From Jefferson to Today: The Rise of Adjustable Desks

Picture some of the greatest writers, artists, thinkers, and statesmen at work—standing. Charles Dickens. Ernest Hemingway. Winston Churchill. Leonardo da Vinci. Humans have been writing for over 5,000 years. But a piece of furniture designated for this activity, known as a desk, was not created until the Middle Ages.

Desks evolved from tables, which were used by the Egyptians as far back as 2,500 BCE. Tables were generally stone platforms to keep food off the floor, used for eating and playing games. Throughout history, your opportunity for having a desk in your home was based on social status.

Thomas Jefferson is one of the first Americans known to have used a standing desk (or “tall desk”) at his home in Monticello. Ernest Hemingway claimed to be more creative in the standing position—and this concept is well documented: Standing spaces encourage physical movement, which positively affects the cognitive process.

As reported in the National Library of Medicine, sedentary jobs have increased by 83% since 1950, which means workers’ health risks have increased. Are people who sit less healthy or less creative? Likely both. If sitting all the time is unhealthy, being on your feet too long presents other health issues. It’s all about balance. This is why both employees and employers have pushed for sit-to-stand solutions in office environments.

In the modern era, the first height-adjustable tables utilized pin-height adjustment—a manual, labor-intensive process of setting the surface height by moving pins at measured increments on each leg. Then came the crank, with its limited lifting capacity (125 lbs./57 kg) and adjustment range. Next were pneumatic and gas-assist, but these were not powered, nor ADA-compliant due to the lift required. A counter-balance solution was the next evolution, and then electric—initiated in Scandinavia because of the taller demographics.

Great Spaces magazine features unique design perspectives, thought leadership, and profiles of style makers from around the world. Subscribe to receive a print version or download a digital version to begin exploring.

In the US, it was a different story at first. Price was a barrier for most users, and only a select few were willing to pay it—even for a crank adjustment. By 2015, electric adjustment tables were gaining market share as global manufacturing shifted and prices dropped. By 2025, they now dominate the market, making it easier for everyone to adjust their worksurface—and customize their adjustments—with the touch of a button.

• Early Designs – Featured manual adjustments using cranks or levers, requiring physical effort.

• Mid-20th Century – Introduced spring-assisted mechanisms for easier manual adjustments.

• Late 20th Century – Electric motors made height adjustments smooth and effortless.
  Early 21st Century – Programmable settings allowed users to save and switch between preferred heights with a button press.

• Recent Innovations – Smart technology with sensors and app integration offer ergonomic recommendations and automatic adjustments.

• Aesthetic Improvements – Modern designs use sleek materials like aluminum and glass, offering various finishes to match different styles.

People spend 90,000 hours—the equivalent of about 10 years of their life—at work. One way to incorporate healthy habits is simply to move—whether it’s changing postures, getting up and walking, or adjusting from sitting to standing positions. Since ergonomics has taken a priority in the workplace, options like height-adjustable tables are available for changing the worksurface height, which decreases time sitting and increases active movement.

Prolonged sitting, common among office workers, can lead to musculoskeletal disorders such as pain in the neck, shoulders, and back. It also increases pressure in the intervertebral discs, particularly in the lumbar region, contributing to disc degeneration and reduced blood flow, which is critical for tissue health and mental alertness. Prolonged standing has negative health implications, such as lower back pain, leg discomfort, and increased pressure on joints. It may also increase the risk of varicose veins and musculoskeletal disorders.

A multi-posture office environment encourages movement and posture changes. Sit-to-stand desks allow you to alternate between sitting and standing, promoting cardiovascular and metabolic health to reduce the negative impacts of static postures. Height-adjustable tables support healthy certification programs such as the WELL Building Standard, which measures attributes of buildings that impact occupant health.

WELL is like a LEED rating system, but the focus is on the people in the space instead of the building. It’s all about creating a space where people can thrive. The WELL Building Standard emphasizes the importance of movement—from furniture requirements like desk-height flexibility, seat flexibility, and monitor adjustments to physical activity opportunities and exterior active design.

To benefit from a sit-to-stand desk, use is key. A combination of sitting and standing throughout the day helps fight fatigue and boosts energy, sharpening your focus as you work. The goal is to alternate between postures. Proper training on how to operate the desk is essential to get in the habit of using this work tool to promote wellness in the workplace and at home.