Choosing a desk for a student is not an easy task. Often, parents focus exclusively on its cost and size, forgetting about such important factors as design, functionality, spaciousness, and convenience. But they play an important role in the academic performance and development of a child’s creative potential. Not only that, home writing furniture offers a wide range with a variety of styles, shapes and sizes. Let's talk about this in more detail.
Optimal sizes
The design and dimensions of the desk directly affect the physical development of the young body: the formation of posture, distribution of the load on the neck and back, and vision. And first of all, when purchasing this piece of furniture, you need to focus on the correct fit. The optimal height is quite easy to determine:
- the height of the tabletop should correspond to the level of the solar plexus of the child sitting at the table;
- the distance between the table top (from the bottom edge) and the knees should be within 10-15 cm;
- the elbow of the lowered hand of a child sitting at a desk should be approximately 5 cm below its plane;
- the optimal length of the tabletop is at least 1 m;
- if a child at the workplace puts his hands on the table, his shoulders should be in a normal position - no higher, no lower than natural height;
- All necessary items should be freely placed on the table: notebooks, textbooks, stationery. The optimal width of the workspace is from 80 to 100 cm. If you have a computer, then the distance from the eyes to the monitor should be 40 cm;
- The child’s legs should also be positioned freely: the optimal size of this zone is 50 x 50 cm.
For schoolchildren
There are many nuances that need to be taken into account here:
- Product height. Ideal if it can be adjusted. Well, if there is no such function, then you should sit at the table and make sure that when you lower your arm, your elbow is five centimeters below the tabletop.
- As for the width of the tabletop, there should be plenty of space on it to accommodate all the necessary items, and also so that the child does not have elbows hanging while writing. The width must be at least sixty centimeters. If the table is also for a PC, then it’s better to choose seventy cm. There should also be enough space under the tabletop (at least 10-15 cm) so that the legs are comfortable.
- It is very important to properly organize the lighting. There should be nothing on the table that will block it. When choosing a corner model, you should think about placement near the window. It is also important to think about the location of the lighting fixtures so that even when it’s dark outside, it’s light and comfortable at the table.
Provence style in the interior of an apartment: the best design ideas and useful tips (70+ photos)Exclusive furniture
Vacuuming laminate flooring
It is also important to select a chair correctly, in accordance with the child’s height, so that the seat at the table is correct.
The table must be of high quality; the material must not emit resins or other components that are harmful to health. Choose natural wood, MDF. It is not recommended to choose chipboard for children's furniture.
Desk for a schoolchild: a variety of styles and shapes
Rectangular table
The rectangular model is a classic that fits perfectly into any interior. For a compact room, it is better to choose a table with a bottom shelf and side one-sided drawers, without an add-on.
On a rectangular tabletop it is very convenient to organize a place for writing, placing a laptop or computer.
Computer desk
A traditional computer desk is not the best option for a student, since such models do not provide space for writing. Give preference to models that will combine a regular desk with computer parts: a retractable panel, a compartment for a system unit, a niche for a monitor with shelves, etc.
Corner desk for schoolchildren
The corner model is perhaps a priority for a small children's room (area 12 sq. m), as it occupies the most unclaimed space in the room (corner), thereby not cluttering up the space.
A full-fledged corner with spacious drawers, an add-on, and elements of a computer desk is perfect for a small room. A simple countertop with shelves and drawers located underneath would also be a good option.
Table transformer
If your plans include long-term use of the desk (from grades 1 to 11), then it is advisable to buy a transforming table that allows you to change the height, dimensions, and inclination of the tabletop. Also sold are transformable tables with a superstructure made similar to a rack with adjustable shelves.
Built-in table
Today, modular and built-in furniture, distinguished by its high functionality, is very popular. This item is a real helper in organizing a growing child’s room.
This could be a whole multi-tiered island, with a work or play area at the bottom and a bed at the top. The desk here is placed either in the center of the lower tier, or in one of the side walls; the second is made in the form of a spacious bookcase.
