Where to put your desk
Light from the side, the screen at eye level and something far away to look at.
- Where
- Size
- Room
- Budget
- Time
- Style
Where you put your desk changes how you feel at the end of the day. Too far from a window and you work in a cave. Facing the window directly and your screen fights the glare. Here is how to find the best spot in your home, and set it up for comfort.
Light from the side
The best position for a desk is usually at right angles to a window, so daylight falls from the side. You get natural light on your work and a view when you look up, without the bright window behind your screen or reflected in it.
- Facing the window: lovely view, but the bright window behind the screen strains your eyes.
- Back to the window: the window reflects in your screen, and you sit in your own shadow.
- Side to the window: soft light, no glare, a view when you turn your head. Best.
Height and posture
A good desk setup fits your body, not the other way round.
- Chair first. Adjust it so your feet rest flat on the floor and your knees are about level with your hips.
- Desk height. With your shoulders relaxed, your elbows should be at about the height of the desk, bent at roughly 90 degrees.
- Screen. The top of the screen at or just below eye level, about an arm's length away. A laptop on its own is too low; raise it and use a separate keyboard.
A beautiful desk that hurts your back is not a beautiful desk.
Jun Tanaka
Lamps for the evening
When the daylight goes, you need two kinds of light: general light for the room and a task lamp for the desk. Place the lamp on the opposite side to your writing hand, so your hand does not cast a shadow. Choose a warm white bulb for evenings; very cold light late in the day can make it harder to switch off.
A view
If you can, put something to look at in your line of sight when you lift your eyes from the screen: a window, a plant, a picture. Eyes need to change focus regularly, and a distant view helps them rest.
Small rooms
In a small room, a narrow wall-mounted desk by the window can work better than a big desk in the middle. Even 40 centimetres of depth holds a laptop on a stand and a keyboard.
