Thinking about getting an office desk in that classic of all woods, oak?

The right oak desk can last for a very long time, and it looks fantastic.  Over time, it will take on a patina that will be your pride and joy.

I’ve got a few tips to help you find that supremely perfect piece of furniture, the oak office desk.

3 Tips Before You Start Looking For Your Oak Office Desk

1)  Measure your space first, before you go shopping, whether it’s online or at a retail outlet.  Use masking tape, if it won’t hurt your floor, and put a rectangle of tape on the floor where you want your desk.  You can either take the measurement of a few desks you’ve found, or just layout the tape to your liking and size and use that as your guideline.

2) Take in the entire size of your room and what will be on the desk and what other factors may be involved in getting a new oak office desk.

3) Proportions are important, as well as the flow factor of your home office space.  Desks made from oak come in a wide range of sizes, and make sure that the one you pick will fit through the door.

Functionality questions

How do you need the oak desk to work for you?  Are you solely on the computer?  A small oak desk would be perfect, but do make sure it comes with a keyboard drawer.  Some models I’ve seen look like they have a normal drawer right about the leghole is, but in actuality the front can flip down and make a standard keyboard drawer.  Oak comes in many varieties, by the way, and it can be stained in lots of different colors to let that distinct oak grain through.  Get solid oak if you can, as that will be virtually indestructible.

1) If you look at some desks in a retail store, don’t be afraid top check them out for comfort and elbow room.  Pull up a nearby office chair and practice a few movements, like pretending you’re at a keyboard or looking at a monitor.  Will the desk have enough flat space for you?

2) What storage do you need in the actual desk?  Some oak desks I’ve seen have front shelving, glass front cubbyholes, two file-sized drawer plus a skinny one above each of those for pens and paperclips and other office supplies.   The amount of storage needed may determine the bulk of your desk.  Less oak used, by the way, will mean a savings in cost.

3) If you want your office to look integrated in one design then you will have to take that into consideration.  As I mention, , oak desks come in hundreds of designs and finishes and sizes, so you can get exactly what you want.

5 Best Selling Oak Office Desks

Sauder Harvest Mill Computer Armoire in Abbey Oak – For someone who is looking for a desk which can hide everything away (all that clutter everbody has) without taking too much room. The beauty of having a computer armoire desk is that you don’t need a dedicated office to put it in.

Sauder Orchard Hills Open Computer Desk In Carolina Oak – If you are looking for a small oak desk then look no further, this Sauder desk with its modest dimensions, 30.28″ H x 47.36″ W x 20.87″ D, will fit in the smallest of spaces and yet offers considerable storage space.

Sauder Orchard Hills Corner Computer Desk in Carolina Oak – If your room configuration and size means that you are looking for a small corner office desk in oak then this desk is a great choice. With room for the CPU, monitor, speakers and phone, this desk shows that small does not only mean beautiful it also means practical!

Bush Northfield Credenza Desk with Hutch in Dakota Oak – The dark oak of this desk suggests sophistication and quality. This is more of an executive desk but the hutch and credenza give it a much more practical aspect than many other executive oak office desks.

Bush Warwick 48″ Desk with Technology Integration – This is a beautiful and slightly unusual looking desk finished in rich mocha oak. It features a CPU cubby, which enables you to plug into the wall outlet directly allowing you to minimize clutter made from wires.

An Oak Desk Has So Many Uses

Oak desks may be used by students, professionals, executives and the home office business owner.  Students need simpler desks as usually they just plop their laptops down and study as well as do some computing on it.  Later in life, these oak desks are so durable that the student can use it for their children, or as a side desk in their own home office.

If the student has this desk in their dorm room or small bedroom, then storage can be a key factor.  Make sure that the stain or varnish or sealer on the desk is durable, as young people tend to rush around and the oak desk top may get damaged.  One good thing about a great solid oak desk, is that like hardwood oak floors, it can be sanded and refinished many times over.

If your child is small, a regularly sized desk will be too large.  Again, if you buy a solid oak small student desk it can always be used for something else as the child gets bigger.  If you happen to have a nice oak office desk that has a pull-out leaf (used for writing), then let your small child work alongside of dad or mom, while sitting in their own small “office chair”.  Kids get a real kick out of this and you can also keep you eye on them while you work!

Oak Or Laminate?

There are some superb looking laminate desks, but at the end of the day its a laminate desk and will not have the feel of a proper oak desk. If you knock a laminate desk then you see the chip board underneath, an oak desk will take bangs and knocks, it will mark less easily and stand up to wear and tear that bit better. A great oak desk will usually cost a bit more than one of those laminate jobs which may fall apart in a couple of years, even if they last that long, but oak is a wood which has been used worldwide for furniture, over many, many years.  You can’t go wrong in any way, choosing oak for your wood office desk.