Choosing a table for an adult
This is not difficult to do. The main task is to provide spaciousness, functionality, and consistency in the interior. As for shapes, colors and materials, this is not for everybody. Naturally, the more shelves, drawers, etc. there are in the table, the more functional the selected model will be. Thanks to the wide tabletop, there will be plenty of space for writing, arranging office supplies, as well as for eye-safe placement of the monitor.
By choosing the right height, your posture will be straight. But, for this, you should also correctly distribute the load on your back so that it does not hurt from a long stay at the table.
Materials
When buying a desk for study, special attention should be paid to such factors as safety, wear resistance of the material, and ease of maintenance.
Chipboard is a durable, strong material that is used in the production of cabinet furniture. This option is optimal in terms of good quality at a low price.
Laminated chipboard is not the best solution for school furniture. Although this material is cheaper than chipboard, after a couple of years of use it can release toxic substances. Moreover, furniture made from chipboard quickly loses its aesthetic properties.
MDF is a material that is practically not inferior in appearance and quality to solid wood, but its cost is much lower. Safe, strong, durable material can be selected in any design and color; it perfectly imitates a smooth or wooden surface.
Solid wood is a presentable, environmentally friendly, but quite heavy and uneconomical material. If your budget allows you to purchase a desk made of natural wood, it is still better to buy it for a high school student, so as not to regret later about scratches or marks from a felt-tip pen on an expensive tabletop.
Plastic is not often found in the manufacture of desks. A plastic table for a schoolchild will not last long: the surface of the tabletop quickly deteriorates, so it is better to buy such a model for the first time for a first-grader, and then purchase a more reliable option. But in any case, be sure to make sure the quality and safety of the plastic table material.
Required Tools
After choosing the appropriate material for making a desk with your own hands, you need to assemble a complete set of carpentry equipment. In addition to general tools, you may need specific accessories that help you process a particular type of slab. The list includes:
- screwdriver;
- screwdrivers;
- hammer;
- drill;
- jigsaw;
- level;
- roulette;
- corner;
- pencil.
Drawing of a dressing table for making it yourself, stages of work
When preparing tools, you should take into account the features of carpentry. So, for the work you will need a certain type of hammer - a rubber mallet. The drill should have a set of drills of different diameters. A construction tape can be replaced with a measuring tape. If the table is made of natural wood, then two machines must be added to the equipment set: for grinding and milling. Installation will also require a variety of connecting parts, fittings, means for gluing and finishing coating. These include fasteners, wooden dowels, plugs for masking fasteners, wood glue, varnish, and paint.
Making a table for a laptop with a cooling system with your own hands
Functionality and equipment of a desk for a schoolchild
An important criterion in the design of a desk is functionality. Therefore, make sure that it is equipped with a sufficient number of drawers, a shelf at the bottom for a briefcase, and a comfortable footrest.
If you have a computer or laptop, choose a model with a compartment for the system unit, a corner niche for a monitor or laptop. An additional plus is the built-in bookshelf. See more school table options here.
Carefully consider the placement of the table with the add-on. It is best if it is a corner or semi-corner model with one-sided shelves.
Important! Any workplace structures should not obstruct natural light. Additionally, place a couple of adjustable lamps here for the most comfortable activities in the evening.
When buying a table, do not forget to choose a suitable chair with an anatomical back that supports the correct (natural) curve of the spine, and is also adjustable in height. Avoid models with armrests - they can harm your child's posture.
Coffee tables: captivated by diversity
Thanks to the painstaking work of designers, coffee and coffee tables have once again become fashionable (and commonplace!). But now they are no longer dull rectangular coffee tables made of wood, similar to each other like twin brothers. Now their assortment is an opportunity to add a certain touch to the interior of the room, to choose a table with a bright design so that it not only performs a practical function, but also becomes the main decorative item of the room. Fortunately, the variety of models makes it easy to choose a table for the chalet style and classic English, Provence and loft, functional and tropical, and dozens of others.
