Computer desk descriptions use a fairly small vocabulary, and once you know it, comparing designs becomes much quicker. The terms fall into five groups: desk types (such as corner, L shaped, writing and gaming desks), parts (return, modesty panel, pedestal, keyboard tray), materials and finishes (MDF, veneer, high gloss, tempered glass), measurements (width, depth, height, knee clearance) and ergonomic language (sit stand, monitor riser, cable grommet). This glossary explains each one in plain English.<\/p>\n
Whether you are browsing our modern computer desks UK<\/a> or reading the specification on a product page, the definitions below will help you understand exactly what you are looking at. Most of the vocabulary also applies across our wider modern office furniture UK<\/a> range, covering chairs, storage and accessories. The entries are grouped by theme rather than alphabetically, so related ideas sit together.<\/p>\n A general term for any desk designed for a screen, keyboard and mouse. Many include cable holes, a keyboard shelf or space for a tower unit.<\/p>\n A simpler, lighter desk, usually with a slim top and one or two shallow drawers. It suits laptop users and rooms where the desk must blend in with other furniture.<\/p>\n A desk shaped to fit into the corner of a room. It may be triangular, curved or L shaped. Corner designs make use of space that often goes unused.<\/p>\n A desk with two arms meeting at a right angle. The longer arm is the main run and the shorter arm is the return. It gives a generous working area without needing a long wall.<\/p>\n A larger, more substantial desk, often with drawers on both sides and a solid front. It is designed to look as good from the visitor’s side as from the user’s side.<\/p>\n A desk designed for gaming setups, typically wider to hold several monitors, with features like cup holders, headphone hooks and a textured mouse surface. Our gaming desks UK<\/a> show how these features are combined.<\/p>\n A desk that leans against the wall with shelves above, resembling a ladder. It has a small footprint but limited surface area.<\/p>\n A desk fixed directly to the wall with no legs. It frees up floor space but requires a solid wall and secure fixings.<\/p>\n A traditional desk with a hinged writing flap that folds down to reveal compartments. It closes to hide everything away, which is useful in living rooms.<\/p>\n The shorter arm of an L shaped desk. Desks are described as left hand or right hand depending on which side the return sits.<\/p>\n A desk that can be assembled with the return on either side.<\/p>\n A panel fixed across the front of the desk, between the legs. It hides your legs and cables from view and adds stability.<\/p>\n A set of drawers that sits beneath the desk. A fixed pedestal is part of the desk frame. A mobile pedestal stands on castors and can be moved. Our office pedestal drawers UK<\/a> include both types.<\/p>\n A sliding shelf beneath the desktop that holds the keyboard at a slightly lower height. It can improve comfort for some users but reduces knee space.<\/p>\n A shelving unit that sits on top of the desk, adding storage above the work surface.<\/p>\n A round hole in the desktop, usually with a plastic or metal cap, that lets cables pass through neatly.<\/p>\n A channel or basket fitted under the desk to hold extension leads and spare cable.<\/p>\n A low shelf or cradle that keeps a computer tower off the floor, away from dust and feet.<\/p>\n A raised shelf, either freestanding or part of the desk, that lifts the screen closer to eye height.<\/p>\n Small adjustable feet on the base of the legs. They compensate for uneven floors and stop wobbling.<\/p>\n Drawers with runners that slow down as they close, preventing slamming.<\/p>\n Drawers or doors without handles that open with a gentle press, keeping the front clean.<\/p>\n Timber cut directly from the tree, such as oak, walnut, ash or pine. It can be sanded and refinished over the years.<\/p>\n A thin layer of real wood bonded to a stable core. It gives the appearance of solid wood with less movement in heated rooms.<\/p>\n Medium density fibreboard, made from compressed wood fibres. It is smooth, stable and takes paint and lacquer well.<\/p>\n Board made from wood particles and resin. It is commonly used with a laminate or foil finish.<\/p>\n Hard wearing surface layers bonded to board. They resist scratches and spills and are easy to wipe clean.<\/p>\n A highly reflective lacquered finish. It brightens a room but shows fingerprints more readily than matt.