What to Look for in a Home Office Computer Desk

Your home office computer desk is so important in your setup because everything else depends on it. You will want something that supports your workflow, your decoration style, and something that will inspire you to get work done. If you have ever had the frustration of working on a desk that was too small, had a rough surface that ruins your clothing, or a desk with strange storage units that you always smash your knees on, you will know the importance of having a clean and welcoming desk setup that you look forward to using. Below are the features to look for in a desk when you are picking out the perfect desk for your home office computer desk.

• Size
• Height
• Desk material
• Desk shape
• Storage
• Standing/Height adjustable desk
• Treadmill desk
• Cable management

Size

The size of the desk will allow you get have the needed room for you to support your workflow. A good rule of thumb when planning for your desk size is to map out all the things that you want to keep on your desk permanently along with how cluttered you expect your desk to be when it is messier than you would like it to be. If there is enough room even when you have all that on your desk, then that will be the right amount size for your desk surface to support your workflow.

Make sure that your desk is deep enough so you have plenty of room between your monitor and your keyboard. If you need to keep documents and other items on your desk that can get messy, be sure to have designated spaces for them on your desk. If you have the items you need for your setup, the best way to determine what desk size is best for you is to physically place all the items you want on your desk and to measure how much space that takes up with a measuring tape.

Desk Height

You will want a desk that fits you correctly. Proper fitting for a desk allows you to sit in your chair with your feet squarely on the floor and allows your forearms to sit parallel with the top of your desk. If there is storage beneath the tabletop of the desk directly in front of you, make sure that it does not block your legs. Verify this by seeing how much clearance you have when standing up to leave your desk.

Desk Material

The material your desk is made out of will make your desk feel and look nice. Avoid plywood if at all possible. While plywood is incredibly cheap, it can tear up your clothes, give you splinters, and is visually unappealing. You should look for a higher quality material something like MDF (medium-density fibreboard), oak, bamboo, walnut, cherry, and maple are great examples. Be sure to find something that matches the aesthetics and theme of your office. While MDF board isn’t as durable as some of the natural wood types listed here, it certainly gets the job done, and can come in a wide variety of colors.

Desk Shape

Desks come in four common shapes. Those are rectangle, L-shaped, or U-shaped. Make sure that your desk shape matches the physical space it must fit into as well as what shape best supports your workflow. Most people tend to prefer rectangle desks because they are easy to set up and allow the user to access everything in front of them.

When someone upgrades to an L-shaped desk, they do so because they need more space on their desk for things that they don’t use all the time. Examples of some of these items include a printer, a vinyl record player, or a significant work awards. U-shaped desks offer even more desk space, but can be hard to fit in a home office, and is typically more desk space than most people need for their home office.

Storage

There are a lot of options when it comes to storage choices for a desk. Some desks have them built into the desk, and with some planning, you can find storage that isn’t part of your desk, that fits perfectly into the style and needs of your desk. Storage options include drawers, cabinets, and shelving.

Desk drawers are great for storing any office supplies and keeping them out of view. Cabinets are perfect for storing documents or other tall objects. Shelving can provide the perfect place to store items like reference manuals and other materials that you can always see where they are. Another consideration for your desk storage should be if you need your storage to have a lock. Be sure your home office is set up to protect any sensitive information.

Standing/Height Adjustable Desk

Standing desks allow you to have more flexibility with how you work. Studies have shown that being sedentary during the day is very bad for your health. While regular exercise is great for your health, movement throughout the day is different and essential to being healthy. They say that sitting is the new smoking. Regular movement allows the brain to create dopamine and other chemicals that make you feel better. Ideally, your work desk should allow you to stand up.

Be sure to find a standing desk that supports the weight of your setup. Standing desks have weight limits that the motors can tolerate. When your desk is rising and lowering, you will want to have a standing desk that is steady. Desk wobble can be very distracting if your computer monitor is bouncing all over the place. Additionally, your standing desk should be tall enough to allow you to use it while standing.

Treadmill Desk

Treadmill desks take the adjustability of a standing desk, and merge it with a treadmill to walk on. A true treadmill desk has the desk and treadmill combined. These desks are much more expensive. Finding a decent treadmill desk for under a thousand dollars is very hard. One huge draw back with these desks is that your chair must be placed on the treadmill tread if you are sitting. This limits the options you have for chairs, which could force you to put a lot of preventable strain and hurt on your body. For most people, the standard treadmill desk doesn’t make sense unless you can afford a desk like this as a secondary desk.

But what do you do if you want to walk while you work but don’t want to pay so much and have the option to sit in a normal office chair too? If you pair a standing desk with a low-profile treadmill, then you can do just that! Whenever you want to walk, slide your treadmill under your desk. When you are ready to sit, which out your treadmill for your office chair. Purchasing these two items separately is almost always cheaper and allows you to have more options with your workflow.

Cable Management

Finally, how your desk helps you manage your cables can prevent your desk from being an uninspiring mess, and turn it into an organized and motivating space. Your desk should offer wire grommets that allow for your cables to pass from the top of the desk to your wall outlet.

Along with grommet holes for cable management, you will want a desk that has a cable tray. The cable tray is the central hub for all of the wiring needed to support your workstation’s workflow. The cable tray should be sturdy so that any accidental cable pulls don’t damage your electronics or cause them to be unplugged.

Summary

Your work desk should be big enough to everything needed for your workflow. Be sure to account for having some clutter too. The desk should be at the right height for you or adjustable so is at the ideal height for you. Durable materials that match your office style colors will make your desk for years to come. A standing desk can provide great health benefits and enable you to get more work done. Adding a treadmill to your standing desk could really help you reach your step goals. Cable management will help your setup look clean and clutter-free.

My Recommendation: Autonomous Standing Desk

This is the desk I use in my office. This desk brings premium features for a great price. You can customize your desk color, tabletop size, and tabletop material options. The frame is incredibly strong and sturdy, and can lift 300 pounds. This can pair with a treadmill if you want to transform it into a treadmill desk. The manufacturer of this desk also makes storage cabinets you can add to your desk. Cable management is amazing between the grommet holes and the additional cable management tray you can mount directly on the metal frame. This desk has been amazing for me and I recommend it for you!