Advantages of a height-adjustable table, design selection criteria

The desktop tabletop should be located at a level that corresponds to the height of the person and the dimensions of his chair. The need to comply with this criterion is explained simply - when constantly working in a sitting position, correct posture is very important. The ideal solution in this case would be a table with an adjustable height, the parameters of which are customized individually for a specific user. Such a piece of furniture will help to avoid excessive tension in the spine, normalize blood flow, which will have a beneficial effect on work productivity and health.

Advantages and features of adjustable structures

An adjustable table is a special design that has a mechanism that changes its height. Thanks to manual movement of the tabletop or the presence of a special electric drive, a seemingly ordinary piece of furniture can be used in different positions - both sitting and standing. The advantages of such a solution are obvious:

1. With the help of a universal desktop, an office worker can alternate the positions of his body, because sitting all the time, as we know, is harmful to health.
2. The problem of a mismatch between the worker’s build and the size of the desk is solved: due to his high stature, a person has to slouch, and due to his short stature, his neck is constantly in a tense state.

This model is also ideal for children. With its help, many hours of homework will not affect the health of the child's spine. The height is adjustable to suit the child's height, and the variable tilt angle allows you to maintain an even posture. Another advantage of a desk with height adjustment is its versatility. Over time, the baby will begin to grow, but the children's furniture will not have to be replaced with new ones - you just need to adjust the tabletop to the student's height.

Varieties of adult models

The choice of adult models is quite extensive. Height-adjustable desks are suitable for both sitting and standing positions. But depending on the purpose, such models may differ. The design for standing work provides high supports, a narrow tabletop and minimal functionality. If the employee sits most of the time, the furniture will have slightly different dimensions and have more varied functionality.

In addition, models are distinguished by the automation of their adjustment. The table can be mechanical or with an electric lift. In the first case, the height of the structure is adjusted using a handle, and in the second, thanks to an electric drive.

Mechanical, in turn, can be represented in two varieties:

1. Stepped. This mechanism involves changing the height of the table by moving the tabletop into grooves that were previously installed at different levels. You can also put plugs in the holes on both sides of the supports and thus change the length of the legs.
2. Screw. This mechanism provides a different principle of operation: the height of the table changes due to circular rotation of the legs.

You can make a table with a mechanical adjustment mechanism yourself, which will allow you to significantly save on an expensive purchase.

When choosing the right model for your needs, you should also consider the availability of additional options. If there are none, and the design provides only a tabletop with supports and an adjustment mechanism, such a table will cost much less. If convenience is a priority, you should pay attention to improved options - with a height control panel and built-in sockets, which will allow you to connect a computer or other office equipment without stringing wires across the room.

For sitting work

For standing work

Screw

Stepped

With electric lift

In addition, the structural features and functionality of the table may depend on its purpose:

1. Writing. Such models often provide the ability to change not only the height, but also the inclination of the table top, which is very convenient for working with documents, but is not suitable for installing a computer. The design usually has a mechanical adjustment mechanism.
2. Computer. Its main feature is its dimensions. The dimensions of the tabletop often provide space only for a laptop and mouse. The working surface can be folding and have movable elements: one half of the table is intended for installing a computer, the second for the seated person’s hand, on which he will rest. Stationary designs do not provide wide functionality and look like a standard table with a leg in the middle. Bedside models, in turn, are equipped with wheels for movement, side support and a rotating axis. They are made in C or L-shape.
3. Office models. Office desks that change their height are the most functional representatives of the line. They are equipped with all kinds of shelves, sockets, footrests and other additional elements that make the employee’s work as comfortable as possible. However, there are often budget options - laconic tables without frills.

For working at a computer, the ideal desk would be a model with a built-in cooling system. With its help, you can prevent overheating of your portable device and extend its service life.