<\/p>\n A finish with little or no shine. It hides fingerprints well and has a softer appearance.<\/p>\n Glass that has been heat treated for strength. If it breaks, it shatters into small blunt pieces rather than sharp shards.<\/p>\n Steel with a baked on paint finish. It is durable and resists chipping, and is often used for desk frames.<\/p>\n A strip applied to the edge of a board to cover the core and protect it from knocks and moisture.<\/p>\n The measurement from side to side. For L shaped desks, look for the width of each arm.<\/p>\n The measurement from front to back. Around 60cm suits a monitor and keyboard comfortably. Laptop users can often manage with 45cm to 50cm.<\/p>\n The distance from the floor to the top of the desk. Most fixed desks sit between 72cm and 76cm.<\/p>\n The clear height and width beneath the desk. It should accommodate your legs and the arms of your chair.<\/p>\n The area of floor the desk occupies. It is useful when planning small rooms.<\/p>\n The maximum weight the desk or a shelf is designed to hold. It matters if you use heavy monitors or a large printer.<\/p>\n A desk that adjusts in height so you can work sitting or standing. Electric versions use a motor and a control panel. Manual versions use a crank or lever.<\/p>\n The height your eyes naturally rest at when looking ahead. The top of the screen is usually set at or slightly below this.<\/p>\n A relaxed position with shoulders down, elbows bent at roughly a right angle and wrists straight.<\/p>\n The gap between your eyes and the screen. Around an arm’s length is a common guide.<\/p>\n Furniture supplied in parts for home assembly.<\/p>\n A round metal fitting that locks a bolt into place, commonly used to join flatpack panels.<\/p>\n A fixing that secures tall furniture, such as a hutch, to the wall to prevent tipping.<\/p>\n The natural change in colour and sheen that develops on wood and some metals over time.<\/p>\n A design in which the desktop continues down the sides in one unbroken surface, forming the legs. It gives a clean, sculptural look and is common in glass and gloss desks.<\/p>\n Legs that narrow towards the floor. They are typical of mid century and Scandinavian designs and make a desk look lighter.<\/p>\n A frame made from two supports, one at each end, often joined by a crossbar. It leaves plenty of room for legs beneath the desk.<\/p>\n A continuous metal frame shaped like a runner, touching the floor along its length rather than at four points. It spreads weight evenly and feels stable.<\/p>\n A desktop that appears to hover above its frame, usually because the supports are set back from the edges.<\/p>\n An edge cut at an angle rather than square. It softens the look and is kinder to wrists when typing.<\/p>\n A desk that combines two finishes, such as a white top on an oak frame. It helps the desk relate to more than one material in the room.<\/p>\n With these terms in mind, product descriptions become easier to compare. You can tell at a glance whether a desk will fit, whether it suits your setup, and how it will wear. Start with measurements, then check parts and features, then consider finish. If you would like to understand how different surfaces behave with daily use, our wooden desk surface test of finishes for UK homes<\/a> is a helpful next read.<\/p>\nTypes of desk<\/h3>\n
Computer desk<\/h3>\n
Writing desk<\/h3>\n
Corner desk<\/h3>\n
L shaped desk<\/h3>\n
Executive desk<\/h3>\n
Gaming desk<\/h3>\n
Ladder desk<\/h3>\n
Wall mounted or floating desk<\/h3>\n
Bureau<\/h3>\n
Parts and features<\/h3>\n
Return<\/h3>\n
Reversible<\/h3>\n
Modesty panel<\/h3>\n
Pedestal<\/h3>\n
Keyboard tray<\/h3>\n
Hutch<\/h3>\n
Cable grommet<\/h3>\n
Cable tray<\/h3>\n
CPU shelf<\/h3>\n
Monitor riser<\/h3>\n
Levelling feet<\/h3>\n
Soft close drawers<\/h3>\n
Push to open<\/h3>\n
Materials and finishes<\/h3>\n
Solid wood<\/h3>\n
Veneer<\/h3>\n
MDF<\/h3>\n
Particleboard or chipboard<\/h3>\n
Melamine and laminate<\/h3>\n
High gloss<\/h3>\n
Matt<\/h3>\n
Tempered glass<\/h3>\n
Powder coated steel<\/h3>\n
Edge banding<\/h3>\n
Measurements<\/h3>\n
Width<\/h3>\n
Depth<\/h3>\n
Height<\/h3>\n
Knee clearance<\/h3>\n
Footprint<\/h3>\n
Load capacity<\/h3>\n
Ergonomic terms<\/h3>\n
Sit stand desk<\/h3>\n
Eye line<\/h3>\n
Neutral posture<\/h3>\n
Viewing distance<\/h3>\n
Assembly and care terms<\/h3>\n
Flatpack<\/h3>\n
Cam lock<\/h3>\n
Wall anchor<\/h3>\n
Patina<\/h3>\n
Shape and style terms<\/h3>\n
Waterfall edge<\/h3>\n
Tapered legs<\/h3>\n
Trestle base<\/h3>\n
Sled base<\/h3>\n
Floating top<\/h3>\n
Bevelled edge<\/h3>\n
Two tone<\/h3>\n
Putting the glossary to work<\/h3>\n