Size, style, height and raw material are some of the aspects to consider before buying an office desk . It can be used for work environments, home office, study or to use the notebook for leisure time. In all cases, there are several factors that can help you make the right choice.
In addition to the size of the desk for the office, it is essential to choose a piece of furniture that adds practicality to your routine. Those who work or study at home need an organized environment. Therefore, it is recommended to opt for practical and functional furniture. Westwing teaches you to choose the ideal surface for you to have productive moments at home and work. Get inspired and start planning the perfect workstation now!
Office Desk Dimensions: How to Choose? As with chairs, the office desk should be chosen carefully so that posture is correct as you work. Therefore, the dimensions of the furniture are extremely important for the choice. Know what to consider:
Office desk height : An ideal office desk is between 54 cm to 74 cm. Table size is important to maintain proper posture. The elbow should be three to four centimeters below the surface. The chair must be at least 20 cm away from the table.
Check the size of the desk for office : It is important that, before buying, you measure your computer or notebook and other materials you want to put on the furniture. Also take into account the movements made at work.
Office Desk Models Office desks can be made of glass, metal or wood. They can have drawers, monitor support, CPU support and even footrests. When choosing your furniture, in addition to considering the ideal dimensions, keep in mind:
Choose between a self-supporting desk or a platform. The first has enough structure to support itself, without fixing to the floor or wall. The second is fixed, and can also be known as a workstation.
Note the functionality : check if the office desk has a solution for passing wires and drawers and shelves that facilitate organization. Plus CPU and monitor support if needed.
In very small environments, consider custom-made furniture to take advantage of each space.
How to Combine your Office Desk? The tip is to choose office furniture models with neutral colors. This way, it is easy to create combinations with the rest of the environment. See which situations each one fits into.
Glass: the glass office table gives the feeling of spaciousness to the environment. It usually matches classic and modern rooms.
Wood: is the easiest to combine. In dark tones, it can decorate colonial and rustic offices . In light colors, it matches classic or feminine spaces.
Metal: A metal office desk is ideal for industrial environments. If done in bold colors, it can help decorate modern spaces.
In addition to having a decorative effect, the desk is part of the functionality of your work. Choose your surface with care and gain productivity.
Inspiring decoration to work The decoration of an office needs to inspire you to carry out the tasks of the day. In addition to a suitable work table, you need to consider lighting, color palette and organizing objects, as they have a big impact on your work routine.
Lighting: bet on natural light. Prioritize setting up the office in an environment with large windows. Place the desk facing the window. Luminaires are great solutions for spaces with little natural light.
Add frames and frames : choose images that convey you peace. This kind of decorative goal can help with concentration. Decorative plaques with motivational phrases are also perfect for bringing inspiration.
Whiteboard: If you have a busy schedule, you need one of these. When placed on the wall, they facilitate the visualization of the day, week and month's tasks.
Color palette: the tip is to bet on neutral tones and bring energetic colors in a more subtle way. A brighter office chair or a colorful round rug are good options.
Organizer objects: For an organized work environment, everything needs to be in place. If your office desk doesn't have drawers, bet on organizer boxes and containers to store small objects. The trash can't be missing either!
Plants and flowers: are great to add life to the environment and make the space more cozy.
How to Organize the Work Desk? To work smoothly, the surface of the worktable needs to be organized and have only essential items. A place with too many objects can easily take your concentration or transmit anxiety.
Keep everything you need to use often close to you. If you have an office desk with a drawer, keep unused items. Or place them in organizing boxes on shelves and shelves .
Have desktop organizers : notepad, object holder, pencil holder and cell phone holder. And opt for a few decorative items, limit yourself to a picture frame or small ornaments.
How to Organize a Study Table? A study table needs to be organized in a way that allows for concentration. Which means less is more! If you're not someone who really needs to use a lot of colored pens, choose the ones you use often.
The tip is not to put all the notebooks and books on the table. Keeping them organized on shelves and shelves is the best way to avoid getting anxious and worried. One thing at a time, isn't it?