Writing

Computer

Office

With additional options

Criterias of choice

Tips on what to look for when purchasing:

1. Additional options. If you plan to make the most of your purchase and comfortably, then take a closer look at options with a remote control function, LED lighting, built-in sockets, a drawer for things, etc. The cost, of course, will be higher, but the comfort will also be maximum.
2. The best manufacturers. Products from a foreign manufacturer and a domestic one may differ in functionality, cost, and materials used. When choosing a brand, remember that the price of the products will be more expensive, but the quality will also be high. Therefore, choose which company is better to purchase based on your desires and capabilities.
3. Where can I buy. You can purchase the product either in a furniture store or order it online in an online store. Decide which option is better to buy after browsing several sites (stores) and see how much the same model costs on different resources. After analyzing competitors, select the model that suits you based on price and characteristics.

Features of children's products with adjustments

The main feature of children's tables with adjustable height is that they perfectly adapt to the growth of the child. The control mechanism of such a design can be:

1. Electric. A table with an electric drive is more convenient to use, and if there is a control panel, the child himself will be able to adjust the height and tilt he needs. The only drawback is that such furniture is very expensive, so not every parent can afford it.
2. Mechanical. This tabletop lifting system is considered the simplest, and therefore the cost of the product will be quite low. Adjustment is carried out using a special screw or a step mechanism - in one case or another, an adult must adjust the height.

Children's furniture is often equipped with a tabletop that can change not only the height, but also the degree of inclination. Unlike school desks, which are permanently located at a certain angle, such models can be adjusted to suit you. In addition, they have special compartments and shelves where you can place textbooks and notebooks, and a footrest.

Electric

Mechanical

With adjustable tabletop angle

Varieties

Any adjustable desk consists of two legs with guides, a traverse, and a table top. Modern models are equipped with a power supply and a built-in settings system with indicators. Special products are equipped with mounts for the system unit. Conventionally, tables can be divided into several categories:

Step-by-step production of a table from epoxy resin, decoration possibilities

Manufacturers are improving models. They differ not only in the criteria described above, but also in cost. The more functional the product, the higher it is. When selecting, special attention is paid to the minimum, maximum dimensions and dimensions of the tabletop.

The more reliable the mechanism, the more durable the piece of furniture will be.

A correctly selected model should provide comfortable work in sitting and standing positions. Modern furniture will easily fit into an interior designed in the style of cubism, minimalism, techno, and hi-tech. Tables with extra-long gas lift deserve special attention. The cost of the version with the mechanism is significantly higher than the usual one. Due to frequent use of the device, the service life of a mobile product is lower compared to a stationary one.

Adult models

Adult models are equipped with additional functions. An adjustable table may differ in type of drive, material of manufacture, and purpose. Automation of settings also affects the cost. A piece of furniture can be electrically lifting or mechanical. The latter is conventionally divided into two types:

• screw - the distance from the floor to the tabletop is adjusted by twisting the legs;
• stepped - changing parameters by installing plugs in the holes of the supports.

Any table can be equipped with mounts for electronics, a control panel for remote control, sockets, and extension cords. The mobile product can be used as an office, home workplace, or bedside table (narrow models with a minimum height in the lower position).

You can make furniture with mechanical adjustment yourself. This option will cost much less than the factory one.

Electric lifting

Screw

Stepped
Adult interior items differ in size and the ability to adapt the workspace individually. The functionality depends on the type of product:

1. Writing. The model allows you to adjust the height and tilt of the tabletop. Convenient for working with papers.
2. Computer. Folding or stationary work surface. Equipped with sockets and mounts for the system unit. Wheels and side supports are often present.
3. Office. A functional product with sockets, footrests, and additional shelves.

Expensive computer models are equipped with a built-in cooling system. The function is especially relevant for those who use a laptop rather than a desktop computer. This will prevent the device from overheating.

Writing

Computer

Office

Children's products

Children's furniture can be changed in height depending on the child's height. The mechanism is also divided into two types:

1. Mechanical. Economy option, regulation by screw, step mechanism. Can be set up by an adult.
2. Electric. Expensive models with remote adjustment. The child can choose the height independently.

Tips for choosing a sewing table and making it yourself

Children's furniture is designed for long comfortable spending time at the table. Therefore, it is important to choose the right piece of furniture. The tabletop, overall dimensions, material of manufacture, and method of changing the height are important. The model must have a tabletop tilt function to ensure correct body position and head tilt angle. Such products are additionally equipped with:

• shelves;
• boxes;
• stands for books, electronics;
• compartments for storing writing instruments;
• footrests.

