Is an expensive desk worth it?

[HarrietM87]

I’ve been wfh on a cheap idea mdf desk from ikea since March and it’s been fine. Need a bigger one now though to accommodate more monitors. DH wants us to get a solid wood leather topped affair from habitat which looks lovely, but costs £900. He thinks it would “feel” nicer to type at. A bigger version of the Ikea one we have is £75. Our study is a small box room and to me the look of the desk doesn’t really matter, but comfort does as I’m pregnant and will be wfh for another 4 months, and then likely regularly once I’m back from mat leave as well. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Also if anyone can recommend a nice desk that’s 140-160cm ish long that would be great!

Do you want a desk with drawers or just a top to work on?

A couple of drawers would be useful but it’s mainly a top - will have three monitors (2 for me, one for DH) and 2 keyboards. We won’t be working at the same time but want to have both workstations set up side by side.

Spend the money on a decent chair. As long as the cheaper desk doesn't wobble then I don't think it would make much difference.

I recwntly bought myself 2 massive 1.6m desks to have in my home office. Was the best thing I did as I have 4 monitors and all the gumph that comes with it. Mine has drawers under etc. I agree with pp though the chair is the most important thing. Having space is nice but it could be an ikea desk or the expensive one. Personally I would hate to spend almost a grand on a desk.

If it were me I would consider using a piece of kitchen worktop/breakfast bar. I know that may sound a bit naff but (depending on your room) you can go from wall to wall, so things can't fall down the side. With a batten on the three walls (2 sides and the back) to support it you will have more room for your legs. It won't look anything like a £900 desk would though... You can get a separate pedestal draw unit if you need one.

Thanks so much, this is really helpful and confirms my suspicions! I was thinking we could get some kind of leather mat or something to go on top if DH really wants to feel leather under his elbows 🤣.

@WhoWouldHaveThoughtThat that sounds ideal actually but we have a shelving unit that it needs to slot in beside so can’t stretch wall to wall. Also DIY like that beyond me right now.

@BettaSplenden would you mind sharing a link to your desks?

Also does anyone have any chair recommendations while I’m at it?

DH and I have 2 Ikea setups back to back with trestle legs and a table top - they have several different lengths. DH has 2 monitors, a laptop, sometimes a surface, keyboard, mouse and a desktop tower on his mine is mostly covered in books and magazines. I originally chose these because the trestle legs can be adjusted for height, but if it’s not important to you, the system allows you to have a trestle leg on one end and a set of drawers on the other. We paid about £80 per desk and it’s brilliant, highly recommend.

....if DH really wants to feel leather under his elbows...

Leather elbow patches? They were very popular with teachers at my school!

As for the leather, I have one of these, other colours are available

I thought you couldn't give away those big antique desks. Have you checked FB/EBay?

We went to a timber merchants and bought a huge piece of MDF, and screwed it on top of our original desk.

If you can live without drawers then a dining table makes a really good desk. I have the Ikea Lisabo as my desk which is 140x78cm.

Herman Miller Aeron chairs are amazing to sit in. They are over a grand full price but we got one for £450 from a furniture warehouse place. We also have an office chair from Made which is very comfortable.

@tywysoges OMG - perfect! Thank you!

Thanks everyone - some really good tips here. I have had a look on eBay but the antique desks tend not to be long enough (I guess not designed in the days of multiple monitors!). It sounds like a cheap and cheerful Ikea solution plus nice chair is a better investment.

@YippieKayakOtherBuckets thank you - will investigate those chairs!

I’ve saved so much money commuting and will do in the future that I think investing in a good home office set up is probably worthwhile. Should have done it a few months ago tbh!

I’m a permanent home worker for the last 18 months, don’t underestimate how useful and beneficial an electric stand up desk can be if you’re working 8-10 hours a day. I have an Ikea one and it’s brilliant, get a fully adjustable chair, heater or fan to regulate temperature, soft lighting, a speakerphone (if you make a lot of calls), water bottle, health snacks in a nearby cupboard and healthy quick lunches (frozen) when you haven’t got time to cook or make anything.

Good luck.

I agree with the electric stand up desk. I think it would be great to have the option to stand up or sit down to work.

Everyone I have ever spoken to about office chairs says get Herman Miller, apparently they are amazing.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Commercial-Office-Desk-with-pedestal-drawers/274407473835?hash=item3fe3f5c2ab:g:lCcAAOSwwRFe846P

Mine are a bit like this but a lighter colour. They have a bigger set of drawers underneath and a solid back and sides. None of that weird office divided things either I got mine off eBay x