How do you plan the purchase of a personalized desk well?

Buying a decent desk – it’s not exactly a walk in the park. It can be a considerable expense for most people, so the decision should be thoroughly thought through. Since you're already spending all that money on a piece of furniture you will use primarily for work (i.e. making money), invest in carefully considered quality and ensure maximum ergonomics, comfort, and functionality by choosing a personalized desk.

Choosing the size of your desk

Before buying a customized desk tailored to your needs, you need to specify those needs first. Start with how much desk space you need. When choosing the desk’s size, take into consideration:

• the number of monitors you use;
• the dimensions of the monitors;
• whether (and how much) space you need in front of the monitor, eg. for working with documents;
• the depth of the desk – to ensure that the monitor is the right distance from your eyes (consider the size of the monitor here as well);
• Desk Shelf – if you’re looking to also order our Desk Shelf, take its dimensions into account when choosing your desk size;
• what other items you’d like to keep on your desk – make a list of all the necessary tools and accessories you use every day and need to have on hand at all times;
• whether your current desk space is sufficient for you.

Conversations with our clients have led us to draw one conclusion: people tend to regret choosing a smaller desk, not the other way around. So, if you happen to have enough space in your home office, order a desk that can fit all you need in your daily work and still have space for a cup of coffee, a sandwich (it’s ok, we all occasionally fall into the trap of eating lunch at our desks 😉 ), and maybe even a cat supervisor who vigilantly watches you work.

Wood or veneer – which material works better?

A solid wood desk is the best solution for those who want top quality as well as timeless, noble elegance. A wooden piece of furniture will last for many, many years and will continue looking great, provided you take good care of it. As a natural material, wood changes over time, especially when exposed to direct sunlight or moisture. That's why if you wish to retain its impeccable appearance, take time to clean and maintain your wooden desk properly.

Veneer is lighter, cheaper, and easier to handle, but it is also slightly less durable and more prone to mechanical damage. Of course, the Oakywood version is also long-lasting and visually stunning – at first glance, a desk with a veneered top is not much different from one with a wooden top, however for true interior connoisseurs we recommend solid wood.

Classic or Standing desk?

The growing awareness of the negative consequences of leading a sedentary lifestyle should make you consider getting a height-adjustable desk. Our Standing Desk is ideal for people who work remotely or hybrid. The frequent change of position from sitting to standing (and vice versa) helps take care of your spine and overall fitness, which becomes especially important when you spend most of your day at home.

For smaller rooms, we recommend the Classic Desk, although not just for them – properly configured it will look impressive even in a spacious office. Design characterized by sublime simplicity makes this type of desk suitable for both minimalist interiors in a Japanese or mid-century modern style, as well as those more eclectic, boho decors. In the case of the Oakywood classic desk, you can also adjust the height of its top to suit your needs – we recently launched this feature in our 3D configurator.

Cable organization

Personalizing a desk is not only about its dimensions, model, or material. It is also about additional accessories that make it easier to organize your space. When designing a desk in our configurator, include a cable grommet and add an under-desk organizer to your order. If you use two monitors or more devices, we recommend adding one central, larger grommet where the monitor will stand. As for additional grommets for other cables, don’t add one for each cable separately. Instead, cables can be routed from the back of the desk to an organizer, as our organizers allow for adjustment (Grid) or are suspended 1 cm below the tabletop (Tray).

Additional accessories

If you wish to mount a monitor arm, take this into account at an early stage. Oakywood desks are compatible with selected monitor arms: Ergotron LX, ERGOTRON HX i HUANUO Single Monitor Mount model HNSS12. Additionally, you can also attach a mount to a desk with a cable organizer: the Underdesk Organizer Grid can be lowered to mount the monitor arm, while the Underdesk Organizer Tray can be attached closer to the center of the desk.

When ordering a personalized desk, complete your setup all at once. The basic accessories we recommend are, first of all, a Desk Shelf (possibly a Laptop Stand or Monitor Stand) and a wooden wireless charger or docking station. To better protect your desktop from mechanical damage and stains, consider adding a felt mat and coasters. With this set, you can flawlessly optimize your workspace and satisfy your needs.