Office desk with pedestal unit – drawers under the top, side pedestal or freestanding? How to choose a storage layout for your study
A desk top has a limited surface area — and anyone who works at it intensively knows that a moment’s inattention is enough for it to disappear under documents, cables and objects with no assigned place. Office desk with pedestal unit: pedestal unit and drawers are not just an option for “more storage”. They are a decision about how the office will look and function every day — and for intensive work. It is worth making that decision consciously before the desk is ordered.
This article is about storage arrangements in solid oak office desks: how a pedestal unit differs from drawers built into the top, when each system makes sense, what you can configure when ordering, and which models from the RaWood range best meet specific needs.
Pedestal unit or built-in drawers — what is the difference?
In office desks, storage takes two basic forms — and it is worth understanding the difference before you begin choosing a model.
A side pedestal unit is a separate drawer module attached to or standing beside the leg of the desk, at the side of the top. Its main advantage is depth and capacity — pedestal drawers can be 40–50 cm deep and will hold ring binders, A4 documents and even a folded laptop. The pedestal unit is also visible as a separate compositional element — it can serve as the visual base of the desk and make the piece look more substantial and more study-like. It can be ordered on the left or right side, matching the desk position and your dominant hand.
Drawers built into or under the top — shallower, but more integrated with the body of the piece. They do not add visual weight to the sides, which keeps the desk light and open. They work well for storing small equipment, accessories, notebooks, chargers — things you reach for frequently and that do not require great depth. In desks with drawers featuring recessed handles carved into the wood, the drawers also become a design element rather than just a storage compartment.
In practice the best arrangements combine both approaches: a pedestal unit for documents and office supplies on one side, one or two drawers under the top for everyday items. This arrangement organises the office without needing to add a separate chest of drawers or bookcase.
Pedestal on the left or the right — does it really matter?
It does — and this is one of the first decisions to make when ordering an office desk. A pedestal unit positioned on the side of your dominant hand is intuitively more comfortable: you open the drawer without twisting your torso, and things are exactly where you reach. For intensive work with documents, this is a difference you feel after a few weeks.
It is also worth checking which side of the desk faces a wall and which faces a window or a passageway. A pedestal unit placed towards the wall makes better use of the space — and will not block the view or access to the working section of the top. With desks that stand in the middle of the room (such as some VITA models), the pedestal can be on either side, as the piece is visible from all angles.
At RaWood, most desks with a pedestal unit allow you to choose the side when ordering. In models such as VITA and DORIS this is a standard configuration option — you mark left or right on the form, or describe your preference when placing a made-to-measure order.
Office desk models with pedestal units and drawers
VITA and VITA II — pedestal with 50 cm depth, optional leather insert
The VITA collection is one of the most frequently ordered arrangements in the RaWood office desk category. The pedestal unit with two deep drawers (50 cm deep) is suspended under the top — it appears to float visually, while still holding A4 documents and office supplies with ease. Between the pedestal and the top there is a clear space for a notebook or tablet. The desk drawers are made from solid oak painted black — the same material as the top, with consistency visible in every detail. The VITA desk is available with an optional leather insert on the top — an aesthetic detail that protects the oak surface during intensive use and adds a study character to the piece.
DAVOS II — substantial office desk with drawers and pedestal option
The DAVOS II desk is an office classic made entirely from solid oak — no metal legs, no industrial accents, but with a solid, substantial form that suits elegant studies and professional offices. The model comes with two drawers, and a pedestal unit configuration on your chosen side can be ordered. The wide top (available in various dimensions) provides ample working space — DAVOS II works equally well for document-based work and as a computer workstation with a monitor and laptop alongside. The option to order in a natural, whitened or oiled walnut finish means this model fits a wide range of office styles.
DORIS I — pedestal with tip-on system, white steel and oak fronts
The DORIS I desk is a proposal for offices in bright, Scandinavian or contemporary interiors. A white steel frame of rectangular forms, a white lacquered top and a pedestal unit with drawer fronts made from solid oak in a natural finish — the contrast between cool white and warm wood creates the kind of contrast characteristic of contemporary design. The pedestal drawers are fitted with a touch-open tip-on system — no handles, opening by gentle pressure. Between the pedestal and the top, white metal supports create an open space for notebooks and small accessories. The pedestal is available on the left or right side when ordering.
AXEL II and AXEL III — soft-close drawers with recessed handles
The AXEL collection features integrated storage within the body of the piece — no side pedestal, but two (AXEL II) or three (AXEL III) drawers with soft-close runners. Handles formed as recesses carved into the wood rather than separate metal fittings — a detail that gives the desk the clean quality characteristic of Scandinavian style. AXEL suits offices where you want a unified form without additional bulk on the sides. Storage at desk level is primarily for small equipment, current documents and accessories. The entire desk is made from solid oak — top, legs and drawers in the same material and finish.
COLIN II — electric height adjustment + integrated drawers
If ergonomics during long hours at the computer is the priority, COLIN II combines electric height adjustment (65–125 cm) with a solid oak top (160×80 cm) and a white frame with a 6 cm cable hole. The drawers are integrated with the top — there is no side pedestal, which means you can move the chair freely between sitting and standing positions without a module in the way. This is the desk for those who prioritise ergonomics over storage capacity at the desk itself. A chest of drawers or bookcase then completes the office as separate pieces.
Pedestal unit or chest of drawers — which to choose and when?
A desk pedestal unit and a chest of drawers in an office are different solutions that do not exclude one another — but they have different logics of use.
A desk pedestal serves to store what you reach for during work — current documents, pens, chargers, cables, notebooks. Everything is within arm’s reach without standing up. A chest of drawers or cupboard in the office serves to store what you use less often — archives, reference materials, spare equipment, seasonal accessories. Walking away from the desk and opening a cupboard is a different action from opening a drawer — and it is precisely this distinction that is worth keeping in mind when planning an office.
A desk with a pedestal unit and a chest of drawers are therefore a natural pairing rather than an alternative. More on choosing a chest of drawers for an office: Chest of drawers for the office – how to choose the right model · on choosing a bookcase: Oak bookcase for the office – a guide to choosing.
What can you configure when ordering an office desk?
At RaWood every desk is made after the order is placed — which means most parameters can be adjusted. Depending on the model, the following are possible:
- Side of the pedestal unit — left or right, at no additional charge
- Number of drawers — adding or removing a drawer relative to the standard
- Top dimensions — width and depth within a reasonable range
- Wood colour — natural, whitened, walnut oil, honey and other finishes
- Steel colour — matt black, white (in models with metal legs)
- Cable hole — round, 6–8 cm in diameter, at any position on the top
- Leather insert on the top — available on selected models, including VITA
If you have a specific office layout, a non-standard dimension or an idea for a configuration not in the catalogue — describe it in the made-to-measure order form. Our team will respond within 24 hours with a quote and a proposed solution.
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