If you’re the practical sort with a lot of foresight, then it’s understandable if you’d want your office to feature a desk made with file cabinets.
These days, that kind of foresight isn’t all that common.
Lots of people are instead focused on making sure they have enough space for their computer monitor, keyboard, mouse pad, and mouse.
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Put in some space for the requisite cup of coffee, and they’re all set.
It’s just that these are the people who tend to stand up a lot to find things they may need from time to time.
These things include scissors, rulers, paper clips, extra paper, staplers, and other regular office paraphernalia.
Why Do You Need Them?
You’d save a lot of time and effort, and boost your productivity, if you just go with a desk made with file cabinets.
That way, whatever you need is within reach.
At the same time, they’re all hidden away and they don’t clutter up your desktop until you need them.
Also, with a desk with lateral file cabinet you have a nice handy place for your paper files.
Top Items to Store in Your Desk Cabinet
Traditionally, file cabinets are the cabinets where you place your files (hence the name).
But lots of offices these days don’t really go with paper documents in file folders, when they can have digital files instead.
So today, these cabinets can hold paper as well as other office supplies, but should all your office supplies go into the desk cabinet?
Some items are better off placed on your desk instead of inside a drawer.
But other items are better off inside the cabinet instead, including journals, stress toys, coffee mugs, and Spare PC Equipment
You get the idea, right?
Factors to Consider
If you want to make sure you don’t waste your money, you can’t just go with the cheapest desk made with file cabinets.
Such a desk may not last long, or may prove unsuitable, so you end up wasting money since you’ll need to buy a replacement desk afterwards.
It’s also not a given that an expensive desk is superior.
You may just end up with an expensive dud, and then you really lose money on the purchase.
Instead, consider the following factors when looking for a desk with lateral file cabinet:
Ease of Assembly
Most of the time, you’ll get the desk in pieces and you’d have to piece them together yourself.
That can be a trying time, especially for those who don’t have any DIY skills or experience.
Arguably, this may not be the most compelling factor in terms of importance, but you don’t have a desk if you can’t assemble it.
Check customer reviews to see if most people found the desk easy enough to assemble.
Make sure there’s a clear assembly manual.
You may even want to check out YouTube to see if there’s a demo video on how to assemble your particular desk model.
Overall Dimensions
You should be very sure that you have enough office space for your desk.
Some desks are straight and long, while others come with an L-shaped design.
Some desks are meant to be set against a wall, and you’re supposed to face the wall when you work.
Other desks are designed so that your back is against the wall when you use it.
Desk Space
You need to make sure you have enough space for the stuff you’re going to put on your desk.
This generally means the PC monitor, and maybe the keyboard and mouse.
Some people also put in their speakers on the desk.
Make sure you have space for your coffee mug, water bottle, and also your smartphone.
Leg Space
Can you stretch your legs under the desk?
It can be rather uncomfortable if you can’t straighten your legs every now and then when you’re working.
You may also want to think about whether the desk covers your legs from view if you have people in front of you.
Some people (both men and women) are more comfortable when this is covered.
However, others don’t mind the open space and it may feel cooler this way.
Drawer Placement
The cabinets may be placed on both sides of the desk, or you may have them placed on just one side.
Most people prefer to have the cabinets placed on their dominant side (your right side, if you’re right-handed).
That allows them to open the cabinet more easily when they need something.
They can then use their dominant hand without reaching over to the other side.
On a related note, check in customer reviews if the cabinets open smoothly.
Although locks aren’t really common for desk with lateral file cabinet, you may need it for sensitive files.
Drawer Space
Just how many cabinets do you have with your desk made with file cabinets?
How big are they, and what items can you put inside?
These cabinets ought to be big enough for papers and folders, along with your other items.
If you have 2 or more cabinets, you can place similar items in each cabinet.
That means you may want to put papers and folders in one cabinet, and tools such as scissors, staplers, and other similar stuff in another cabinet.
Shelves
This may not be necessary for a desk with lateral file cabinet, but some people like their desks to have shelves as well as cabinets.
