Tables & Desks

For a dining table, consider complete place settings, shared serving dishes and the chair movement needed to stand up. A central pedestal frees the corners, although its foot may obstruct legs. At a desk, check that screen, keyboard and documents fit without constant rearrangement. Measure usable depth rather than width alone, and examine how much space drawers or the structure underneath remove.

An extending table accommodates more people without occupying the whole room permanently, but needs space when open and somewhere to store separate leaves. Check whether it can be extended within your usual layout. For height-adjustable desks, compare the specified travel range with your intended positions and the load allowance with all equipment included. Height adjustment cannot compensate for an undersized top.

• Check open and closed dimensions separately.
• Following the instructions, ensure cables have enough slack throughout movement.

A large top on a lightweight frame may move while you write or lean on it. Examine joints and the intended supports without treating thickness as a guarantee of strength. If you want a clamp-mounted monitor arm, confirm the permitted thickness, available attachment area and compatibility of the top itself. Not every hollow or glass tabletop can accept that accessory.

Eating, painting and using a mouse place different demands on a finish. Read stain-cleaning instructions and requirements for protection from moisture or heat; a wood-like appearance does not identify the material. Check edges, extension joints and cleaning access underneath. Before buying, establish exactly what is included: top, legs and cable organisers are not always sold together, even when the same picture shows all of them.