Standing desks have become increasingly popular since we all started working from home (and sitting for hours upon hours in the very same spot). Not that it's fresh news that sitting for prolonged periods is bad for you. It's far from it, of course – with the first indications that sitting on our office chairs/sofas/loveseats for too long being poor for our health dating back around 70 years. It was then that researchers found that double-decker bus drivers were twice as likely to have heart attacks as their conductor counterparts, who spent most of their days on their feet. Scary stuff.
Fast-forward to 2022, and we know a hell of a lot more about the ill-effects of sitting down for too long. Postural Alignment Therapist, Eleanor Burt of Posture Ellie, said: "When you don’t use your muscles on a regular basis, they {your muscles} atrophy (aka get lazy). This is why many people suffer a whole variety of aches and pains. Their muscles simply aren’t robust enough to hold them in the correct ‘human body shape’ and a varying degrees of biomechanical breakdown occurs over time."
Though many of us have now returned to the office, the majority of Brits are still working from home at least one or two days a week. As such, we're keen to elevate our at-home work spaces and make them as efficient as possible. Adjustable standing desks allow you to comfortably work while standing, and although research around the benefits of standing desks is still in early stages, it appears that using a stand up desk can have benefits for your health and productivity. (Standing lowers your risk of weight gain, lowers blood sugar levels and reduces your risk of heart disease).
So, what to look for in an adjustable desk? The best standing desks are adjustable in height, and they have a good range to accomodate everyone in your household – whatever their height. Take the Triple Motor L-Shaped Standing Desk from FEZiBO, for example. It has been customised with four programmable height presets, perfect for multiple users to save their preferred height setting. You can also transition between each of them smoothly and easily, without it disrupting your work flow, with the single touch of a button.
If you've got a little more money to spend, you can pick up sit stand desks with USB charging points, pre-programmed height settings and electric controls. Benefits of spending a little more include the fact that your desk will likely be more stable (in comparison to cheap standing desks which might wobble as you type). That said, you can get more simple, adjustable table-top desks that can be raised and lowered as you see fit.
After more home office content? Head this way for desks for small spaces to turn even the tiniest of corners into a dreamy home office and over here best folding desks if you're not blessed with space. We've also got lap desks for working from under your duvet (contradictory, we know) and desk chairs to give your WFH space a stylish upgrade.
Best standing desk overall Natur Solid Wood Bamboo Standing Desk
Why we love it: The most sustainable standing desk in this edit, FEZiBO's standing desk features a bamboo desktop (made from bamboo which has been grown without pesticides or fertilisers), which has been finished with their super-durable UV-cured polyurethane coating. Perfect for both environmentally and aesthetically conscious standing desk users, it has an LED programmable handset which allows you to quickly adjust the height at the touch of a button. It's suitable for everyone from children to those who are two meters tall.
Best electric standing desk Triple Motor L-Shaped Standing Desk
Why we love it: With a storage door, tempered glass desktop and two USB charging ports, this sleek electric standing desk can be moved up and down with just the touch of one button. There are four pre-saved height settings, so multiple users can save their preferred height and switch back to it with ease. All heights fall within the broad adjustment range of 28.3"-47.6", making it perfect for children and adults. If that wasn't enough, there's a child lock and an anti-collision function which ensures safety by preventing the desktop from being damaged or crushing other objects and devices while in motion.
Best standing desk of FEZiBO design
Dual Motor L-Shaped Standing Desk
Why we love it: With dual motors for robust lifting, it's super easy to alternative between sitting and standing with this desk. It's available in a plethora of colour combinations, and with lots of accessories like desk bikes, chairs for standing desks and desk casters. There's a child lock, a USB charging port and four programmable memory presets for different users to easily switch back to their preferred height before their morning meeting. There's also an anti-collision function which ensures optimum safety by preventing the desktop from being damaged or crushing other objects and devices while in motion.
