Find the Right Desk for Your Work Style

Many kinds of home office desks are available to purchase, and each desk has unique functions that may complement your work style. Let’s take a look at five primary styles of office desks and how each one can enhance your traditional or home office setup.

The Standing Desk

Standing desks have gained popularity since sedentary behavior (such as sitting) can be linked to health concerns like cardiovascular disease. If your work involves long hours at a desk, and you’re spending these hours sitting down, you may want to choose a standing desk. Choosing a standing desk gives you the flexibility of movement that may improve your comfort and ability to focus on your work.

There are two standing desk options. One is a desk riser or standing desk converter, which can be placed on top of your desk or current workstation so that you don’t need to purchase a new desk. The second is a stand-up desk with adjustable height. Both allow you to go back and forth between sitting and standing during your workday. Most standing desks will have some kind of manual lever or electric motor to adjust the height. While some come with preset heights, others allow you to customize your desk height to whatever is most comfortable for you.

Have a comfortable desk chair nearby, and whenever you need to sit down, adjust the desktop to your desired sitting height and have a seat. When you’re ready to stand back up, return the adjustable desk or desk riser to its heightened position and resume working. Using a timer or mobile app to remind you to alternate between sitting and standing can be helpful during the workday.

Is a Standing Desk Right for You?

If any of these descriptions sound like you, consider a standing desk for your office.

• You’re an active person who doesn’t mind and can stand for at least 30 minutes at a time.
  
• You find that sitting for long periods sometimes results in back, joint, or hip discomfort, and standing can lessen the discomfort.
• Your job environment is relaxed enough that you can sit and stand as you please.
• You don’t keep things on your desk that could be affected by the changing heights (e.g., something valuable that could topple over or affixed to both the desk and the wall behind it).

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The Desk With Hutch

A hutch can provide additional storage space that you may need in your office. Hutches sit on top of a portion of the office desk, so it doesn’t take up any additional floor space. Desks with hutches are good for those with a small space or want shelving and cabinets for paperwork and supplies to be at arm’s length.

Hutch desks can include cubby holes, small slots for mail, open shelving, or shelves with closed doors. Having all this extra storage space to organize your office desk can help improve your work productivity, focus, and efficiency by eliminating the need to get up to walk over to a file cabinet, printer, or other office furniture that might not otherwise be close.

Hutches can be part of a matching desk set or purchased on their own and affixed to another desktop, allowing you to customize your office. You can purchase a computer hutch that has enough space for a computer monitor to be tucked underneath, and there are also corner hutches available that can be added to a corner or L-shaped desk.

Is a Hutch Right for You?

​​If any of these descriptions sound like you, adding a hutch or desk with shelves might be a great choice for your office:

• Your home office or workspace isn’t very spacious, but you need a lot of storage for work supplies.
  
• You have a job with a lot of deadlines and like to work as efficiently as possible.
• You like the look of a clean, organized space where everything is put away in its place.​

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The Writing Desk

While all desks can essentially be used for writing, there’s something unique about a writing desk. Writing desks have a minimalist design, allowing you to write in peace with fewer distractions. Writing desks are ideal for tasks like writing a book, preparing lesson plans, creating cards for clients or customers, organizing your planner, and even personal projects like scrapbooking or journaling. This type of desk has plenty of desktop space where you have room for your laptop and notebooks, paper, desk accessories, and writing tools.

There are often drawers built into a writing desk where you can store accessories for your writing projects. If your writing desk doesn’t have a drawer, there’s usually plenty of space underneath to fit a small filing cabinet. Or, depending on how much extra space you need, you might invest in something larger, like a bookcase, to place next to the desk.

Writing desks can be great for small spaces or when you need something compact for basic desk essentials. Since the desk is pretty straightforward without much storage, everything you have at your desk should be easy to find.

Is a Writing Desk Right for You?

If any of these descriptions sound like you, a writing desk might be a great choice for your office:

• Your home office or workspace isn’t very spacious, and you need a small desk.
  
• You prefer a simple, clean look, and your office supplies are fairly basic.
• You need a space free of distractions.
• You like doing personal craft projects, and you need a clear workspace.

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Is an L-Shaped or Corner Desk Right for You?

If any of these descriptions sound like you, an L-shaped or corner desk might be a great choice for your workspace or home office:

• You like to spread out your work or need access to multiple resources at any given time.
  
• Your work requires a lot of multitasking.
• You hold meetings in your office often, or you have projects you work on frequently with co-workers and need an adequate amount of space for each of you to work comfortably.
• You need a large workstation but only have a small amount of room to use.

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The Computer Desk

Computers are an important part of the workspace, as they’re a primary source of information for work assignments and tasks. A computer or laptop desk can come in all shapes and sizes and be tailored to fit what you need, where you need it.

Essentially, any time you use your desk for computer work, it can be considered a computer desk. Consider the size of your computer when choosing your desk. If you have a large desktop computer with a monitor and keyboard, you may want something with a larger desktop area and a slide-out keyboard tray. If you use a laptop, a smaller desk may work just fine. If you have additional computer accessories, such as a printer, you might want to consider a storage desk with features like USB ports, cable management, and a hutch or tiered shelving to tuck those accessories out of the way.

Is a Computer Desk Right for You?

If any of these descriptions sound like you, a computer desk might be a great choice for your office:

• You need a computer or laptop to complete a large majority of work assignments.
  
• You read and respond to emails regularly throughout the workday.
• You need access to the internet for various tasks.
• You need easy access to USB ports or cables on the back of computer devices or peripherals.

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No matter your work style, office desks can enhance your productivity, increase the efficiency of your workday, and make you feel comfortable in your work environment.

About the Author

Shaina Wizov is a lifestyle blogger and social media influencer with a background in journalism and media studies.

All content provided herein is for educational purposes only. It is provided “as is” and neither the author nor Office Depot, Inc. warrants the accuracy of the information provided, nor do they assume any responsibility for errors, omissions or contrary interpretation of the subject matter herein.