Best Desk Position in Office

There are plenty of hacks for maximizing productivity and making a more efficient office space—everything from smart scheduling to creative organization can help you complete more work in less time. That said, desk placement is an often overlooked way to start crushing emails, mastering meetings, and putting a whole new spin on your daily office experience.

But what’s the best desk position in the office? The prime spot is one nearest to natural light, but there are plenty of other factors to consider.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about how to arrange a desk from your office furniture collection, from avoiding distractions to finding the perfect view. Read on to discover the tips and tricks for maintaining a perfect desk placement in your office. 

A Desk With A View

Natural light can have a powerful effect on your overall mood. In fact, getting more natural light on a daily basis has been linked to overall mental health benefits. So, when picking your new desk location, a place near a window should be first on your list.

Consider the following options when positioning your commercial office desk by a window:

• East-facing window – If you’re one for arriving early at the office, an east-facing window can provide you with a gorgeous view of the sunrise. Few things feel better than setting up your work station, sipping your coffee, and greeting the rising sun while answering your morning emails.

• West-facing window – Do you have a tendency to stay late or does a flexible schedule allow you to work through the early evening? Why not enjoy the last bit of evening sun as you complete your work by positioning your desk near a west-facing window.

• North or south-facing window – For those looking for less direct sunlight throughout the day, a north-facing window is your best choice. On the other hand, those interested in consistent light might opt for a south-facing window. 

Choosing the best window for your desk is only part of your decision. You also have to choose whether you’d prefer light beaming toward you, coming from behind you, or shining at your side. If you’re often on video calls, you may want to avoid light coming from behind you, as being backlit in this way can make it harder for your office workers to see you on screen. 

Depending on which position you choose, you may also have to mitigate glare issues. Thankfully, you can always close the blinds if things start to irritate you.

Distraction-Proof Positioning

Often, the hardest part of working is honing in on exactly what you should be doing. Many of us can’t help scrolling through social media or spending a few minutes online shopping throughout the workday. 

To that end, it’s imperative to consider possible distractions that could keep you from doing your work when choosing your desk position. Try your best to avoid the things that might hinder you, including:

• Window gazing – While we’ve already established the benefits of natural light, spending too much time staring out your window could make it harder to get work done. Birds, squirrels, and all manner of tiny distractions are waiting on the other side of the glass, so consider positioning your desk in a way that doesn’t give you a direct view.

• Conversation – It’s great to have a little company as you push through your daily responsibilities, but if your desk is positioned to look head-on at your closest coworker, it may be difficult to avoid chatting the day away.

• Noisy office areas – Every office has a gathering space—the water cooler, an open meeting room, or the office printer can become hotspots for noise and distraction. While positioning your desk in close proximity to some of these resources might seem like a convenience, it might also take away focus from the task at hand.

Before rearranging your desk positioning or choosing a new work desk and office chair altogether, try to be honest with yourself about what your biggest hindrances in productivity are like the desk height or bad posture. The more you understand what gets in the way of a productive day, the better chance you have of avoiding those distractions.

Personal Preferences

Of course, your desk feng shui should also be based on what works best for you, so any advice that contradicts your interest should be taken with at least a grain of salt. 

If you’re a little uncertain about what your general preferences are, think about these important factors: 

• Do you prefer to work in a more isolated environment?
• Do you prefer to work in an office space surrounded by coworkers?
• Will repositioning your desk help you feel refreshed and productive?

Get The Best Desk with Juniper

While there are plenty of factors to consider when choosing your desk position, we’re confident that with a little thought (and perhaps some trial and error), you’ll find the spot best-suited to your work style. That said, your work desk itself is just as important as its position. That’s where our office furniture solutions come in.

We have more than 100 years of experience helping people find the desks of their dreams. From home offices to massive office-spaces, we offer solutions that can fit your needs and budget. Visit us today to check out our free design services, fast shipping, and an unbeatable purchase platform. At Juniper, we’re building better offices, one desk at a time.

Sources: 

RTOR. How Letting More Light into Your Life Can Improve Mental Health and Wellbeing. https://www.rtor.org/2018/07/26/how-light-improves-mental-health/ 

Open Spaces Feng Shui. Office Feng Shui: Place Your Desk In The Command Position. https://openspacesfengshui.com/feng-shui-tips/2013/02/office-feng-shui-place-desk-command-position/ 

Workplace Trends. Research results: Personal preferences in the workplace. https://workplacetrends.co/research-results-personal-preferences-in-the-workplace/