Free Desk Guide

The above is just a quick sample of the types of desk shapes out there. If you’re in the market for a desk, contacting us today for professional help.

What kind of desk shape will work best in your office? If you know the dimensions of your office? We can quickly determine the size and shapes of desks that can work in that space.

Table of Contents

Desk Shapes

L-Shaped Desks

Executive style desks tend to be L-shape. They can be rectilinear or curved and have built-in or mobile storage. L-shaped desks can come in a variety of materials and styles, from modern to traditional.

Bow front w/extended corner L-shape desk
Bow front extended corner curved
L-shape desk
Bow front w/extended corner L-shape desk
Bow front extended corner
straight L-shape desk
L-Shaped Cubicle
Standard Cubicle
Straight front w/extended corner height adjustable desk with disconnected fixed height return
Straight front extended corner height adjustable desk with a fixed height return
Reverse-P Fixed Height Desk with a Concave Shaped Electric Height Adjustable Return
Reverse-P Fixed Height Desk with a Concave Shaped Electric Height Adjustable Return
Straight Front Fixed Height Casegoods Desk with Fixed Height Return
Standard L-desk with return

U-Shaped Desks

We see fewer and fewer u-shape desk these days. Senior executives tend to use them most often.

Bow Front U-Shaped Desk, Fixed Height, with Mixed Storage Return
Fixed Height Bow Front U-Shaped Desk with a Mixed Storage Credenza
Reverse-P Desk, Fixed Height, with Standard Bridge, Return and Overhead Cabinet with Tackboard
Fixed Height Reverse-P Desk with Bridge, Overhead, Tackboard and Credenza
Fixed Height U-shape desk with overhead storage and atypically long extensions
Fixed Height Shared U-shape deskwith tackboard, hutch, and shared bullet desk
Traditional Fixed Height U-Shape, bow front desk, with hutch
Curved cockpit U-shape desk with extended p-top, hutch, and personal storage

Bow Front Desks

Bow front desks are a very useful executive style desk.  The curved front edge provides 6-10″ of knee space for your client.  This style is ideal for someone who meets with a lot of people and enjoys a classic look.

Bi-Level Desks

This really means that you have two types of desks in your office: (1) a height adjustable desk and (2) a fixed height return giving you the best of both worlds.

Cost-Effective Sit-Stand Upgrades

Our team knows that office furniture upgrades can be expensive, but sit-stand desks are worth the investment. Desk tops and legs for sit-stand desks can be purchased separately, so we can consider your existing furniture when planning for an upgrade and repurpose existing desk tops, ensuring your project comes in on-budget.

Walking Desks

Walking desks, also known as treadmill desks, are designed for individuals who want to stay active while they work. A spin on sit-stand workstations, they add a treadmill surface that allows you to walk while you work. Walking desks offer a unique and innovative way to stay healthy and productive.

Height Adjustable Bicycle Desk
Height Adjustable Treadmill Desk
Height Adjustable Standing Desk

Finishes

Regardless of the style of desk you choose, all desks come with a variety of finish options.

Thermofuse
High Pressure Laminate
Veneer

Thermofuse

Thermofuse, also known as a thermally-fused laminate (TFL) finish, is a high-pressure laminate and veneer. Thermofuse finishes are 1-3 millimeters thick, while traditional high pressure laminate finishes are 1/8″ thick, making for a final product that’s easier to move around. Advantages include:

  • Durability – a thermofuse finish is highly resistant against scratches, stains, and other wear and tear, making it great for high-traffic commercial applications.
  • Easy to clean – no special cleaning products or maintenance required here.
  • Cost-effective – the thermofuse features compete with wood veneer at a more competitive cost.
  • Customizable – thermofuse can come in finishes that resemble wood grain, stone, metal and more.
  • Environmental – thermofuse finishes are often made of recycled wood fibers, and don’t include volatile organic compounds that can be harmful to people and the environment.

High Pressure Laminate

Also known as “HPL” it is the most durable finish available — a 30 year product. It often goes by brand names such as Formica, Wilsonart, Pionite, Arborite, and Nevamar. HPL is 1/8″ thick and impervious to heat damage.

HPL and thermofuse finishes are very similar, but HPL is generally more durable and customizable than thermofuse, and therefore can cost a bit more. But both are excellent products we recommend often.

Veneer

Veneer is thin real wood that is applied over particle board and is only about 1/16″ thick. The final product looks like solid wood. These finishes offer an alternative to more expensive solid wood desks.

Modular Construction

Across all the kinds of desk options out there, the best commercial grade desks are built as modular pieces. Like Lego’s, each component is separate from the others.

At Office Furniture Eugene, we start with a desk shell and add drawers and a return. Drawers come in any imaginable configuration. Have other needs? We can outfit desks in a large variety of ways.

Do you prefer tiny personal drawers? Standard 5 inch high drawers? File drawers? Legal size? Do you need a pencil drawer? These are all features that live independent of your desk shell. When shopping for office desks, make sure you consider the modularity of your choices so that you can meet the needs of all your employees.