The multifunctional desk will “grow” with the child. The setting can be either general or combined. In the latter case, only half or a third of the tabletop can be tilted. Since the adjustment will be carried out repeatedly, it is recommended to select a high-quality mechanism.

Shape and materials

The countertop is most often made of wood or its substitutes:

1. Chipboard. The most budget-friendly material. Disadvantage: a little fragile, which reduces its service life.
2. Fiberboard. A more reliable, expensive material compared to chipboard. Advantages: high resistance to damage, good moisture resistance.
3. Solid wood. The most expensive, but also the strongest and most durable raw material for the production of adjustable tables.

Sometimes metal is used to make adjustable tables. This is a heavy and reliable material with high resistance to damage, but is used exclusively for furniture that will be used for industrial purposes. The table is made of strong and durable steel, which significantly increases the cost of the product, or of aluminum, a soft and less wear-resistant, but cheaper alternative. Legs are rarely made of wood, but solely for decorative purposes (as a covering); they will still be based on hard iron.

Chipboard

Fiberboard

Solid wood

Metal

The ergonomics of the product largely depends on the shape of the tabletop. Corner models will help save space in a small apartment and use space efficiently: the furniture is simply moved to the corner of the room. This is the optimal solution for those who work at a computer. The second option is a standard rectangular table. It is universal for any specific activity, great for narrow spaces, and also allows you to organize a comfortable work area in the office. In addition, there are round design options - with their help you can beautifully arrange a work area in the living room or bedroom. Such a table often provides a comfortable recess for a seated person.

Rectangular

Round with seating notch

Angular

How to determine the optimal height

When working at a desk, it is very important to be in the correct position, because the condition of the human body depends on it. If the posture is incorrect, blood flow is disrupted and a strong load is placed on the spine, which leads to its curvature. As a result, fatigue appears and ability to work decreases. This is why it is so important to customize the individual height of the tabletop, taking into account the specifics of your activity:

1. When writing. Your back should be straight, slightly touching the back of the chair. If you lean too far back, increased stress will be placed on your neck, and if you lean forward, it will put more strain on your spine. There must be a small distance between the table and the body of the person sitting; the elbows should be completely on the surface (this will relieve tension from the hands). Bend your legs should create a ninety-degree angle, completely touching the floor.
2. When working at a computer. Determining the optimal height is simple - just look at the center of the monitor: if your head is tilted down, you need to raise the tabletop; if your eyes are not looking straight, then lower it up.
3. While reading. The book should be at a distance of 35-45 centimeters from the eyes. You need to keep your head level. You should not tilt it back or tilt it forward too much, as this will increase the load on your neck. Doctors recommend reading in a position at an angle of 135 degrees, while leaning back in a chair, so blood circulation is not impaired and the spine does not experience discomfort.

It is better to avoid standing cross-legged - it disrupts blood flow and leads to various diseases, including the development of varicose veins.

For people who spend a lot of time at a desk, regardless of their type of activity, orthopedists recommend adhering to the Sit & Stand concept, that is, alternating sitting and standing postures:

1. In the first case, the optimal vertical position of the back: the angle between the spine and the hip joint, the knee and hip joints should be 90 degrees.
2. In the second, the tabletop should reach the person’s belt or waist. You need to bend your elbows and place them on the table surface: if they form an angle of 90 degrees, this is the optimal height, if not, it needs to be adjusted.

For an adult with a height of 170-185 cm, the optimal table height will be 70-80 cm. For short people below 160 cm, this parameter should be about 60 cm. For those above 190 cm, furniture is often made to order and reaches 85- 90 cm.

The design with adjustable dimensions is optimal for children. Since the child’s body is constantly growing, the level of the tabletop can be adjusted to suit his current growth. It is important that the student sits straight, without bending his torso, and his head is slightly tilted forward. The legs should rest on the floor with the entire foot, bend at the hip, knee and ankle joints at right angles. Your back should rest on the back of a chair or armchair, and your hips should occupy approximately 2/3 of the seat.

