Home office guide

Home office sizes, cables and lighting.

The sizes that make a desk comfortable to work at, the storage depths that suit books and files, and how to plan the cables and light before anything is made.

Sizes

Sizes to plan with.

ItemSizeWhy
Desk height720mmA standard desk height for an office chair
Desk depth570mmRoom for a keyboard and a screen at arm's length
Desk units600 to 1200mm wideKnee-hole openings are cut to your layout
Knee spaceAt least 600mm wide per personSo your legs and chair fit under the desk
Space behind the deskAbout 1mTo push the chair back and stand up
Pedestals450 to 600mm wide, 3 drawersFixed or on castors
Bookcases1970mm high, 320mm deepFits books and files without crowding the room
Cupboards1970mm high, 570mm deepTakes box files and archive boxes
Under-desk units620mm high; filing unit 1240mmSlide under a desk top

Cables

Plan the cables before we make it.

  • Cable ports are cut into the desk top where you want them. Tell us where each screen, lamp and laptop goes.
  • Sockets are easier to move before the desk goes in. Ask your electrician to put them where the desk run needs them.
  • Computers and routers get warm. If they live in a cupboard or pedestal, plan a gap or vent for air and a route for the cables.
  • Network points beat Wi-Fi for video calls. Have one fitted near the desk if you can.

Light

Lighting the desk and shelves.

Häfele Loox5 LED strips under shelves and in niches light the desk without glare on the screen. Everything plugs into one driver, and can be switched, dimmed or put on a sensor. Warm white is easy on the eyes; tuneable white lets you go cooler during the day. See lighting for the full system.

Small rooms

Box rooms, alcoves and shared rooms.

  • Box rooms: run the desk along the longest wall and use 320mm-deep bookcases above or beside it to keep the floor clear.
  • Alcoves: a desk top across an alcove, with shelving above, turns a chimney-breast recess into a workspace.
  • Bedroom offices: a desk between two wardrobes gives storage either side and keeps the room looking like one design.
  • Guest rooms and snugs: wardrobes or a media unit can share the same run and finish as the desk.

Checklist

Home office checklist.

  • Number of desks and screens decided
  • Knee space and chair space allowed for
  • Storage worked out: books, files, archive boxes, printer
  • Cable port and socket positions agreed
  • Lighting and switches planned
  • Drawings checked and approved before ordering

Buying from DTJ

More on buying from DTJ.

Home office guide

How a fitted home office project works

Each stage from planning how you work to connecting up, and who does what.

Read the guide →

Wardrobe guide

How a fitted wardrobe project works

Each stage from working out what you need to the finished run, and who does what.

Read the guide →

Media wall guide

How a media wall project works

Each stage from choosing the TV and fire to connecting up, and who does what.

Read the guide →

Before you order

Measuring guide

How to measure a kitchen, bedroom or alcove so the cabinets fit first time.

Read the guide →

See it first

Samples

Board decor and door samples, £10 each and taken off your kitchen or bedroom order. Collect them from the workshop, or we post them in 3 to 5 working days.

Order samples →

Guides

Planning guides

Step-by-step guides to kitchens, wardrobes, home offices, bathrooms, media walls and wall panels.

See all guides →

Get a quote

Planning a home office?

Send your room sizes and a sketch to info@dtjinteriors.co.uk, call 0115 784 8231 or WhatsApp 07956 032306, and we will draw it and send a quote.