Office fit-outs do not happen often
Desk selection plays a bigger role in long-term workplace performance than many organisations expect. In particular, sit stand desks and other height-adjustable desks are increasingly viewed as essential infrastructure in modern office fit-outs, supporting flexibility, inclusivity and long-term ergonomic resilience.
For most organisations, a major fit-out takes place once every 7 to 10 years, with only minor changes in between.
That makes the decisions taken at planning stage critical, because whatever is specified now will shape how the space performs for years. In practice, some of those decisions are very hard to undo.
One question we are increasingly asked during early fit-out conversations is:
“Do we really need sit stand desks if we are downsizing and people are working from home?”
Including a planned proportion of sit stand desks within an office fit-out helps ensure the workspace can adapt to changing user needs without costly retrofits.
Our view is clear.
Any genuinely future-proof office fit-out should include a baseline percentage of height-adjustable desks, typically around 10 to 15 percent.
Here is why.
The reality of modern office fit-outs
Office projects now look very different to those of even a few years ago.
Most organisations are:
- Reducing overall floor space
- Creating smaller, higher-quality offices
- Supporting hybrid working
- Reusing existing furniture where possible
This often results in:
- Fewer desks
- Increased desk sharing
- Existing bench systems being retained or reconfigured
At first glance, this can make height-adjustable desks feel optional. In reality, this is often where problems show up later.
Fit-outs are infrequent and desk choices last
A major office fit-out generally fixes:
- Desk layouts
- Power and cable management
- Furniture standards
- Ergonomic capability
Once these decisions are made, they tend to remain in place for most of a decade. Sometimes longer.
If height adjustment is not included at this point:
- It is rarely revisited
- Retrofitting becomes disruptive and costly
- Occupational health or DSE requests turn into individual exceptions
Including a planned proportion of adjustable desks at fit-out stage avoids this entirely.
Why 10 to 15 percent of Sit Stand Desks works in practice
We typically recommend 10 to 15 percent height-adjustable desks.
This is not about giving everyone a sit stand desk, although some organisations are doing that.
It is about building flexibility into the workplace so the space can cope with change.
That level of provision allows organisations to:
- Support employees with temporary or long-term ergonomic needs
- Accommodate different body sizes in shared desk environments
- Reduce the need for ad hoc reasonable adjustments
- Adapt as workforce demographics change
In smaller hybrid offices, each desk must support more people and more use cases. Adjustability becomes essential.
Downsizing strengthens the case
When offices shrink, desk usage changes:
- Fewer desks are used by more people
- Individual desks carry greater ergonomic risk
- Fixed heights become a bigger limitation
Height-adjustable desks provide a practical way to keep shared desks inclusive and usable without increasing desk numbers or redesigning the space.
They become core workplace infrastructure, not a perk. And that distinction matters.
Reusing existing furniture? Adjustable frames make it possible
Many organisations choose to reuse existing desktops or bench systems to control costs and reduce waste. We see this regularly on refurbishment projects.
Height adjustment does not require full desk replacement.
In many cases, height-adjustable frames can be installed using existing desktops, delivering the same functional benefits while:
- Reducing capital spend
- Minimising waste
- Maintaining a consistent look
- Limiting disruption during works
This approach aligns well with ESG objectives and circular economy principles and is particularly effective when budgets or timelines are tight.
Why this needs to be planned now
Even when furniture is being reused, the planning stage is crucial.
Height-adjustable desks affect:
- Power and cable routing
- Control placement
- Structural compatibility with bench systems
- Furniture schedules and procurement
Once layouts are finalised and desks are reinstalled, adding height adjustment later becomes far more difficult. And in many cases, it simply does not happen.
If an office is being refitted now, this is the moment to future-proof it properly.
What future-proofing really means
Future-proofing is not about over-specifying or adding unnecessary cost.
It is about:
- Retaining flexibility
- Reducing long-term risk
- Avoiding expensive retrofits
- Designing spaces that can adapt as working patterns change
A modest proportion of height-adjustable desks, particularly when achieved through frame-only solutions, is one of the most cost-effective ways to achieve this.
Height-adjustable desks are no longer a niche specification choice; they are a practical way to future-proof office environments where desks are shared, reused and expected to support a wider range of users.
Planning an office fit-out?
If you are currently planning an office fit-out or refurbishment, it is worth asking a few practical questions:
- How adaptable will your desks be for different users
- How long might it be before another opportunity to change them arises
- Whether a small specification decision now could avoid years of limitation later
Including height-adjustable desks at planning stage is simpler and more cost-effective than trying to add them once the office is complete.