Adjust the height of the tabletop, taking into account the specifics of your activity

Sit & Stand concept

Tabletop height depending on height

I bought a desk with height adjustment for standing work. Was it worth paying $1000+?

Hello, dear readers of the site Uspei.com. Do you know why I did this? I have the opportunity. In fact, this thing can lift over 120kg, a lot more. The guys lifted 170, I think.

This is my old workplace where I have been working for more than two years. It is based on an Ikea tabletop 150 by 75, which is the perfect size, by the way. Well, at least for me. For $60. It's made of pressed cardboard, and under the weight of the iMac, the middle of it bent and the legs moved apart.

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Nobody chewed the sides. The rest of the damage is my fault, but you can probably imagine how thick the fiberboard coated with acrylic paint is. Overall a sad sight. Cheap and cheerful.

The question arose - buy just a table with a better quality tabletop, or think about your health and improve your life, because usually I don’t limit myself to an hour-long working day, sometimes I have to work 10, 12, and sometimes even more hours.

Yes, I simply caught myself thinking that my butt hurts from sitting around, especially when you write on camera or record sound, you have to do it on a stool or chair so that nothing creaks.

Well, sometimes you start to fall asleep, especially during editing or when cleaning the sound. This happens when you haven’t gotten enough sleep or are very tired, but you have to work. Then there are articles about health, forums like Habr and, of course, reviews.

And this is complete cruelty. Sitting is harmful, standing is harmful. Ideally, lie down, but this is expensive and takes up a huge amount of space. Therefore, I focused on tables with height adjustment. And alternate - sometimes standing, sometimes sitting.

Regarding the company and model. It's all individual. I settled on the Terra model from Ergostol. I found the company in the reviews of some IT specialist on Habré.

As far as I understand, the site’s policy prohibits publishing the name of the brand and attaching links, so somewhere in the two hundredth comment the author split and wrote what kind of brand it was.

In this review, I’ll tell you how much it costs, why this particular model and how this whole thing works, because there are few sensible reviews on the Internet, and you, my dear readers, based on this, will at least know what to start from, because there are no analogues I haven't tested it and have nothing to compare it with in practice.

Frame

The main thing in this matter is, of course, the frame. It can be raised using a handle, I say hello to the crooked starter. It's cheap, but really lazy, and uses one or two electric motors. They differ in carrying capacity.

In addition to the sitting tabletop and monitor, you can attach a system unit to it, or maybe a bedside table, or even organize a workspace for two. My frame extends and you can install a tabletop up to 2.4 meters, which is 2 full-fledged workstations.

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Plus I wanted reliability. Because the frame is bought once and, I hope, for life, but the tabletops can already be changed. The frame itself cost about $860 excluding delivery . That's another $45.

It comes in three colors - white, black and silver . Black is very stylish, but you will simply get tired of wiping the dust every three days, which is very visible on it. Therefore, if it is not important for you and there is no connection with the interior of the room, it is better to take white.

By the way, there is also a Terra R model, it has round legs, not square ones like mine, and in this part there are roundings, but here there are clear corners. As my wife says, right angles are always in fashion . But that's not all.

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Tabletop

I’m not used to choosing tabletops offline, because I always want to feel the material, and ideally take a sample, come home and see how it will fit into the interior, so I ordered it at a local sawmill.

This is an 18 mm chipboard egger with German roots and Russian production, glued with a simple board to obtain a thickness of 36 mm. I liked the fact that the texture here is like wood and is inexpensive. Tactile pleasant material. Cost about $55.

It makes no sense for me to buy natural and quite expensive oak or maple, simply because the tabletop constantly flashes in the frame, and after a year or two you will become tired of it. I'll throw it away and order a new one. And I won’t regret the money spent.

By the way, the tabletop itself weighs almost 30 kg. Just like at Apple, the last of the money is spent on accessories. For successful cable management you will need vertical and horizontal cable channels.