The shelves offer easier access for some stuff, since you don’t have to open a cabinet.
You can just reach out and get what you need, and you’re also constantly reminded that these items are available to help.
Also, the shelves can hold decorative stuff like vases (or even toys) to reinforce whatever image you want to project.
Overall Aesthetics
Do you like the modern minimalist aesthetic for your desk with lateral file cabinet?
Or are you a fan of more classical looks?
The design of the desk, along with the material used (such as metal or wood), can help determine the overall vibe of the desk.
Your best option in general is to match the overall interior design of your office.
But it does help with your morale and your work productivity if you’re satisfied) or even impressed) with the look of your desk.
Height
You need a desk set at the right height so you can work more efficiently.
This means the desk is set so that your arms and wrists are in an ergonomic position when you’re working.
The PC monitor should be somewhat level with your eyes, so you’re not stooping over your desk.
At least you can buy risers or a monitor mount if your monitor isn’t set at the right height.
Modern Conveniences for Computer Usage
Many work desks today need to account for PC paraphernalia.
So it’s great if you have a tray for your mouse and keyboard, set somewhat lower to make it easier for you to type.
You may also want to check any other features that can help with cable management.
Some desks may also have a dedicated compartment for the CPU tower.
How Long Will It Last?
The best desks are so solidly built that it feels they’ll last for a lifetime, and that’s the kind of desk you want.
It ought to be stable and not wobbly, and it should be strong enough to handle the weight of all your office paraphernalia.
It should be easy to clean as well, and not easily scratched.
It does help if it’s water-resistant and stain-resistant, in case you tend to spill your drinks across your desk.
Our TOP 5 Desks Made with File Cabinets
1. Monarch Specialties Hollow-Core Left or Right-Facing Corner Desk, White
“Modern Spacious Desk with Cabinets”
Our Rating: 4.5
This comes with an L-shaped design, with a nice, contemporary look.
We went with the white color option for a cool, airy vibe, though you can also go with cappuccino, dark taupe, or natural wood color.
It’s simple yet stylish, with neat lines to go with the thickset panels.
The handles and the feet are in silver, putting in some bold accents in the overall look.
Measurements
This is 60 inches long, with a depth of 24 inches and a height of 30 inches.
That gives you ample room for all your stuff, including your coffee mug and a picture of your family.
Shelves and Cabinets
This desk features both cabinets and shelves, so you can put some stuff away while putting other items on display on the shelves.
Here you get 2 standard drawers plus a cabinet for your standard files.
The two shelves under the desk are 34.25 inches wide and 15.5 inches deep and you have an adjustable center shelf with a height of about 11.5 inches.
At the end, there are 3 book shelves measuring 13 inches wide and 11 inches deep, and 2 of these shelves are adjustable.
What’s great is that you can assemble this so that you can set the drawers on your left or right side.
The shelves are adjustable as well, so you can put in taller items on the shelves.
Not So Easy Assembly
This is a rather heavy desk, so you better assemble it right where you want to put it.
It can take a while to assemble, since it’s adjustable and you got lots of pieces to put together.
Not that the setup is complicated, though.
It’s actually simple, but you do need time to set things up just right.
2. Sauder Carson Forge Desk, Washington Cherry finish
“Modest Storage but Aesthetically Pleasing”
Our Rating: 4
Sauder wants to be known for its eco-friendly efforts, and lots of people do appreciate that.
They make their products mainly using engineered wood, which is made from leftover milling wood and high-quality wood trimmings.
They even convert their leftover sawdust into electricity, while other leftover wood items are used animal bedding and other sustainable uses.
But what about this desk in particular?
Style
This comes from Sauder’s Carson Forge collection, and it looks simple yet gorgeous.
Its classy look comes from the unaffected design as well as its Washington Cherry Finish and wrought iron style hardware accents.
It’s great for a rustic office and for a company that wants to emphasize its unpretentious principles.
Just keep in mind that it’s rather small, measuring 53.2L x 22.6W x 29.8H inches.
