In the workplace nowadays, standing desks are the norm and are almost as common as regular sitting desks which have been around for decades.
Standing desks aren’t gimmicks, they’re designed to serve a very real purpose and improve your health and wellbeing in the process.
The great thing about standing desks is the fact that they come in all shapes, sizes, styles, and designs, with one being very different to the last and offering unique benefits and features. From improving posture and reducing joint issues to improving productivity and comfort in the work place, standing desks really do offer it all.
One of the most common issues that people on the hunt for new standing desks encounter however, is struggling to decide on which tabletop material to go with. When you consider the fact that there are wood standing desk choices, along with plastic, and bamboo standing desk options, it can be tricky to decide.
Here are a few tips on choosing the best tabletop material for your standing desk.
A word about dimensions
Before you can even consider purchasing a standing desk, the first thing you need to consider when it comes to the tabletop material is the overall dimensions of the desk.
Dimensions will of course vary from product to product, but a general rule of thumb is to go with a desk with dimensions that make the tabletop surface at least as wide and as deep as the frame of the standing desk.
If you are building the desk yourself, be sure to allow an additional half an inch overhang in order to prevent the material from splitting.
Which material to choose?
Standing desks come in all shapes, sizes, and designs, and therefore choosing the right tabletop isn’t always easy.
From a bamboo standing desk to a glass desk or wood standing desk, here are some suggestions of which material to choose.
Laminated desk tops
Many standing desks nowadays are made from laminate, or feature laminate tabletops at the very least.
Laminated standing desk tops are very practical in that they don’t stain and they’re very easy to dust and to wipe clean.
These tabletops are ideal in that you can use a number of materials, including vinyl wraps, in order to achieve a finish that appeals to you and your own specific needs and requirements.
Laminates are basically created by manufacturing a material in a number of multiple layers in order to create a visually pleasing finish that is also strong and durable. Laminates can come in the form of vinyl wraps, as well as melamine, natural woods, and even in metal finishes.
Laminate is of course a synthetic material that mimics hardwood in most instances so it looks like the real thing and shares many similar properties. As an extra bonus however, laminate is very tough to scratch, dent, and stain, and it wipes clean very easily.
Despite not being a natural material, laminate desks and standing desks are still very popular and are certainly worth considering.
Bamboo
Bamboo isn’t just a substance that pandas can’t get enough of, it turns out that bamboo is also a very useful material when it comes to making tabletops for desks.
Bamboo standing desk sales shot up last year during lockdown, and as more and more businesses welcome people back into their offices, you’ll likely find that bamboo standing desk options increase noticeably as the months pass by.
Bamboo can be made into all kinds of products, including clothing, though bamboo tabletops for desks are very popular because it is a low cost product that is easy to produce and is kind to the environment.
Bamboo is technically a grass rather than a wood, but bamboo standing desks have finishes that are shiny and resemble those of hardwoods due to their natural grains. Bamboo desktops generally resemble those made from oak, or maple.
The only downside to bamboo standing desk products is the fact that bamboo, despite looking like a hardwood, is actually fairly soft, so it can scratch and dent easily, so you will need to be careful if you want to keep it in the best possible condition.
Glass
Glass is a material that people are hesitant to go with when choosing a standing desk, due to the fact that they’re worried about breaking it. In truth, the glass used to make these desk tabletops is incredibly durable and hardwearing, and it looks great in the process.
Glass surfaces offer a sleek, modern, and professional finish that can really liven up any office and give it a modern and contemporary look.
A popular choice on the market at the moment is the
SOLOS Glass Standing Desk, made from tempered glass and complete with 2 USB ports, a 4-level height memory pre-set, and it even offers a child protection lock.
Even though the glass is hardwearing and durable, it is still not immune to cracks and breakages so you will need to be careful when moving it around and placing items onto it.
Hardwood
Wood standing desk sales have done particularly well since people started working from home more, and we can see why.
Wood standing desks look great, they’re very hardwearing and durable, they can be customized, and they’re extremely attractive looking and go very well with a whole variety of different decors and styles of office.
Hardwood is not cheap and it is often associated with lavish, stylish, sophisticated and upmarket offices and layouts. If you want to give your office a professional and stylish look, a hardwood standing desk is most definitely the way to go.
Hardwood not only looks great, especially after being polished and waxed, but on top of that it is also very tough and if you look after it, it will last years upon years with no issues at all.
The only slight downside is the fact that if you do spill food or a drink on it, it will need taking care of easily as the wood can stain and discolour. Because hardwood is also so naturally beautiful, it also doesn’t come cheap, but as the saying goes, you get what you pay for.
If you are looking for a
wood standing desk, if you opt for a hardwood you certainly won’t be disappointed.