Desks are the foundation of any office space. The right desk can skyrocket employee productivity, encourage teams to commute to work (rather than work from home), and even be used to showcase your business brand. With so many desks to choose from, deciding between a traditional vs modern office design is important when planning how you want your workspace to look.
This blog will explore the differences between traditional and modern desks, including tips for helping you decide if traditional or modern decor is right for your company.
What’s the difference between traditional and modern offices?
Generally speaking, traditional offices have a closed-plan layout and visible divides between different departments. Traditional office furniture typically comes in more classic styles, with desks and chairs following a ‘one size fits all approach’ with little variation.
Modern offices, on the other hand, tend to be more open-plan with minimal physical separation between employees. With innovative office furniture like standing desks and ergonomic chairs, modern offices have a big focus on purpose-designed furniture that encourages collaboration between workers.
Traditional vs modern desks
In traditional workspaces, you’ll most likely find executive desks and writing desks. Executive desks are known for their size and tend to come with statement designs like leather inlays and intricate carvings; these desks are favoured by high-profile professionals like CEOs.
Writing desks are smaller in size and offer employees a clean workspace free of clutter. Their minimalist design makes them perfect for tasks like writing. They’re often characterised by their simple desktop and slender legs.
On the contrary, modern office designs typically prioritise computer desks and standing desks. Computer desks are specially designed for laptops and computers, and will usually have built-in cable management features for employees to make the most of technology.
Standing desks enable workers to change between standing and sitting, which in turn promotes better posture and reduces the risks associated with sitting down for a prolonged period. You can also adjust the height of many standing desks depending on who is using them.
How to choose between traditional and modern office design
Deciding between a traditional design and a more modern look depends mostly on what sort of company you are. Businesses focused on a more collaborative way of working will likely benefit more from a modern office space and modern office desks.
Conversely, companies that still utilise a split department system and need the privacy of a closed-plan layout with physical divides between employees will no doubt see more advantages in a traditional workspace design with classic desk styles.
These days, many businesses mix modern and traditional office furniture for a unique look. This is a great idea if you’re worried that high-trend furniture will go out of style too quickly before you can replace it – but you still want to take advantage of updated and innovative designs.
At LOF, we sell a variety of used traditional and modern office furniture and second-hand office desks, so you can enjoy a one-of-a-kind office interior with high-quality furniture at a fraction of the cost.