Always use table organizers to distribute your study utensils. Pens, pencils, erasers, cell phone, cannot be spread out. Your slave's decor needs to be functional.
You can use panels or whiteboards to organize your tasks.
And remember, it's important that your monitor or computer screen is at eye level.
Office and Home Office Decoration Objects A work environment should make you feel comfortable and inspiring. Therefore, betting on decorative objects that imprint your personality to the place is the most recommended.
The decorative frames with calm landscapes are ideal to convey tranquility and professionalism. For a more relaxed atmosphere, creative decorative boards with motivational phrases can brighten the room.
Frames with photos of family and friends leave a more cozy atmosphere and with a taste of “home”, right? And the best part is that the desk for the office is even more beautiful!
Elegant vases and cachepots are great options for adding plants and flowers. It is important that the decor has a “live” feel.
And even the panels and organizing objects can give the decor a boost.
Did you manage to solve some doubts so you don't make mistakes when choosing your desk for the office and how to choose the ideal height to set up your workstation?
At Westwing you will always find relevant information, inspirations for decorating and tips on how to keep the style combined with practicality in the decor.
If you liked our tips, see also: Home office: Decoration and optimization tips , Working at home: secrets for the perfect home office and Creative ideas for having a home office .
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How to choose the ideal office chair?
A question that is shared by thousands of people, and that was even more in evidence in home office times, is: How to choose an office chair? Even though brand and price are fundamental parts of this choice, they are not the only or even the main factors to be taken into account. In this Purchasing Guide, we have separated out the most important features you should look out for before purchasing the best office chair .
During the COVID-19 pandemic, with the shift from the workplace to our own homes, the need for a comfortable and ergonomic home office chair was created . As we spend a large part of the day sitting in these chairs, it is more than essential that they are ergonomic and functional. Therefore, we make ergonomics, the backrest, the arms, the inclination, the adjustment, the wheels, the material and the types of office chairs that exist on the market uncomplicated.
Ergonomics
In the process of buying the best office chair, we must start with the most basic: comfort . An aesthetically beautiful home office chair is useless if it causes pain in your lower back, for example. And there are many problems that an uncomfortable and non-ergonomic chair can cause.
It is possible to develop lesions in the lower back, cervical, hips, shoulders and knees and tendonitis in the wrists, in addition to fatigue and stress. Finally, discomfort is still a factor in the loss of income at work, directly impacting your productivity at home.
According to experts, an ergonomic office chair should have the following characteristics:
Head: The ergonomic home office chair must have a headrest, tilt adjustment and must be positioned so that the monitor is in the eye's line of sight.
Trunk: It is essential that, when sitting in an office chair, it is possible to maintain an upright posture at all times, with the trunk supported by adjustable backrests that preserve the curvature of the spine, providing comfort and safety.
Shoulders: To avoid pain and injury to the shoulders, they should be positioned in an erect, natural way, without any type of elevation.
Elbows: The elbows, on the other hand, should be kept at 90 degrees towards the worktable, so that the forearms are comfortably supported, and always close to the body. They should also be in line with the wrists.
Wrists: Wrists must be aligned with the elbows and at the same height as the keyboard, in a neutral position. Wrists in uncomfortable and awkward positions can cause injuries such as tendonitis, which are quite common in office workers.
Hips and Thighs: For good ergonomics in relation to the hips and thighs, the seat must have a rounded edge and the hips must be aligned and in a comfortable position. The thighs must rest fully on the seat. And you should never work with your legs crossed, as this position is very harmful to the spine.
Knees: The best position for the knees is slightly below the hips with a bend of approximately 90 degrees.
Feet: Finally, the feet must be fully supported on the ground or on a fixed support that has an inclination of up to 20 degrees.
backrest
The back of an office chair is extremely important, especially for those who spend several hours a day sitting and need to have an upright and healthy posture. For this, the ideal is to opt for home office chairs with high backs.
