Executive Desk Styles

Classic

• The classic executive desk is simple and to the point. It's featured in movies, television shows and in the Oval Office of the White House. The classic executive desk consists of a large, flat desktop of roughly 3 by 6 feet atop two solid beams on the ends. These desks provide intimidating barriers between executives and their guests. Some classic executive desks have modesty panels running across the front to hide the seated person's legs. Sometimes these panels go all the way to the ground and give the desk a weightier look. Commonly made of mahogany, cherry and oak, classic executive desks work well with a hutch or bookshelf directly behind the chair.

Command Center

• If simplicity is not your thing or if you're a swamped, overworked professional, a command center executive desk is what you're looking for. Rather than a simply flat desk, a command center setup consists of a large sectional desk that goes in the center of an office or against a wall. Command centers have a flat, classic style part with wings holding computers, shelves, files or other materials. Sometimes command center executive desks completely wrap around the person seated, except for a small entryway.

Contemporary

• Contemporary executive desk styles come in all shapes and sizes. A lot of offices have desks with etched or frosted glass tops and steel supports for a modern, sophisticated look. Some of them aren't just desks, they're works of art. Plastic, metal, composite materials and recycled pieces make up artistic executive desks that show taste and style. They also come in unusual and strange shapes and sizes, sometimes playing with the notion of classic executive desk styles.