How to Choose a Desk for Home Office: 5 Tips

The desk has been a symbol of personal and professional productivity for hundreds of years.¹ But as desk designs advance and the worlds of work and home collide, the desk has become synonymous with comfort and personal style, too.

Indeed, a writing desk is an integral fixture of every home office. The perfect desk will address your work needs while also reflecting your unique home aesthetic?

In this comprehensive guide, we’ve compiled five helpful tips on how to choose a desk for home office purposes, including how to measure your space, how to prioritize comfort, and some of the best home office desk types and styles.

#1 Assess Your Space and Needs

Whether you’ve converted an extra bedroom into an office or carved out a cozy corner of your home, a dedicated workspace can be the difference between a successful work week and a stressful one. To choose the ideal desk, start by assessing your personal space and workflow needs.

Measure Your Space

Use a tape measure to record the precise dimensions of your space, so you can shop for desk styles that are sure to fit.

To ensure your home office is equipped with all the professional amenities you need, account for additional room around your desk. Make sure you have space for an office chair and any other office furniture you need, like a printing station or filing cabinet.²

Consider Workflow and Storage

Tailoring your home office to support your workflow is essential for organized days. When choosing a desk for your home office, consider three questions central to how you work:

• What types of tasks do you complete for work?
• How do you structure or organize your task load?
• Do you need ample desk space or additional storage?

A large desk with a wide surface can account for multiple monitors if needed, whereas drawers or cubby holes offer storage for additional work supplies. That extra storage is ideal if your home office operates as a dual space—you can stash your laptop or work supplies away if your desk doubles as a reading nook, gaming desk, or creative space. If you're wondering “how deep should a desk be?" based on your personal needs, consult our in-depth guide.

Focus On Features

While you’re measuring your space (and before you commit to a particular area), consider other key details that will improve your home office experience:

• Position your desk near an outlet so you can power your computer and other devices.
• Check that all doors around your desk will be able to open fully.
• If possible, place your desk near (and ideally facing) a window to boost your mood and increase productivity.³ Plus, you’ll look great during any video calls with clients or teammates.

#2 Prioritize Ergonomics

Ergonomics are all about designing for comfort in the workplace, whether it be in a corporate office or your home.² When it comes to your home office (and especially your desk), proper ergonomics can eliminate physical stressors and allow you to work with ease.² Here are three essential factors of an ergonomic workspace.

Desk Height

The height of your desk can affect productivity and overall well-being. That is, the just-right desk height can increase comfort, allowing you to sit and focus for longer periods. It can also reduce the risk of injury to sensitive spots like your back, neck, shoulders, and wrists.²

When seated, you should be able to place your feet flat on the floor, with your knees and elbows at a 90-degree angle.² A little wiggle room goes a long way, too—make sure there’s space between the top of your knees and the underside of your desk so you can shift and move with ease. For some, this is achievable with a standard desk height, while others require more tailored desk dimensions.

Because this will depend on your desk and office chair together, make sure you evaluate the dimensions of both in tandem before purchasing either (or use the height of your existing chair to select the right office desk, or vice versa).

Monitor Placement

The surface of your desk should offer ample space for your monitor, whether it be a desktop computer or laptop. To reduce neck strain, place your monitor about 20–40 inches away from you (about an arm’s length away) with the top of the screen at, or slightly below, eye level.²

Keyboard and Mouse Positioning

Keep your keyboard and mouse at about elbow level and position them within a comfortable reaching distance (elbows bent, spine neutral).² If necessary, you can use a keyboard tray to reach your ideal height.

#3 Choose the Right Desk Type

While the dimensions and ergonomics of your desk are important factors to consider, choosing a desk type that meets your personal and professional requirements is the ultimate key to comfort and productivity.

Think of desk type as the combination of construction and function—whatever type you choose, the right desk will effortlessly adapt to your needs and address any pain points you might have in terms of storage and workflow.

Standing Desks vs. Sitting Desks

Sitting desks tend to be the more traditional desk type for the home office. They’re ideal if you desire a classic desk design, and can be effective for longer or shorter bursts of work depending on your needs. However, standing desks are becoming increasingly popular for home offices because they promote healthy habits and can relieve the physical discomfort of long work weeks.