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In general, it is very expensive, it is better to buy accessories in China. But I was already running out of time, and in general I would like to quickly get this whole thing together and work normally.

Plus, you usually get a discount for large orders. Plus I received a discount for mentioning the brand in this review. And you will get it if you decide to buy a table from this brand.

Assembly

We'll talk about accessories a little later. About the assembly. For the nth amount you will be deprived of the pleasure of assembling the table yourself. There is nothing complicated about this and with the instructions included in the kit, if not all, then many will cope. And everything will take a maximum of an hour.

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The only thing is that you will need a second person in any case, since the weight of the frame is almost 40 kg, plus the tabletop is screwed to it and in total you will need to lift almost 70 kg. By the way, if you didn’t pay for the climb to the floor, then also call for help.

The nice thing is that the kit includes everything , including self-tapping screws for the countertop. And it’s not like you buy furniture from local manufacturers, assemble it yourself, and not only are there not enough parts, you also have to finish it with a file. The engineer's mystery remains 12 extra screws.

It turned out that if you order a tabletop from Ergostol, it will already have all the necessary holes. No self-tapping screws are needed.

The frame is thought out to the smallest detail. The thrust bearings can be unscrewed to adjust the height. The construction level approves. The table top is secured using rubber washers. Nice. The kit even includes ties with fasteners on double-sided tape for fixing cables running under the tabletop.

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Since the frame extends to accommodate different widths of tabletops, the question remains: how far to extend it. Do not forget that when raised the frame is visible more, so it would not be a bad idea to recess it from the edge of the tabletop by 15 centimeters.

By the way, the control panel can be embedded into the tabletop rather than screwed in, but take care of this first. For this purpose, the instructions have special dimensions for the hole.

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And if you can quickly master the assembly, then proper cable management will take quite a lot of time. Because here you need to take into account both ergonomic and style issues.

Buying a cable channel is a must ; in fact, you should only have one wire hanging from the table, going into the socket; it is better to keep the rest screwed to the table.

I had an Ikea mesh on my old desk, but it’s not good for anything other than wrapping wires.

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This height here is quite small and it’s simply inconvenient to put a normal surge filter and stick something on top, you have to farm something or tilt it, or, like me, bend these things, take it beyond the plane of the table and put the filter there. In general, this is inconvenient.

Among the accessories of the ergostol we found such a box and a similar mesh. Firstly, there is an adequate height from the tabletop, and secondly, you can remove one side and conveniently arrange the wires or insert a plug.

I thought for a long time about taking a net or a box and I was right with the box. When raised, if you have a sofa, you will see all the wires on the grid and this is unaesthetic. And the box neatly hides them.

I doubted the purchase of this python for a long time. I have an iMac, and underneath there is a bedside table that houses an uninterruptible power supply and an external RAID array.

It is very noisy, so I custom made a bedside table with an opening back cover on magnets and a hole for ventilation. And the whole thing makes less noise and looks nice, and an additional drawer has appeared.

And because of this, I have not just one cable going down, but quite a lot: this is a cable from the aimag, a control cable from the uninterruptible power supply to the aimak, a cable from the RAID array, an audio cable with an XLR interface for connecting a microphone or a gun (also essentially a microphone) and also a cable from the surge protector.

So the best solution was to buy this python from Transformers.

But its fixation needs to be thought through. There must be enough length for all the wires with a reserve, and this is very important, and the cable channel itself is not very flexible and it still needs to be fixed to the floor. It turned out like this.

Beauty? In general, at first it’s better not to screw everything tightly and test it for a while, because the wires will start to stretch due to the fact that the table is constantly rising or falling and it is possible that a better solution would be to twist the cable channel in some other way or pull wires through other links.

In general, I would like to see the python itself, so that it is made not of plastic, but of metal, by the way, many wrote about this in reviews. But it is what it is. On the other hand, who else besides you will climb under this table?

The frame itself contains two motors and a remote control connected to an adapter. At first, the frame vibrated a little when raising and lowering, but this was only a dozen times until the transparent lubricant spread over the support. There is no need to wipe anything here.

