Have you been feeling unproductive lately? Are you tired of working from home and always seeing the same furniture? A new desk might be what you need to re-ignite your motivation. Your desk is an important part of your workplace, whether it’s in the office or at home. After all, if you work full-time, you might spend up to 40 hours a week at your desk. It’s pretty important that you use one you like!
There’s something special about a wooden desk—this material is truly timeless, and never goes out of style. The question is, which kind of wood will look and function best in your office? We’re going to weigh the pros and cons of different types of wood to help you design your ideal desk:
Oak
You can’t go wrong with an Oak desk; it’s a tried and true material. Oak offers advantages like durability, firmness, and affordability—it’s not the least expensive type of wood, but it isn’t the most expensive, either. It’s available in a range of colors, from nutty golds to deep browns. If you plan on constructing the desk yourself, you’ll find that Oak is easy to work with, whether you’re drilling screws or sawing edges.
Cherry
This wood comes with a high price tag, which is partially due to its distinct wood grain and stability. Something unique about Cherry wood is that over time, you’ll notice the color change. The red-brown wood gradually darkens as the years pass.
Rosewood
If you’re interested in exotic woods, look no further than a Rosewood desk. You’ll fall in love with the workability, beautiful coloring, and high-quality grain pattern. When you see your Rosewood desk, it might make you look forward to working! It’s highly sought after, so you might have a hard time tracking some down.
Birch Plywood
If affordability is your main priority, there’s nothing wrong with a plywood desk! You can always paint it if you don’t like the pale color. Plywood is budget-friendly, stable, and gets the job done. However, it’s not as strong as other types of wood. Birch plywood may not be the most attractive wood on this list, but it’s easy to find and to work with.
Walnut
The rich, deep color of Walnut wood is a favorite for many. It presents class, sophistication, and beauty. Add a clear, glossy finish to make this wood truly stunning. However, that beauty comes at a higher price than most types of wood on this list; you’ll need to pay more out of pocket for a Walnut desk. However, it’s an investment that will last (when given the proper care) due to the strength and stability of Walnut wood.
Should You Choose Hardwood or Softwood?
Did you know that not all hardwoods are hard, and not all softwoods are soft? Contrary to what the name suggests, there is variability between these types of wood. It’s true that hardwoods tend to be denser than softwoods, but it’s important to note that this isn’t always the case.
These categorizations are based, not on their durability, but they’re distinguished by the type of tree that the wood comes from. When choosing wood for your desk, look past whether it’s a hardwood or a softwood—instead, pay closer attention to its specific properties, like its density, color, and moisture resistance.
Customizing Your Desk
One of the great things about wood is that even if you aren’t happy with the color, it can be modified according to your preferences. You can stain it, paint it, or cover the face with a veneer.
- Staining. Before you decide to alter the shade of your desk, make sure that the wood you choose can hold up to staining—with Maple, Birch, and Pine, you might have a harder time getting the stain to absorb.
- Painting. Paint your desk to match the colors of your office! A disadvantage of this approach is that paint may cover the intricate details of the wood, like the grain and knot patterns.
- Veneers. Here’s a budget-friendly tip: you can build your desk out of an affordable material, but cover the top surface with a higher quality veneer. This gives you the aesthetic of the wood you prefer without the hefty price tag.
Taking Care of Your Wooden Desk
Prolong the life of your new office centerpiece by following these care tips:
Keep it Out of Direct Sunlight
Just as our skin gets sunburnt, wood can fade due to UV exposure. Consider placing your desk in a spot that faces away from the sun. The beautiful, rich color of your desk can be damaged by UV rays.
Don’t Spill Water on It!
The last thing you want is a rotten wooden desk. If you knock over your coffee mug, be sure to grab a towel ASAP. Otherwise, the liquid may absorb into the wood, causing unsightly marks, buckling, and splitting.
Try to keep the humidity of your office under control. Fluctuating moisture levels (either too much or too little) will cause wood to swell or shrink. To maintain steady humidity levels, you can use a dehumidifier/humidifier during different seasons.
Use the Right Cleaning Products.
Make sure to only apply cleaning agents that are designed for use with wood. Otherwise, you risk stripping the finish or damaging the wood grain! Consider applying a finish or varnish to provide protection, and keep your wooden desk looking flawless for years.
Summary
From Oak to Walnut, there are a variety of woods to choose from when designing a desk. You’ll need to narrow down what you value most out of a desk before making your decision, whether that’s affordability or durability. Finally, be sure to take good care of it so that it lasts a lifetime!
By carefully weighing your options, you can create a desk that’s one-of-a-kind. But even after you choose the type of wood, you have other decisions to make, like whether or not to use a live edge slab. Are you interested in filling gaps with epoxy? Do you want to make the desk yourself, or hire a professional? There are so many options you have to customize your desk, but it all starts with choosing the perfect type of wood. We hope that this guide helps you out with that!
