Quickship

Set Up Before the New Year

Office furniture often takes time to make. Our Quickship collection arrives sooner than made-to-order furniture, so a workspace can be settled in before the year ends.

The Office Guide

How to Furnish a Workspace

A workspace asks more of its furniture than almost any other room. Five ideas for building one that works as beautifully as it looks.

Designer desk and chair in a styled workspace

Decide where the desk faces

A desk that faces the room commands the space and keeps the door in view, while one that faces a window or a wall keeps distraction low. Decide which kind of focus the work needs, and the layout follows.

Check the chair against the desk

The chair carries the day, so look at the support through the back and the depth of the seat. If it has arms, confirm that they slide beneath the edge of the desk, so the chair tucks in fully and the room stays composed.

Light the work

Place a desk lamp on the side opposite your writing hand to keep shadows off the page. Pair it with softer light elsewhere in the room, so the lamp is never the only bright point.

Keep the surface clear

Shelves and closed storage within arm's reach take the paper and the cables off the desk. Open shelves put books and favorite objects on show, and closed doors put the rest out of sight.

Let it belong to the room

A desk that shares a wood tone, a metal, or a line with the furniture around it reads as part of the room rather than as equipment, which matters most in a space that also serves as a living room or a bedroom.

The Uniek Edit

Gifts for the Well-Kept Desk

The Uniek Edit, our holiday gift guide, gathers thoughtful finds for the desk, the shelf, and the person who works at both.

Explore the Uniek Edit
Holiday gift ideas from the Uniek Edit

Questions

Office FAQs

How big should a desk be?

Allow at least 48 inches of width for a laptop and a notebook, and 60 inches or more for two screens or a spread of papers.

How high should a desk be?

Most desks stand 29 to 30 inches high, which suits a chair set so the elbows rest at a right angle. Some desks adjust in height, so the same surface can serve for sitting or standing.

How much room does a desk need behind it?

About 36 inches, so the chair can roll back and you can stand and step away without moving anything.

Can a desk work in a living room or bedroom?

Yes. A slim desk against a wall or beneath a window becomes a quiet corner of its own, and a drawer or a shelf keeps the work out of sight when the day is done.

How high should a desk lamp sit?

The shade of a desk lamp should fall at or just below eye level when you are seated, so the light lands on the work and not in your eyes.

How deep should a bookcase be?

About 10 to 14 inches suits books and keeps the shelves slim against the wall. Deeper bookcases and cabinets of 18 inches or more suit files, boxes, and larger objects.

What is the difference between a bookcase and office storage?

A bookcase shows its contents on open shelves, while office storage, such as cabinets, drawers, and a credenza, closes them away. Many workspaces use a little of both.

Can you help me plan a workspace?

Share the dimensions of the room and how you like to work, and Design Assistance can help you choose the desk, chair, lighting, and storage together.

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