Standing desks feature an adjustable base that allows you to customize the height of your desk as needed. If you’d like to transition from a sitting position to a standing position (or use a walking pad during work hours, as many are doing), standing desks can easily accommodate you.

Keep in mind that standing desks function best with a minimalist desk setup. As you can expect to adjust your desk throughout your day, an abundance of work equipment like a printer or multiple monitors may be better supported on a stationary surface like that of a sitting desk.

Compact vs. Expansive Designs

Compact desk designs are ideal for smaller workspaces or work setups with little equipment and accessories. If you do most of your tasking from a laptop, opt for a compact design.

For example, secretary desks tend to be more petite width-wise. Instead, this desk style takes up vertical space complete with top storage. A writing desk is similarly paired down in terms of its size. While it offers less storage than a typical secretary desk, it can fit in almost any environment, making it a versatile option for any home office.

If you’re furnishing a larger home office, you have many beautiful desks to choose from. Executive desks and L-shaped corner desks are wide enough to support nearly any setup and look stunning in a home office. Learn more about the benefits of L-shaped desks with our blog before choosing the right office desk for you.

#4 Focus on Quality, Durable Materials, and Construction

Your home office desk is where you’ll be spending quite a bit of time each week, so a quality desk crafted from durable materials is essential.

Desks constructed from solid wood–like those from James&James–can often outlast synthetic materials like laminate or wood composite. Ultimately, a high-quality desk is an investment that pays off, as you can use it for many years and even decades to come.

Brand Reputation and Warranties

Just as important as quality construction is brand reputation and the warranties that accompany your desk. Before you purchase a desk, read reviews and evaluate their warranty policy—companies with rigorous quality standards generally back it up with a long-lasting warranty.

#5 Consider Style and Aesthetics

From the framed art on the wall to the carefully curated decor, your workspace is a natural extension of your home’s aesthetic—and your desk is the centerpiece of your home office furniture.

To that end, aesthetic continuity is key to feeling your best where you work. There are several desk styles to choose from, but the perfect desk for you will blend interior design with personal style and optimal productivity. Below, we’ve curated four common desk types to choose from.

Modern and Contemporary Desks

The modern desk of today is streamlined in size, with geometric shapes and a minimalist design. Contemporary writing desks use the modern blueprint but with a touch of retro flair. You can expect these desks to include marble, glass, or polished metals.

Vintage Desks

Vintage desks take their design cues from the past, only updated to reflect current workflow needs and design trends. They may not be as compact as they once were, but vintage desks are still defined by their wood composition and craftsmanship, often accompanied by more ornate detailing like curves and carvings on the legs and sides.³

Industrial Desks

Industrial desks typically use reclaimed wood coupled with other materials like steel and wrought iron plus additional upcycled accents.³ They often feature aspects common to the period that inspired them, like exposed nuts and bolts. As these desks tend to be bold in their design, they work best in more spacious home office settings.

Shop industrial James&James desks like the Fulton and other favorites.

Traditional Desks

Traditional desks take a softer approach to design, with hints of heritage detailing like turned legs. Traditional desks pair best in minimalist workspaces that have an elegance to them.

James&James traditional desks pair classic aesthetics with modern convenience for a look that exudes timeless appeal.

Elevate Your Home Office with James&James Writing Desks

For many hybrid or remote workers today, a home office is as essential as your living room or dining room. It’s where you’ll spend the majority of your workdays, where you’ll sharpen your focus, and where you might relax in between tasks.

At James&James, we believe quality design is at the heart of every home. That’s why each of our writing desks is crafted from solid hardwood, with durable finishes in a collection of aesthetic shades like charred ember and harvest wheat.

For the perfect finishing touches, you can customize your desk to meet your needs. Choose from essential features like built-in keyboard trays and power outlets for a seamless and stress-free work experience. Explore our writing desks today.

Sources:

1. Indeed. The Evolution of Workstation Desks. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/evolution-workstation-desks-topaz-furniture-vjauc
2. The Importance of Ergonomics in the Workplace: Benefits and Best Practices. https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/tech-takes/ergonomics-in-workplace
3. Harvard Business Review. The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light. https://hbr.org/2018/09/the-1-office-perk-natural-light
4. Apartment Therapy. The Complete Guide on How to Buy Home Office Furniture. https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-choose-home-office-furniture-36826681