deepen the topic in the article “Working from home. How space responds to current needs ”click here

Material and stylistic choices

From an aesthetic point of view, materials and colors play an important role in defining the style and final result of the desk. The most popular materials are PVC, MDF, wood, glass and metals; the first two are the cheapest and most versatile, suitable for all environments, they are also used for the worktops of children’s bedrooms. The desks in plastic material can be colored or with variegated shapes and are distinguished by their simple maintenance. Wood is perhaps the oldest material and used for high-quality desks, introduced during the medieval period. Today, it continues to have an excellent response, even if the material, more robust and durable, involves higher costs. Given this fact, to improve performance, the wood is treated with a layer of varnish that increases its durability and preserves its integrity. Finally, glass and metal are the most precious and particular materials, used above all in desks intended for studios and living rooms. Metal is one of the most resistant materials and for this reason it ensures a very long life. Glass, on the other hand, gives elegance but is more fragile. Both materials require careful maintenance and continuous cleaning because they tend to attract dust.

In any case, the desk must also be chosen according to the style of your home. In more classic and rustic-looking environments, wooden desks are the most suitable: equipped with drawers with brass handles and sinuous shapes, they will fit in consistently. For lovers of minimal and modern style, the perfect desk will have clean lines and a square shape. The white pvc or the light wood top is preferred for an immediate Scandinavian “effect”. In this case, the shelf positioned inside a niche will also be indicated, in the case of small rooms. Otherwise, if you appreciate the original and extravagant pieces of furniture, the vintage desks in raw wood with drawers and sturdy legs, will give a shabby-retro touch. Finally, in modern and elegant homes, study corners that blend perfectly into the environment will be preferred, thanks to the use of refined glass and metal desks.

The desk and the “extra touch”

In order to keep the study corner tidy and customize your workstation, it will be good to pay attention to details and better meet your needs. In this regard, depending on the needs, the desk can be equipped with drawers and shelves where you can keep everything close at hand. In case you want to arrange files or texts necessary for your profession, you can integrate a small library.

Sometimes, storage boxes or supports for Tablet and mobile devices will also be useful. To recharge these systems, cables and cable glands or holes integrated in the support surface will be required, to avoid the accumulation of wires and electrical extensions. Finally, if the desk is positioned in a domestic environment where noise is affected, it will be very useful to integrate some sound-absorbing panels capable of increasing the concentration of those who have to work and also contribute to the decoration of the walls.

It is necessary to remember to equip the desk with adequate lighting, through table lamps that must diffuse a punctual light, considered indispensable as it is a real work surface.
In conclusion, it is of fundamental importance to keep in mind that a properly organized environment will be able to maximize work results and consequently personal satisfaction.