These chairs range from the waist to the highest part of the shoulders. In this case, give preference to chairs with a headrest. They provide greater support for the base of the neck, which helps to prevent cervical problems.
chair back The back of the office chair needs to be ergonomic, in order to respect the curvatures of your spine. Therefore, completely straight chair backs are not recommended. With prolonged use, they can cause damage to health. The chair back also needs to be articulated and have height adjustment.
It is important that the backrest is high, going from waist height to shoulder height. As such, it should provide better support for your spine while you are seated. Therefore, the longer the back of the chair, the better.
headrest The headrest is also a key point. The ideal is to give preference to office chairs that have a headrest. That's because this type of backrest provides full support for the neck.
Another point you should pay attention to is whether the headrest has height and tilt adjustment. If the chair contains these two types of adjustments, the ergonomics becomes even more complete.
Arms Another question that comes up when buying an office chair is: Should I buy a chair with armrests or without? To answer this question, you need to understand the purpose for which you intend to use the chair. For each intended function, there will be a different need.
If you want a home office chair, for example, the ideal is to choose an office chair with an armrest , as it is more ergonomic, comfortable and functional. If your interest is in a chair to be used at a reception or in another location where you won't spend many hours a day sitting, an armless office chair will be just as effective.
Office chair without armrest The office chair without an armrest is indicated for those who do not intend to remain seated in it for many hours throughout the day, as it increases the effort on the shoulders, which can lead to fatigue and pain.
This chair option is also recommended for places that have limited space, as it has a smaller size compared to chairs with armrests. It also brings a greater diversity of models, prints and colors.
Office chair with armrest Office chair armrests are important to contribute to proper posture, keeping your elbows in a comfortable position for working at the computer, minimizing back pain.
These chairs are even better if they have the option to adjust the height of these supports. As people have different heights, this adjustment is essential for anyone to find the ideal position to work.
Inclination
Even with these tips for choosing the best office chair, staying in one position for many hours can cause some health problems. That's why it's important to get up from time to time to stretch your spine, wrists, and ankles.
However, as this is not always possible, some home office chairs have tilt functions . This type of feature on a working chair allows you to stretch your spine without having to get up to do so.
We have separated some of the most common tilt mechanisms present in office chairs below:
L Accordion: It is an item that makes the connection between the backrest and the seat with an accordion coating. On most models it is fixed; in others, it tilts the back of the office chair slightly.
Relax: This is a tilt mechanism found primarily in the director and chair type chairs. It has a lever for reclining the chair and the effort for tilting can be adjusted using a crank.
Back System: It is a regulation mechanism also called SRE. In addition to tilting the backrest, it also adjusts the height of the seat. It has 12 backrest inclination adjustment positions.
Syncron: This mechanism makes a synchronized movement between the seat and back. It has four stages of adjustment and locking of the desired position of the backrest.
A-Syncron: This last tilt mechanism makes the movement independently of the seat and back.
Adjustment
The height adjustment of the office chair is key to ergonomics. This mechanism allows different people, of different sizes, to use the same chair. However, for many, correct height adjustment can be a challenge.
To use the home office chair correctly, simply adjust the height so that your knees form a 90-degree angle, your feet touch the floor completely, and your eyes are positioned in front of the monitor, without looking at down or up. To make this height adjustment, there are some mechanisms present in the chair.
Simple Mechanism (Gas Piston) The most common among them is the gas piston system, which is based on a mechanism made of steel. Thanks to its gas drive, it has a smoother glide when adjusting the office chair to the ideal height.
It has a lever positioned on the side, just below the seat of the chair. To descend, simply press the lever upwards while sitting on the seat. To go up, you must press it upwards, with no load on the seat.
Other height adjustment mechanisms Even though the gas piston mechanism is the most popular, there are still other types of height adjustment, such as those already mentioned in the previous topic, Relax and Back System.
They have a height adjustment similar to that of the simple gas piston mechanism, but they also have, in their home office chairs, adjustments for the inclination of the backrest and the head and armrests.
wheels One more item that is not essential, but that makes daily life easier are the casters – the popular casters . These casters are very useful as they keep the office chair's feet from dragging on the floor, preventing damage to the floor and even the chair's feet.
