Gone are the days of the universal, one-size-fits-all office desks. Varied in style and design, your desk can express just as much personality as your business. Sleek, modern, industrial, retro – no matter what your style is, you can have a custom desk that makes a big statement in your office space and says everything guests need to know about you and your business. These design styles and tips will also give your desk personality and help promote a productive environment.
Listing out all the responsibilities and projects you do for business will help determine the best design outline for your desk and office space. If you meet with clients or coworkers on a regular basis, utilizing a desk that is large and open at the front and back will enable everyone to pull their chairs up close and see what is in progress. A desk designed with open support space also allows the sightline of the room to flow past the desk to the far end of the room. If your work requires just as much creative space as computer space, an L-shaped or double-sided desk would be the best layout for you to get the most work done.
Many people who work as a team find it better to utilize the same desk space, creating an area where they can easily share ideas and visual information without leaving the project on which they are working. One of the best ways to achieve a shared setup is with a custom doublewide desk at the center of the room, forming a miniature version of a traditional conference table. Custom built-in storage or cabinetry will make a shared desk more efficient and will have less tendency to become cluttered.
The placement of your desk will also create a powerful visual statement and plays a key role in how well you are able to function in the office. The best position in the room is to have your desk at the center with easy access to walk all the way around. Not only does this help your productivity and desk availability to clients and coworkers, but it also showcases your design style. If the best layout in your space is to place your desk against a wall, position it underneath a window to take advantage of the natural light. However, if there is not a window available, center your desk under a large mirror to create the illusion of more room and add texture to the area above the desk.
One trend continuing to make a statement is the simple and clean lines found in the modern industrial design style. The exciting thing about industrial style is the ability to mix and match materials and textures in a fun and unique way. Instead of defaulting to the traditional glass topper for your work surface, choose a brushed stainless-steel top. This metal surface will provide the same smoothness as glass while creating a beautifully reflective office centerpiece.
Another way to add a layer of texture and visual interest is to use a poured concrete tabletop. This concrete provides a durable material and also ages to a wonderful product that you cannot help but gather around. Modern industrial style can be as minimal or elaborate as you like. Oversized steel pipe can support something as large as a project table, or furniture as small and simple as a writing desk. The utilitarian materials used in modern industrial designs will continually inspire your best.
The idea of use and reuse can be found in the design concept of reclaimed furniture. Truly one-of-a-kind, you can transform an unused piece of furniture into a custom workspace not available in any of the big-box stores. It could be a discarded library desk or someone’s old canning table, and if you are able to talk with the seller, you might get the history of your new desk and how it got all the weathered scars that make it unique. If you do not feel like you are handy enough to redo a piece of furniture yourself, there are plenty of shops that can help you get the look you want; these places might also already have a selection of finished work from which to choose. Using a reclaimed desk will show the desk’s value and longevity, as well as the importance you place on quality handmade furniture.
Mid-century modern is another popular trend. With its simple medium wood tones and geometric outlines, a mid-century desk provides the flexibility for pops of color while creating visual interest. Made of wood or metal, the desk legs are a work of art and a way to showcase the designer’s creativity. Many of the modern pieces of furniture are accented with brushed gold that acts as a neutral. A mid-century modern desk paired with a great chair will become a sculpture in the center of your office and will motivate you to get things done.
Salvaged or live-edge wood are materials that can cross into nearly every design style. Some people build their entire office around one unique piece of wood and highlight its shape and textures for their desk and workspace. Finely planed and polished, a slab of salvaged wood with a live edge is the perfect material for a waterfall desk edge. Providing both texture and visual interest, the reclaimed wood brings natural elements into your office space.
There are a variety of options from which to choose when putting together a statement piece office desk. Think outside the box on where to purchase a desk, or search for the perfect tabletop material and create a custom design. Put away the generic mass-produced options and find something that truly speaks to your individual personality and working style.
