The Executive Desk

Congratulations! You have just been promoted to an executive position. You have a bigger paycheck, more responsibility, and a bigger office with nicer furniture! You can decorate your new space any way you like. Of course, you will start with the focal point of the room, your executive desk. Which one, what kind, what color, how big, with what features? Because it will be the first thing anyone notices when they enter the room you want your executive desk to say the right thing about you. What does your executive desk say about you and your personality or work style? The truth is that most executives are men. Therefore, most executive desks are very masculine. They are large, dark, robust and stately. Your executive desk should reflect the power that your position carries.

If your employees, suppliers, or managerial peers are looking at you over a large leather top desk with a lot of space between you and them, you automatically command a position of authority. Your physical position will give you the upper hand during any negotiation or discussion. Beyond commanding respect, a large workspace will enable you to layout documents side by side and give you the room to accomplish all of the work your new position brings. If you need an even larger work area, consider a desk that includes one or two pullout writing shelves. Pullout shelves are great because you have the extra space when you need it, but the desk will retain its sleek design when the writing shelf or shelves are pushed in.

A u-shaped desk will maximize work real estate. These desks typically include a desk, a credenza, and a U bridge. You need an office that is at least 13 feet by 16 feet for this desk to function comfortably. Even if your office is sufficiently large, you might find that your overall work flow is hampered by continually having to walk around your massive piece of furniture. In addition, u-shaped desks might give the impression of isolation or detachment. If you end up selecting a u-shaped desk, you need to give careful thought about orientation and placement of the desk relative to the rest of the office to lessen the potential negatives.

The color of your desk, again should communicate your importance. For some reason, dark woods seem more elegant and robust. Many desks with cherry or mahogany finish combine modern and classical styles together for a sleek and powerful look. More expensive woods like teak are often dark in color so they convey your position by letting anyone in the room know that you are sitting behind an expensive piece of furniture. Whether we like it or not, our society automatically thinks that something is better if it is more expensive.

To complete the picture an executive is trying to create with their desk, you need it to have a robust and regal presence. This is often achieved by choosing a desk that is more ornately decorated than your average office furniture. Carvings and a solid front make the executive desk look much grander and again, give your guests the impression that it is very expensive and thus you are very important. Whatever desk you choose, make sure that it communicates the high esteem you expect your visitors to bestow upon you.

Executive offices are often more than just a desk and a chair. Executive desks often come as part of a set. The set will include the main desk, a credenza with or without a hutch, bookshelves, file storage cabinets, and possible chairs.

One of the most common pieces bought in combination with the desk is a credenza. A credenza is a desk-like piece of furniture, which is usually placed next to a wall behind or perpendicular to your main work surface or executive desk. The credenza should be within easy reach of the desk’s occupant by either turning or wheeling the executive chair a slight distance. The credenza is often used for a computer so that the main workspace remains clear, a printer or scanner, or for storage of materials that are not used as often such as extra files or books. Others use their credenza as an additional workspace for large papers, blueprints, or anything that needs to be spread out. Some managers put their credenza away from the main executive desk next to a conference table to in a sitting area. Wherever it is placed, the credenza should match the executive desk in color and style.

Sometimes, the credenza will be a flat surface like your main executive desk, but more often, it has stacks of shelves, small drawers and nooks sitting on its main work surface. This part of the credenza is sometimes called a hutch. This configuration is commonly seen in older roll top desks and secretaries as well.

Other pieces of matching furniture could include bookcases, two-drawer and three-drawer file cabinets, lateral file cabinets, and hutches. The files often come with casters that allow the cabinet to be rolled under a desk, credenza, or wherever it is needed. These pieces will of course look much nicer than the average utility storage cabinets and selves most employees will have in their offices. Having these additional pieces of furniture can really make the executive office seem more regal.

In addition to the work related furniture, you will often find that an executive office is more of a suite because it includes a small seating area or a small conference table somewhere else in the room. The seating areas should be roughly circular in nature so that they can be used for small intimate meetings and social gatherings. The conference table will be smaller than what you would find in a full conference room. More likely, it will be small round table with approximately four chairs. Another reason that an executive workspace could feel nicer than other areas of the workplace is that they often have a lot of natural light from large windows. A spectacular view can impress a visitor to your executive office!

The right executive chair is the next step in having the perfect executive office furniture after you choose your executive desk. There are two main things to consider when choosing your desk chair. First, you want the chair to have the right presence and aesthetic appeal. It has to go with the desk furniture you already have and have a personality that complements the professional image most executives desire for their workspace. Secondly, you must consider the ergonomic and comfort aspect of the chair. Most executives will spend a considerable amount of time at their desk and you want to make sure that you are comfortable and that there are no adverse health-effects because of your sitting arrangements.

Four attributes make any desk chair ergonomic. The first is a pneumatic seat height adjustment, which should allow you to change the height of the back of your chair so that the contours fit properly in your body. The adjustment for this feature is usually located on the back of the chair. The second is the arm height adjustment. The placement of your armrests can be key for comfort and proper posture. If the arm rests are too high you might not be able to pull your desk chair close enough to your workspace and if they are too low you might have to slouch to rest your forearms on them. The third key adjustment is the seat depth adjustment. This feature will allow you to sit your feet flat on the floor whether you are petite, average or tall. The final must-have feature is the adjustable tilt tension knob. This is usually found under the chair and can help to improve your posture while working at your desk.

While every ergonomic chair should have these features, executive desk chairs often have other extras such as a dual wheel coasters, lumbar support and a thickly padded seat cushion. Another option that is common on executive desk chairs is the “big and tall” size. The executive desk chair manufacturers seem to recognize that people in power often are of greater stature than the average worker. Therefore, they have created chairs that come in sizes and with adjustments that would not be appropriate for the average sized person. One final benefit you can find on some executive chairs is the incorporation of a massage feature. Executives will often enjoy models that include the ability to recline with tapping, kneading, rolling and vibration massage techniques. Watch out though! Too much relaxing could lead to lying down on the job.

In terms of the look of your chair, there are many options for executives. Typically, you will choose a wood frame that matches that of your executive desk with a plush leather seat covering to match the decor of your office. However, there are also steel frames and other more modern looks that could be incorporated into an innovative workspace. If today’s style of straight lines and minimal ornamentation doesn’t mesh well with your tastes, then you should consider a retro desk chair. Combining a modern office theme with a splash of yesteryear will give your work environment the personality that you crave. Because of the fancy materials and the extra feature described above, executive office chairs are often more expensive. But as they say, if the boss is not happy, then no one is!