Office Desk vs Workstation: What’s the Difference?

If you think an office desk and an office workstation are the same, then you’re not alone! The terms are often used interchangeably, but there are a few differences that you should know about.

Are there any major differences?

There aren’t any significant differences between an office desk and office workstation furniture. However, understanding their unique properties and benefits will help you get the most out of your office furniture and create a more efficient work environment.

To identify the differences, we need to look at each piece of office furniture separately.

1. What is an office desk?

An office desk is a simple design that features a flat piece of wood and four legs – it does not usually have any special or high-tech features.

2. How long have office desks been used?

Office desks have been around since the 17th and 18th centuries and remain one of the most commonly used pieces of furniture in modern offices.

3. What office desks are available?

You can find office desks in a wide variety of sizes, materials and colours, and you can customise most designs to suit your office space and specific needs.

What is an office workstation?

An office workstation is similar to an office desk, but it features a more advanced design and is built to accommodate tools and equipment. Many modern workstations come with features like built-in screens, office storage, and privacy screens to improve employee productivity.

Top benefits of an office workstation

• Modern design – Office workstations feature a modern design and are usually tailored to specific tasks e.g. call centre work.
• Increased productivity – Office workstations are typically more comfortable and efficient. This has a positive impact on employee satisfaction and boosts engagement and productivity in the workplace.
• Robust materials – Most workstations are made from durable, hard-wearing materials that are built to withstand daily use and remain in excellent condition for many years.

Flexibility and reconfigurability of office workstations

A workstation desk is an excellent piece of office furniture when you need flexibility. A flexible work desk can be joined to seat 6, 8 10 or more people and then added to at a later date and if you move to a smaller space the office desk workstation can be divided into smaller configurations.

Sustainability and environmental impact of office furniture

I think this is an ongoing issue with workstation office furniture. All office workstation furniture uses resources and energy when the items are made in the factory and then delivered to the site. It is vitally important that you buy the best double workstation desk you can afford. This means the furniture will last a long time and can be added to as you expand plus if the furniture is no longer needed it can be sold and reused because it will still have a value compared to cheaper office furniture alternatives.

Office layout and space planning

This is an essential phase of a new office furniture buying project and time should be spent to decide the best layout. Corner cutting at this stage can leave your office looking like a mess and general user issues will arise. Always start with a rough sketch of the floor plan and decide where you would like the workstation office furniture, storage and reception furniture placed.  The next step is to plan the double workstation desk to scale so the space does not look too cramped, this will give your visitors and staff the right impression.

Integrating workstations into an open office design

This falls under the space planning section of any office workstation desk design. You need to decide if you want departments separated by using the workstation desk in pods of 2, 4 or 6 people or do you want everyone working together in a modern office design. An office workstation desk is relatively easy to plan into space because the stand sizes are 120, 140 and 160 cm in width per person and the depth is usually 140 or 160 cm. So you do not need to find the right computer desk before starting your new office floor plan.

Legal and safety requirements for office workstations

You need to leave at least 100 cm between the edge of the workstation desk and a wall behind. If there is more desking behind the desk you need to leave at least 200 cm between the two desks. This allows the workstation users enough room to stand up and sit without knocking into someone else in the office.