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What makes a good workstation

11/6/2021

There’s no doubt, the correct workstation improves wellbeing, motivation and productivity. Just think of the time your desk or workstation wasn’t large enough, or high enough, or didn’t seem to match the environment. The right workstation allows your day to flow more smoothly!

So, want to know some tips on choosing your perfect workstation? Well look no further we have compiled some points to get you on your way to finding your perfect desk or workstation!

The first thing is an obvious one – Purpose.
What will the workstation be used for primarily? A workstation’s purpose is a key determining factor.

Is your work mostly computer based where you require a desktop?
Here you’ll be looking for a workstation with plenty of space for the CPU to sit, space for your monitor, paraphiles and cabling. Usually, these workstations have the ability to be accessorised or have cable management built in. Check out these workstation accessories examples here

Is it for mostly paperwork?
Choose a desk or workstation that will have the roomiest surface possible so you can accommodate those spreadsheets, bulky books, or piles of important papers and documents. A good tip to minimise space is to make use of under desk storage or filing cabinets to increase surface area and minimise clutter. We have some examples here!

What about multi-use computing, paperwork and meeting workstations?
These have become extremely popular, serving as multipurpose desking solutions. Saving you space and cost while allowing you to have less of an environmental impact, as you’re only using one workstation to serve multiple purposes. A good example of this is a workstation can be specified with a return (a protrusion that gives the desk a distinctive L shape design) Allowing a space for an informal meeting or a separate space for paperwork.

Ergonomics and Space
Your workstation plays an important part in your ergonomics. After all, you will be spending a fair bit of time at your desk.
Your workstation needs to provide adequate clearance for your legs. The standard workstation heights of 71 to 80cm from the floor is right for most users.

For computer-users, keyboards need to be placed at a comfortable height. Keyboards placed on traditional desks may be at too high or a height and may result in discomfort or muscle strain for the user long term. Ideally you should look into a workstation that is height adjustable.
There should be at least 52cm space under your workstation for you to stretch your legs without coming into contact with another piece of furniture or object. Ideally more is better but practicality sometimes doesn’t allow this.

Materials
Workstation tops can come in a variety of materials. But generally, laminate is the most popular. Laminate is a synthetic material that is applied to a wood core (usually MDF), laminate is affordable, durable, and withstands more than pure wood or veneer. It comes in a wide range of colours and wood grain patterns. The legs of a workstation is usually steel or timber and once again can be found in a range of colours.

Sit or stand desks
While heavier due to more internal components, these workstations are a great option if you want to stay mobile through-out the day and have the added benefit for fine height adjustment, giving you the exact height, you require with very little fuss.

For added convenience and less hassle, there are electrical variants, where the desired height can be obtained by a push of a button. Electrical sit-stand variants can also come with memory settings which you can adjust, set and forget (just keep in mind though you will need a power outlet nearby)

To learn more about sit and stand desks, visit our article here.

At the end of the day, it’s important to try out the workstation before you buy it. A good workstation is an investment and will add to your space’s aesthetic while providing you a space to be productive and explore creativity!

Thinking about a workstation?
At Montage we offer a wide range of workstations to suit all job and budgets. Not only do you have a large selection, variants, configurations and options of each workstation, we also can build something more bespoke to suit your exact requirements.