There are different types of casters. Therefore, it is essential to know the most important ones when choosing the best chair for home office. They are: type H castor and type W castor.
Type H caster The H-type caster features rigid wheels, which do not absorb as much impact, and is recommended for use on floors covered by rug or carpet. It brings a better price, and nylon or polyethylene models are the best sellers on the market. Its downside is that it does not have an anti-scratch and anti-noise system.
W type caster The W-type castor has wheels coated with resistant material, which have a smooth running, and is recommended for use on floors covered with stone, wood or ceramic. It is commonly made from polyurethane, gel or silicone. Its downside is excessive wear if used on rough surfaces.
Material
To choose between a material for an office chair or another, it is necessary to look for its characteristics to be sure you are choosing the best quality. An important item that ends up being left out at this point is the type and density of foam used in the production of the chair.
The choice of foam for the seat and back is essential for the home office chair to be comfortable. Low density foams (laminate) tend to be softer but are more prone to deformation. Foams with higher density (injected) will have a greater effect on the ergonomics of the chair.
Injected foam Injected foam is the most common on the market. It is designed in the exact shape of the seat and back of the office chair. Because it has greater strength and durability, it makes the chair much more comfortable for long-term use.
laminated foam Laminated foam is produced by superimposed, low-density layers. Initially, it appears softer, but with use it creates deformities, making it uncomfortable for prolonged use.
Regarding office chair covering material, there are several options available in the market. Each of them has its pros and cons and, therefore, we should look at them very carefully. This material can facilitate cleaning, assist in ventilation and interfere with the price, for example. Let's get to know the different types of covering materials for home office chairs:
Mesh: It is one of the most breathable materials and also one of the cheapest. The mesh brings as a negative point its low durability in relation to other materials.
Fabric: With greater durability than knitted fabric, the fabric is quite comfortable, but its downside is that it gets dirty more easily.
Fabric: It is the best ventilation option, but it is not easily washable. The most common types of canvas found on the market are mesh, plastic and bamboo or wood fibers.
Synthetic leather: Also known as eco-leather, it is widely used in chair seating. Chairs with this type of material can be easily cleaned. Its negative points are the high price and low ventilation, not being a good option for the summer.
Leather: With characteristics almost identical to the synthetic version, it presents as great differences its durability and price even higher.
Types Now that you know everything about ergonomics, mechanics, materials and finishes, it's time to know the types of office chair: reception , secretary , director , president and gamer . After that, you will be ready to choose the best home office chair! Check out: Reception Chair The desk chair is simple, being the cheapest office chair available on the market. Its indication is for non-extended use. This model is used for customer service at receptions in offices and offices. It is a type of chair with good aesthetics and low comfort, with little or no adjustment. It should not be used for many hours at a time and is therefore not suitable for the home office.
secretary chair The desk chair is an ergonomic office chair, suitable for extended use. This type of chair has a height adjustment system and some have armrests. It can be revolving, with castors (wheels) that facilitate locomotion. However, the desk chair is still a simple office chair, with no further adjustment mechanisms.
Director Chair The director chair is an ergonomic office chair and even more complete than the secretary chair. It has adjustment options, swivels, and has a larger seat and back than the previous type of home office chair. In this way, its backrest allows you to support your back as correctly as possible. These models are produced in stronger materials.
Chair Chair The chair chair is one of the options with better ergonomics, being a perfect chair for the home office, as it is indicated for continuous and long-term use. It also has several adjustment adjustments (seat height and backrest and inclination). Most models have a headrest, which contributes even more to comfort. A negative point for those with little space is the size.
Gamer Chair The gamer chair is an option for those who spend hours sitting, being developed for the audience of video game players. They have support for the arms and head and several adjustments and inclinations. The models have their construction and design focused on the user's comfort and, therefore, they are the most expensive on the market. The gamer chair brings as a negative point the high price. Also, some models are made of faux leather, which can be uncomfortable on hot days.