Do we still need under-desk storage?

Under desk storage comes in many shapes and sizes. From drawers with a built-in shelf to stow away the laptop, to a lone laptop shelf or complete under-desk drawer storage units. However, the need for under-desk storage has changed dramatically.

Go back 15 years and offices looked rather different. All feet would share under-desk space with a set of drawers or suspension filing solutions. Desks and cabinets were littered with box files and lever arches, pen pots, and maybe the odd photo or pot plant. But times have changed. So, do we really still need under-desk storage? 

Key factors that have driven changes in office storage?

Around 2008 we started to see a movement towards hot desking – this meant culling all personal effects from desk areas so they can be used by colleagues, bosses and other desk nomads.

As digitalisation took root, we began to see fewer lever arch files, as documents were increasingly stored in the cloud where everyone can access them when needed, wherever they are.

Then Covid showed up and we all became hyper-aware of our coughs and sneezes spreading diseases. Desk sharing reduced while we all took up working from home, and then, as more people preferred working from home, businesses realised that it made no sense to keep paying for expensive real estate when only half of it was occupied. Many businesses down-sized.

Then came the realisation that businesses were missing out on all of the benefits of having employees together in a central place to collaborate, share information and socialise. Businesses started encouraging employees back into their smaller, more hygiene-conscious offices, increasing desk sharing (with increased desk cleaning too). Hybrid working became the ‘norm’.

So, with no need for pens, papers or files to be stored on desks, do we really need under-desk storage?

The case for under-desk storage

Hot desking and hybrid working have led to an increased awareness of the need to keep surfaces in the office clean and germ-free and to do that successfully, desks need to be clear. We may not need documents on a daily basis, or pot plants in view, but we still have laptops and the need for desk space to work. While those with the luxury of using the same desk most of the time may not have to take their belongings home ever day, there’s still a need to clear the desk at the end of each day so it can be cleaned.

And, as much as we have moved towards a digital world, we’re still in need of the odd printout, agenda, script, or price list, and effective under-desk filing cabinets mean that these critical documents can be found quickly when they’re needed, and stored safely when they‘re not.

Choosing under-desk storage

Before you commit to a particular under-desk storage solution, consider how the storage will be used. Do you hot desk? If so, maybe a laptop shelf or pen tray will give you sufficient under-desk storage to help the office appear tidy and be kept clean. If, however, each employee has their own workspace, a full drawer storage solution may provide the extra storage needed for employees to safely store documents and papers they need to access.

For more information or to explore our wide range of products, visit our website or call us on 01295 565001 for advice from our team.