And you also need to know the time of raising or lowering. I measured not from the end positions, but from two working positions - sitting and standing, that is, in practice.

My frame rises from 70 to 111 centimeters in just under 15 seconds. During this time you can warm up a little, for example, do squats. The sound of the engines is audible, it is not loud, below average, and not annoying.

Control

Let's move on to the controls, or rather to the organ, there is only one here. The remote control is stylish. Made of tactilely pleasant matte soft-touch plastic. It's a pity that the remote control has only one color - black. A white remote control would be ideal for a light tabletop and a white frame.

On the other hand, black color is more practical, fewer fingerprints will be visible and it will also be less dirty, because your hands will not always be perfectly clean.

The panel contains up and down buttons, a monochrome display with the current displayed height, two memory buttons M1 and M2, which remember the current value of the table when held for a long time, more than 5 seconds, and a Home button, which always returns the tabletop to a height of 72 cm.

I would like 4 memory buttons. This will be relevant for two people who work in one place.

The locking mechanism against accidental clicks is that when the display is inactive, the M1, M2 and HOME buttons do not work. You must first press the up or down button until the display lights up, and then everything will work.

The locking mechanism is not always effective. My wife often comes up to me when I’m sitting at the computer, rests her hip, of course, on the remote control and after some time the table begins to move up or down, causing bewilderment in my wife and irritation in me.

The table also has a collision protection system when lowering or raising. In general, of course, I decided to check the whole thing, crossed my legs, that is, it is higher than the lower position of the tabletop, pressed the M1 button so that it began to lower and it did not stop on my leg and I was almost left without any workpieces.

But this is so, an everyday moment. For the future. The function is designed to protect the electric motor from strong resistance. For example, one that can be made by a bedside table standing under the table.

The remote also has settings. Among the useful ones is setting the maximum or minimum possible height of the table to which the frame will rise or fall.

Let's say I'm working at 111 cm in the top position, and after 115 cm the cables begin to get too tight, which can damage them. So I set the maximum value to 112 and when I press the up arrow the frame will not move. A very important option.

Experience of use

A little about the experience of use. I'm more than happy with the table. In the upper position, the table, if it wobbles, is just minimal. Of course, I looked at other reviews on the Internet and, you know, not in the most budget desks, in the upper position the monitor wobbles so much when working that it’s probably not very comfortable.

In 3 weeks of use, I have never regretted the appearance of a new workplace. Yes, it’s expensive, but you read posts on forums from experienced IT specialists and you understand that this is an investment in health, especially since I hope the frame is bought from me for many years, I plan to change only the tabletop. The manufacturer provides a three-year warranty. We'll see how it will happen next.

I hope that my experience in setting up and using a height-adjustable desk was useful to you.

Tags: household appliances
10

Selecting a quality product

When choosing a table that changes the height of the table top, some difficulties may arise, since there are many models, and the needs of different buyers differ. You need to start with the dimensions of the furniture. The selected design should occupy no more than 30% of the free space in the room, so the necessary measurements should be made in advance. In addition, other parameters are taken into account:

1. Construction type. It is necessary to immediately decide what type of table should be: with a mechanical lifting system or an electric lift, stationary or mobile.
2. Product material. Wooden models are the best option, but a more modest table made of chipboard, fiberboard or MDF is quite suitable for an office.
3. Number of legs. For a table with a sliding mechanism, it is better to choose an option with two or four legs. They provide good stability and evenly distribute the load on the supports. This option is also more durable.

It is necessary to clarify the table height adjustment range. If the minimum size is a standard indicator, then the maximum lift level may differ from one manufacturer to another.

An important selection criterion is the reliability of the adjustment mechanism. First, you need to clarify the carrying capacity of the model. For children's furniture, the optimal figure is 50 kg, for a regular office table - 70-80 kg; for storing heavy objects (computers, books) on the furniture surface, you need to consider more powerful designs. Secondly, you need to pay attention to the strength of the support and the material from which it is made. The mechanism that raises and lowers the tabletop should work softly and smoothly.

Construction type

Product material

Number of legs

Reliability of the adjustment mechanism