The Executive Desk

In today’s business world, it is nearly impossible to do work without the aid of a computer. Having access to the internet and your company’s intranet are important aspects of anybody’s job, but especially to an executive. They must be aware of what is happening in all aspects of their business as well as the market in which they operate. However, the wires and accessories that come along with a desktop computer can take away from the presence and beauty you strive for with an executive desk. So, how can we resolve this conflict? There are many features you can find for executive workspaces that allow for a clean desktop yet easy access to a computer when it is needed and out of the way when it is not.

One of these features is a pullout keyboard tray hidden behind a flip-down drawer front. This flip-down drawer front gives the illusion of a middle desk drawer where you might normally find pens and small desk accessories like paper clips or rubber bands. Instead, the face of the “drawer” actually flips downward allowing a tray to slide out on rails that holds your keyboard and mouse. The wires for your keyboard and mouse go out the back of the sliding tray to your computer. When you are not using the computer in a meeting or when you are writing with pen and paper you can hide the keyboard away from view and out of the way so that you have room to work on your desktop.

Another clever feature is a concealed desktop computer storage area or a shelf for your computer under the desk. The concealed storage area usually looks like a cabinet on either the left or right side of the desk. Instead of the normal storage or file folder drawers, one cabinet holds your workstation. This cabinet is usually equipped with a small hole in the side so that the wires from your keyboard, mouse, and monitor can reach the computer without being run along the top of your desk or floor. Another common computer storage cabinet feature is a vent. The vent allows the hot air from the computer to escape and prevents your machine from overheating. If you do not have a cabinet, often you will find a small shelf very close to the floor on the inside of your desk where your feet go. You can put the computer here and the wires will be hidden from view under the desk. I prefer the storage area so that I have more room under the desk for my legs and feet, but I do give up storage for files or other items I might need at my desk.

As mentioned previously, you do not want wires running along the desktop or down the sides of your desk, so another common feature for an executive desk is a cable management slot. This is a small slot or hole usually in the middle and towards the rear of the desk into which the monitor wire is fed. The wires then go under the desk and can be led to the computer without being seen on the outside. All of these features allow for a clean and professional look to your executive desk without giving up your desktop computer.