To help everyone - types of coffee tables, which can be divided depending on:
- materials. Solid wood and forged metal, innovative plastic and impact-resistant glass, natural/artificial stone and laminated chipboard - these are the materials used to create designer tables that deserve attention. The durability, reliability, and practicality of the materials are obvious, as is their natural charismatic component. All that remains is to choose according to your own needs - a glass coffee table, an oak option, or turn a fantastic idea made of natural rattan into reality on the terrace;
- forms. Along with the classic rectangular option, you can now buy a round coffee table, or oval, or square, or triangular, or any other irregular shape. This will allow the table to fit most harmoniously into the free space, making it part of the interior and a continuation of the furniture set of the living room, hallway or office, and not some kind of “deserted island” in a completely habitable space;
- design features. The ordinary and familiar is not attractive in the minimal space of a city apartment. But the versatility of the product is just the thing. Therefore, the choice of many is transforming coffee tables, which are adjusted not only in height, but also change in size and configuration. This option could well become an extension of the dining table in case guests drop by unexpectedly, or the work table - if a discussion of a large project is being prepared, but there is no place to lay out the papers. Another idea that many people love is a coffee table on wheels. The mobility of a piece of furniture is magic, which will allow you to turn it into a picnic table, a stand, or a car track for a baby in a short time. Add to this the ability to fold and unfold in a couple of seconds - and it’s with you on any trip!
Desk for two
If two schoolchildren live in a room, then each of them must have a separate workplace. In this situation, consider several options for a desk:
- symmetrically arranged paired furniture. Two rectangular or corner tables placed in opposite parts of the room are what is needed for coordinated, independent work of both children.
- a rectangular elongated table along the wall is also suitable for schoolchildren, only if they do not crowd each other. It would be good if there was a partition between the two halves in the form of drawers at the bottom, shelves or a built-on rack.
- a tabletop that divides the children's room from the window into two parts. This solution is suitable for a spacious room. The optimal width of the structure at which children will feel free is 1.6 m.
- An L-shaped desk for two is comfortable, practical, functional and economical (in terms of saving space).
Note: if the tabletop is on the same level as a wide window sill, place the table close to it. You can place books or stands with stationery on the windowsill.
Types of desk designs
Nowadays you can find a variety of desks. All these varieties make it possible to choose the product most suitable for the tasks of a particular person.
For classification, the design features of the table are usually used. Let's look at what types of desks are on sale.
- Classic. This is a tabletop with a cabinet and legs on the opposite side. Almost always, a classic desk has a compartment for the system unit, as well as a retractable shelf for the keyboard. The depth is chosen taking into account the possibility of installing the monitor. As a result, the user can work both at the computer and with paper documents.
- Transformer. This model can be adjusted as needed. Adjustment of the angle of inclination of the working surface and height is available. Often such tables are purchased for children who are growing up; the table “grows up” with them.
<
>
- If the room is small, it makes sense to choose a built-in or folding desk for work. The first option is usually combined with other furniture, or placed in a niche. The second option has a wall mount; lifting is done on furniture hinges, manually or using a mechanism (gas lift, springs).
- Double table. Designed for pair work. It can be elongated, in this case the cabinet is installed in the center, or by creating an individual workplace by installing partitions.
Desk for a schoolchild: a creative approach to organizing the workplace
Studying can become much more interesting if the child is surrounded by interesting objects and creative furniture. You can come up with anything - depending on how much your imagination is enough.
Decorate the area around the table with your child. Self-drawn pictures, interesting photographs, original watches are great ideas for this purpose.
The part of the wall to which the desk adjoins can be decorated in an unusual and useful way by installing a fiberboard panel or a chalk board here. Now it’s easy to fantasize about the design of your work area, supplementing it with calendars, notes, motivational quotes, drawings and other little things.
