6 Important Factors You Should Consider Before Buying A Writing Desk
The importance of posture
A writing desk is one of the most essential tools for people who work from home. Without a proper writing table, you will quickly find yourself uncomfortable after holding your laptop on thighs for hours.
I’m a full time freelance writer and blogger, so I’m using a desk between 50-6o hours each week. I learned the hard way the importance of posture after I started writing for a living. Typing 3000 words a day with a bad posture is a quick way to make your life a lot more difficult.
That’s exactly what happened to me. I started developing mild carpal tunnel syndrome in my hands from typing super fast and with bad posture. I didn’t have to get surgery or anything, but I did get a brace to help with positioning my hands. Ultimately, my hands got better through taking breaks, fixing my posture and lifting weights.
For me it was my hands, but for someone else it could be their back. The moral of the story is pay attention to your posture. The little time it takes you to fix your posture now can save you a lot of pain in the long run.
In this post, I’m going to tell you the 5 most important factors you should consider before buying a writing desk. It’s very important to review this before buying a product because resending and refunding a writing desk can be a hassle.
1. Material
One of the first things you should look at when assessing a writing desk is the material it’s made out of. Most writing desks are made out of specific types of woods and are supported by steel or metals. The material it’s made out of will determine how durable the desk will be.
Ideally, you want a desk that is sturdy. The majority of writing desks today will last you a few years as long as you’re not jumping on them.
Both wood and metal types of writing desks are great, but the metal ones can hold more weight generally. This isn’t a huge factor in most people’s buying decision, but if you plan on placing a lot of heavy items on your desk, you should get a metal one.
Another important point in regards to material is looking at the finish of the writing desk. The finish of the writing desk is basically it’s top layer (color) and its texture.
If you have any specific textures you don’t like, make sure to look at the finish before ordering it. I say this because there are some textures that make me feel sweaty/uncomfortable. It’s important that your hands and forearms can withstand feeling the finish on your writing desk for 8+ hours a day.
2. Dimensions and size
When you are shopping for a writing desk in-person, you don’t have to ask how big the desk is. Generally, most stores have some sort of display where you can estimate how see how big the writing desk is and whether or not it will fit in your room.
When shopping online for a writing desk, you must pay attention to the size and dimensions listed on the product page. The last thing you want is to get your dream writing desk and it can’t fit in your room or office.
The dimensions and size will often impact the price of a writing desk. Generally, larger writing desks with larger parts will cost more than smaller writing desks.
If you are shopping for kids, make sure the listing shows the dimensions and it clearly says children’s desk in the title or description. Many writing desks online are mostly targeted towards adults, so make sure you add “kids” or “children” in the search bar when searching for a desk for kids.
For writing desks, there’s not really a standard size. Most people choose different sizes based on their specific needs. The only measurements you need to worry about are the height, width and depth of the writing desk.
- The height is how tall the desk is
- The width is the horizontal length of the desk
- Depth is the measurement from the front to the back of the desk
To give you an idea here’s what the dimensions will look for sample writing desks:
- An executive desk is about 60 in * 30 in * 30 in (width * depth * height)
- An child’s desk is about 36in * 24 in * 20 in (width * depth * height)
You don’t need to memorize these kinds of measurements, but it’s just good to keep in mind when you are searching for a writing desk. If you see a writing desk with measurements that are 150 in* 120 in * 120 in, you should probably avoid buying it.
Most writing desks online are pictured in a room, so you can get a good estimate regarding the size of the desk just from the picture. Here’s a sample one from Amazon.