Made-to-measure workspaces — fitted desks, bookcase walls, acoustic panelling for a garden room or spare bedroom office — get used for hours every day, so ergonomic detail and power layout matter as much as the joinery finish. A quote that only describes the desk material and finish is missing the parts that decide whether the space is actually pleasant to work in.
The specification should cover desk dimensions and support, cable management, socket and data first-fix, and any acoustic treatment as separate, named items.
Desk depth, height and support
Desk depth should be stated in millimetres — a fitted desk under 550-600mm deep is uncomfortable for dual monitors or a laptop-plus-monitor setup, so the drawing should confirm this before you agree it. Support method (floating on brackets, supported by a leg, or built as a cabinet run) should also be specified, since a long unsupported span will flex under laptop and monitor weight over time.
Standing desk sections, if included, need the mechanism brand and lift height range stated, along with confirmation of a socket positioned to power it.
Cable management and power first-fix
Cable routing from wall sockets to the desk surface — through a grommet, a cable tray under the desk, or a dedicated channel in the carcass — should be described, not just implied. The quote should also confirm whether new sockets and data points are being added by an electrician as a separate first-fix item, since retrofitting a desk to existing sockets in the wrong place is a common design failure that leaves trailing cables across the floor.
If the workspace includes a printer cabinet or server-style equipment, ventilation for that enclosed space should be addressed the same way as for AV equipment in a media wall — heat needs somewhere to go.
Acoustic panelling specification
Where acoustic panels are included (common in garden room offices or converted outbuildings used for video calls), the panel type — foam, fabric-wrapped, or perforated timber — and coverage area should be named, since acoustic performance varies hugely between decorative-only panels and genuine sound-absorbing ones. A quote that says 'acoustic panelling included' without naming the product is not giving you enough to judge performance.
Bookcase wall construction
Fitted bookcase walls follow the same rules as built-in storage generally — shelf thickness and span for load, adjustable versus fixed shelving, and scribing to the room. Given bookcases carry genuine sustained weight, this is a section where 18mm shelving with a sensible span (or added central support on long runs) should be confirmed rather than assumed.
What cheap quotes miss
Making good to walls and skirting where old furniture is removed, and confirmation of exactly which sockets and data points the electrician is adding versus which existing ones the design relies on, are common gaps. Lighting for close desk work — a dedicated task light circuit or under-shelf LED — is also frequently left out of the base quote as an assumed extra.
Common questions
How deep should a fitted desk be?+
At least 550-600mm is a sensible minimum for comfortable use with a monitor or laptop plus paperwork. Ask your joiner to confirm the depth on the drawing before agreeing the quote, since shallower desks are common in cut-price designs.
Should new sockets be added for a fitted desk, or can it use existing ones?+
It depends on where existing sockets sit relative to the new desk position — if they're poorly placed, adding new sockets in the right spot avoids trailing cables across the floor and should be priced as an electrician's first-fix item in the quote.
Does 'acoustic panelling' always mean genuine sound absorption?+
No — some panelling is decorative with limited acoustic benefit, while genuine sound-absorbing panels use specific foam or fabric-wrapped cores. The quote should name the actual product so you know which you're getting.
Get your home workspace properly specified
We plan desk dimensions, power layout and acoustic treatment together, then quote it as clear, comparable line items.