When Choosing Desks, Don't be Lazy

Desks are not something to mess around with. Chances are, a large part of your day is spent at a desk so it only makes sense to have one that is not only functional, but also comfortable and pleasant. If you take the time to really try out desks before you buy one you will be forever content and happy with your choice.

And that sure beats the alternative. I remember a few years ago when I wanted to add another desk to my office. Being the natural thrifter that I am, I dutifully went right down to the local Goodwill store and selected a wood desk from the three that they had there. It seemed okay. It was big, had lots of storage and pull out surfaces. It was clean and solid. I thought I would be happy. The price was certainly right at $58 bucks. I lugged the thing home, hauled it up the stairs and cluttered it up asap. After using it for a few days I started to realize that I wasn't really that happy with it. The main problem was that the opening where my chair was supposed to slide under was not really wide enough. This was a small irritant, but quickly became a bigger one once I made particular notice of it.

Desks are supposed to be enjoyable to use, and if I had taken a bit more time to try things out, I probably would not have purchased the one I did. As a result, I would have been much better served, and happier. Even if it cost me a bit more money, it would have been a smarter move on my part to do a bit more research and testing before committing to a purchase. Home office stores make it easy to test desks out because, in many cases, they are assembled and displayed so customers can really check them out. Knowing what I know now, I would have found a store where I could really try them out, and then gone online to find one at a better price and probably with free shipping.

So here's a prescription to follow when choosing and purchasing a desk:

1. Determine your real need and the problem you seek to solve with a desk.
   Do you need a desk with lots of storage, maybe even built-in shelves? Or maybe you prefer a more minimal approach. Some people like wide open spaces with no clutter, while others want to use their desk for a drop off place where nobody knows where anything is except the owner. Once you know the basic problem you are trying to solve with a desk, you can move on to choosing what will work best.
   


2. Seek out and test enough desks to find just the right one for you. If you don't take this essential step, you will end up with a desk that you may grow to despise. And if you dislike your desk, you will not spend the time there that you probably should.
   


3. Buy your desk. Once you've done the previous two steps, you are ready to commit to your decision. You feel good about it, and have a justified expectation of contentment with your purchase.
   

Desks are such a central part of many of our lives that a little effort really pays off.