Place clear glass on the table that matches the size of the tabletop. Under it, the things the child needs will always be in order and in sight - drawings, study materials, a calendar, notes, etc. In addition, this is excellent protection against possible damage.
More examples of school desk design are presented in the following photos.
Desk for a schoolchild in the photo
The choice of a desk for a student should be taken very seriously. It should not only be functional, convenient and practical, but also delight the child with its design and stimulate the desire to study. Then your student will definitely delight you with his success.
Have you already thought about how best to organize a workplace for your student? Share your ideas in the comments.
Step-by-step instruction
Making a desk for a schoolchild with your own hands involves several successive steps. Following the instructions makes the assembly process easier and results in a strong, attractive product. Creating a standard table with a rectangular tabletop and side drawers begins with measurements, drawing a sketch, and drawing up a design diagram.
Create a drawing
In order to correctly draw up drawings and diagrams, you need to decide on the dimensions of the future product, since all other parameters depend on its width, height and length. The table for an adult has dimensions: 500 x 750 x 700 mm. These standard numbers can be changed individually. A study table with a width of 600 mm and a length of 1200 mm is suitable for a child's room. The height of the structure depends on the height of the child:
| Height, cm | 85 | 100 | 115 | 130 | 145 | 160 | 175 |
| Width, mm | 340 | 400 | 460 | 520 | 580 | 640 | 700 |
For schoolchildren, a tabletop adjustable in height and inclination is preferable.
The choice of table type depends on the following factors:
- room area;
- placement of furniture;
- personal preferences.
Having decided on the type and dimensions of the product, a detailed drawing is displayed on paper indicating the dimensions of the main and additional parts. The diagram includes information about fastening points and the location of fittings.
Preparation of materials
At the next stage of work, cutting of the material is done. The calculated dimensions of the tabletop, side racks, back wall, and shelves are transferred to the wood panel. For this you need a tape measure, a corner, a pencil. When using a drawing, it is important to maintain the scale for all structural elements. Next, using a jigsaw, cut out the parts along the intended contour. On each of them the places of future fastenings are indicated. Holes are drilled at the designated points.
Assembly of the structure
After the components of the product are ready, proceed to installation. Bolts, screws, and dowels are used to connect parts. The sequence of assembling the desk looks like this:
- The bottom shelf is attached to the central and side panels.
- The top shelf is mounted in a similar way.
- The back wall is fixed to two vertical posts.
- The second side of the table is attached to the back plate.
Furniture dowels are coated with glue for better fixation and driven into the grooves using a rubber mallet.
Tabletop installation
The table cover is mounted after the supporting frame of the structure is ready. Holes are made in the upper end of the sidewalls into which dowels are fixed. The same blind recesses are drilled into the tabletop itself from the bottom side. The holes on the horizontal and vertical elements must clearly coincide so that the geometry of the table is not disrupted. After this, the top panel is put on wooden dowels and the position is secured with a rubber hammer.
How to assemble a simple coordinate table with your own hands, tips for craftsmen
The final stage
If MDF was used to make desks, then no additional surface treatment is required. It is enough just to cover the end of the slab with veneer. A desk made of wood needs a protective coating and decoration to extend its life and improve its appearance. Before applying the finishing layer, the wooden surface is coated with drying oil and stain. These products will protect the material from deterioration under the influence of moisture, sun, and fungi.
The decorative design of the table depends on the style of the interior and the taste of the master. A homemade piece of furniture can be coated with clear or tinted varnish, or painted in a specific color. The product is applied to the surface twice. To give the product an original look, decoupage, artistic painting, appliqués, and colored polymer films are used. These techniques are easy to learn and apply at home.
Making simple home furniture with your own hands is not at all difficult if you have carpentry skills. A custom-made desk model guarantees durability and the desired appearance. A product with given dimensions fits perfectly into the overall interior, and the selected decor, taking into account personal preferences, allows you to make the furniture unique.