Drawers
You have 3 drawers here, and they’re easy enough to open and close with their metal runners and safety stops.
The lower drawer is for the letter-sized files, while the other drawers are for your other office supplies.
Assembly
The good news here is that you have very clear, detailed instructions on how to assemble it.
You do need a hammer and a Phillips screwdriver, and maybe several hours to put together 100 different pieces.
In fact, some people take days to assemble this, taking 2 or 3 hours per day.
3. Monarch Specialties Computer Desk
“ Sturdy, Stylish, and Functional”
Our Rating: 4.5
This uses medium-density fiberboard, which makes it another eco-friendly option from Monarch Specialties.
This time you don’t have a huge desk, which makes sense if you’re using only a single monitor to work.
But it sure looks terrific.
Color Options
We went with the dark taupe color, which looks great with the silver hardware accents.
The top desk has a floating look over the drawers to go with the silver track metal legs.
It feels simple and unpretentious, with a timeless vibe.
This can feel it can belong in a modern home, or in an office during the 1950s.
You still have other color options, such as white, cappuccino, gray, and natural.
All these color options come with silver hardware accents.
Work Space and Drawers
The top desk is 47 inches long and about 28 inches deep, giving you plenty of space to work with.
You have a file drawer for your documents, along with 2 storage drawers for other items.
The good news is that you can assemble this to set the drawers on either your left or right side.
4. Monarch Specialties Computer Desk Left or Right Facing White / Cement-Look 80″L
“Large, No-Nonsense L-shaped Desk”
Our Rating: 4.5
This is another L-shaped desk made with file cabinets from Monarch Specialties, and it’s a bit different from the other L-shaped desk on this list.
This time, you just have 2 cabinets on one side, with a small bookshelf on top of them.
Then you have empty space under the rest of the desk.
This gives you a very airy and cool feel, and this minimalist design will work well for any modern office.
We went with the white drawers along with the “cement” desk, and we put it in a corner.
Plenty of Space
This is 79 inches long and 47 inches deep, with a height of 30 inches.
This gives you a lot of area to work with, with enough space for even 3 medium-sized monitors.
With the open space underneath, you also have plenty of room to stretch your legs.
Some Assembly Required
You’ll need a screwdriver (preferably electric) to assemble this, along with several hours.
The good news is that though it’s a tedious process, it’s not all that complicated.
You just need to be careful putting in the drawer slides.
5. Sauder Computer Desk, Brushed Maple finish
“Modern Desk with Classic Look”
Our Rating: 4
Are you tired of reading about “computer desks” without a retractable keyboard tray?
If that’s a must-have feature for your desk made with file cabinets, then you should consider this particular model from the Sauder Select collection.
PC Features
This factors in your PC, with features that any modern desk will find useful.
There’s a slide-out shelf here for your keyboard and mouse and there’s also a grommet hole in the desktop for your multiple cords.
The left-side door even reveals a compartment for your PC tower, which you do need to keep open if you actually put a tower inside.
The only other holes for this compartment are for cables.
Your best option is to not put in the back panel for this compartment during the assembly.
Then you can place this facing the wall, but don’t push it fully against the wall so you have the PC airflow you need.
Drawers and Shelves
This left-side door also reveals a shelf hanging over your PC tower.
This shelf is adjustable, so you can set it right over the PC tower for more space.
On the right side of the table, you have 2 drawers that slide easily.
The lower cabinet is for your files, designed to accommodate letter-sized or even Euro-sized hanging files.
Ample Space
The look of the brushed maple finish looks classic, but the space allotment is quite modern.
The top of the desk is 60 inches long, and 23.5 deep.
It’s 29 inches high, and the keyboard shelf is set 4 inches lower.
Desk Made with File Cabinets: Conclusion
Despite the modern trend towards a paperless office, we sometimes still need a cabinet to place our print documents.
Instead of having to stand up and walk to a separate filing cabinet, you may want to just have that compartment attached to your work desk instead.
With the right desk made with file cabinets, you can work more efficiently and even make your office look a lot better!
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