Quickship

Ready for a Fresh Start

Made-to-order furniture takes time. Our Quickship collection arrives sooner, so a new desk can be in place before the year turns.

The Desk Guide

How to Choose a Desk

A desk is the one piece of furniture you touch, lean on, and look at every day. Five details that set one apart.

Designer desk in a styled workspace

Choose the legs for the room

Open, slender legs let the floor run beneath the desk and keep a room feeling light. A solid panel or a trestle base gives the desk architectural weight. Pick the base that suits the room around it.

Check the space beneath the top

About 24 inches of clear height beneath the top lets knees and the arms of a chair slide in comfortably, and the drawers, aprons, and crossbars each take a little of it.

Notice how the top meets the light

A matte or softly textured top calms the glare of a lamp, while a polished one reflects it and brightens the room. Either can be right, depending on how much light the desk will meet.

Look at how it handles cables

A desk shows its quality in the things you do not see. A back panel, a grommet, or a hidden channel keeps cords out of sight and the surface clean.

Finish the back, too

A desk set away from the wall is seen from behind as often as from the front. Look at the back as well as the face, so the desk looks as good from the doorway as it does from the chair.

The Uniek Edit

Little Things Worth Having at Hand

The Uniek Edit, our holiday gift guide, gathers lovely little things for the desktop and the person who sits at it.

Explore the Uniek Edit
Holiday gift ideas from the Uniek Edit

Questions

Desk FAQs

What is a writing desk?

A writing desk is typically slim, with a clear top and often a single drawer, made for a notebook, a laptop, and a lamp. A larger work desk adds the room for screens, papers, and storage.

How deep should a desk be?

About 24 to 30 inches suits most work, and a little more depth gives larger screens the distance they need.

Do I need drawers in a desk?

One shallow drawer holds pens, chargers, and notebooks, and a deeper drawer or a pedestal holds files. A desk without drawers keeps a lighter, cleaner line.

Can a desk float in the middle of a room?

Yes. A desk with a finished back and a base that looks good from every side can stand away from the wall, and a rug beneath it defines the workspace within the room.

Can an adjustable desk still be beautiful?

Yes. Many adjustable desks are designed with the same attention to proportion and finish as fixed ones, so the desk can rise for standing and still belong to the room. The Bok Adjustable Desk by Ethnicraft is one example.

How should I set up a desk for comfort?

Keep the screen about an arm's length away with the top at eye level, the elbows at a right angle, and the feet flat on the floor.

How should I style the top of a desk?

Think of it as a composition: a lamp to one side, a tray for small tools, and one personal object. Leave the center clear for work.

What if I am deciding between two desks?

Share the two you are considering and the room they are for, and Design Assistance can help you weigh proportion, finish, and storage.

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