Written by Original Source | Posted in Furniture

Consider for a moment the pieces of furniture you use most often in your home, then narrow it down to the top 5. That list might include the sofa, kitchen table, maybe your bed (if you’re one of those that still make time for sleep). But if you’re like most people today, one of those items is likely to be a computer desk.

The work-a-holic, the facebooker, the freelancer, and the freecycler all make the computer desk their hub at home, spending much of their time interacting with phones, documents, printers, cameras, and computers set in and upon it. But not all computer desks are the same, and it might benefit us to take a look at some of the features and functions of these essential artifacts of the modern home.

When people begin the process of choosing a desk for their home office or place of business, two things come to mind right away: price and style. Often these two factors are intertwined, with the higher quality or more fashionable designs tending toward the high price points, while the strictly functional desks are your cheapest. The market these days has no shortage of options for the consumer, from room-sized multi-wall executive sets to stand-up computer carts to ultra-sleek minimalist workspaces. These desks can be made from aluminum or steel, chip-board or plywood, to premium woods like oak or mahogany. The location the desk is intended to occupy will often narrow your choices enough to allow a more nuanced selection process based on personal taste, existing room decor, and the length of time you intend to keep the desk in use.

The amount of time the average person spends sitting at their desk has risen dramatically in the last ten to twenty years. In past decades, there had often been ample time for standing, walking, traveling, and the like due to the limitation of technology and the standard operating practices of most offices. Not so today. It is common for an individual to get up, go to work and sit for 8 hours, then come home, and sit for another 4 or 5. And where are they doing all this sitting? At one or more computer-centric desks. Thus, it is imperative that ergonomics be evaluated as an important factor in each desk purchase. A desk designed with ergonomics in mind will place the computer monitor at a safe distance from the user, and at eye level. It will also allow the wrists to be positioned in a way as to not cause strain or injury due to long-periods of typing. Leg room is also important, as it is necessary to move your legs often when sitting for an extended length of time.

Some other functional considerations to keep in mind are things like storage space. Does it have a retractable keyboard shelf? Is there sufficient room for airflow around the desktop unit? Will there be enough space for all of your peripherals? Only you can determine what features make up your ideal office desk, but think through them carefully as this is likely an item of furniture that will be with you for some time. Computer desks aren’t the afterthought they used to be, but rather have become almost as important as the bed you sleep in – maybe more.

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