The Right Desk for the Right Reasons

Choosing the right desk to suit your needs is an important task, and one that should not be taken lightly. Many hours are going to be spent there and you don't want to be stuck with something too small or big, poorly designed, or made out of materials that are going to only end up causing you frustration and irritation. And perhaps more important than the look and feel of your desk may be the message it send to others. After all, nice is nice, and cheap is cheap.

I used to own and operate a secondhand furniture store. We sold lots of different types of furniture. Among the bookshelves, chairs, tables, lamps, and dressers was, of course, the sometimes noble, sometimes lowly, desk. Whether it was a $15 particle board special, or a $1200 oak roll-top masterpiece, there was always something for everyone. The college kids didn't really care if it was made out of solid wood or not.

Of course, the middle aged women seemed to. It was always entertaining to overhear them telling their spouse or friend, "oh, that's got a veneer." What's funny to me is that many times what they identified as wood veneer was actually solid material. I think it just made them feel good to look like they knew what they were talking about. I never said anything to correct them. It didn't really matter to me. I knew that if they found a desk that fit them right, and had the other important qualities that they wanted, the material didn't really matter.

Anyway, the most important thing in choosing a desk is to find one that is right for you. Many things should go into the equation. Cost, size, color, feel, amenities, weight, and the impression a desk makes. Cost and impact are probably the biggest factors for most people. Once you identify your budget it obviously makes it much easier to shop. How the desk makes others think about you is a very real thing for many people too. There are certainly other considerations, i.e., do you prefer solid wood, particle board, veneered wood, metal, plastic, or glass. Each of these has a certain feel, weight, and look that you are going to have to be content with if you are going to truly enjoy your desk going into the future.

I used to cringe when a college kid would pick out a big heavy desk for me to deliver because, not only did I not like moving those monsters, I also knew that when they were done with it they would not take it with them. That meant that I would have it back in the store again. Find the one that is really what you need and it can last you for years to come.

If you want a solid wood desk that has all the executive bells and whistles because you need them, then more power to you, get it. If you want it because your vanity tells you you'll appear to be more important than you really are, then you may want to think about your real reasons and motives. There's nothing wrong with having a nice desk, just be clear on the message that a desk can send, and if it is the message you want to convey.