Having the choice to sit on our office chairs, or stand to work, can change how we feel physically and mentally. This simple movement activates the muscles and raises the heart rate. Over the working day, this can burn a few extra calories and, more importantly, help stimulate the mind.
With so many health benefits available, it’s easy to see why so many of us are opting for sit-stand desks going forward. Discover all the different types of standing desks and choose your own with our brief guide.
Sit-stand platforms
Sit-stand platforms are designed to be placed on top of existing worktops to provide an adjustable surface that can be used in both sitting and standing positions. This is a practical, lower-cost solution that means you don't need to get rid of your existing desk or spend a lot of money on a full-sized sit-stand desk.
Sit-stand platforms are popular for home offices - especially smaller, more streamlined models like the Lotus Sit-Stand Workstation. With a contemporary, functional design, this working platform provides a sturdy surface to conduct daily office work and features effortless height adjustment abilities.
Sit-stand platforms come in a variety of styles, including:
Portable
Most sit-stand platforms are too heavy to be easily moved from desk to desk. In 2018 we developed a new-concept sit-stand platform called the Opløft. Working with a couple of bright young Danish designers, we developed a platform that was strong, yet thin and light enough to be easily stored away and carried between different rooms or desks. Opløft is ideal for a home office or hot-desking environment.
Cascade
Do you work with a lot of physical documents? You might want to try a tiered standing platform. Ther VariDesk® Pro Plus™ 30 offers a wide surface area that allows you to store additional paperwork, devices and accessories without cluttering your work space; a great benefit for anyone struggling with organisation.
Adjustable standing desk
If you would prefer your entire desk to be height adjustable, you can opt for a large or small standing desk, which comes with a choice of mechanisms: manual and electric. Manual crank desks feature a handle crank to move the surface up and down to any height. This gives you all the benefits of a full sit-stand desk but at a lower price.
Take the effort out of adjusting your workstation entirely with an electric sit-stand desk like the high-quality DeskRite 550 (pictured). At the push of a button, you can quietly and smoothly rise or drop to your desired height.
Corner cut sit-stand desks
Corners are unforgivingly difficult when it comes to building a desk. In most situations, we would always prioritise a straight wall as these offer the most space possible. However, a corner desk like the VariDesk® Cube Corner® 36 (pictured) can slot into room corners to help make use of otherwise wasted space.
You can also try to make use of some existing furniture to help build your own cornered desk. While this may introduce some issues with uneven surfaces, these can be overcome with a Corner Keyboard Adjuster. By bridging the gap between two desks, this allows you to make the most of your available space without having to buy any bulky new furniture.
Arms and monitor raisers
Sometimes, buying a new desk is simply not an option. In which case, you may be better off going for a monitor/laptop arm to elevate your screen position. This can allow you to move to a standing position and continue to comfortably read your screen, no matter your height.
The Mukava Reading Table (pictured) is great for this. The adjustable surface is large enough for a tablet or laptop, and can be adjusted to standing height - or it can act as a simple reading table at sitting height. Another option is the Office Suites™ Premium Monitor Riser. It’s a customisable monitor stand with extra space for your keyboard and mouse. While it doesn’t add masses of height to your monitor, it can help bring things up to a slightly more comfortable eye-level.
Browse our collection of mice, keyboards and monitor arms ›
Posture-saving advice from Posturite
There are thousands of products on the market designed to help you improve and retain your posture. It doesn’t matter if you’re working from home or in the office, a good posture is for everybody.
Still not sure what sit-stand desk to buy? Browse our collection of sit-stand desks and platforms.