Updated on 03/06/2024
While standing desks may seem like the hot new thing, they’re actually not new.
Also known as a stand-up desk or a height-adjustable desk, this office furniture has certainly gained huge popularity in recent years as a way to improve health and focus in the workplace.
But the concept of standing while working is not a new one. In fact, the history of standing desks dates back hundreds of years.
One of the earliest known examples of a standing desk is the lectern, a slanted stand the ancient Greeks and Romans used to hold texts during public speeches. Long before microphones, this piece of equipment allowed speakers to stand upright and project their voice, making it easier for audiences to hear and understand them.
Who Invented the Standing Desk?
While no one can claim to be the inventor of the standing desk, they date back to Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), who is thought to be the first known user.
Not only did he paint some of his most prominent masterpieces (such as the Mona Lisa) whilst working at a standing desk, he also dreamed up flying machines, parachutes, armoured cars and even the automatic crossbow firing device (pictured) behind the same desk.
Leonardo da Vinci was probably the most famous and talented inventor of his era and declared "standing whilst working helps my creative juices flow freely"...he was certainly ahead of his time!
Da Vinci was the first of many famous people who are documented as relying on standing desks to work efficiently and healthily.
Other Historic Users of the Standing Desk
Thomas Jefferson
Mr Jefferson was one of the first prominent American statesmen to use a height adjustable desk. In between serving as one of the Founding Fathers, writing the Declaration of Independence and fulfilling his duties as the third President of the United States, he found the time to purchase a height adjustable standing desk from a famous Williamsburg cabinetmaker.
He requested that the desk be made with six peg legs to increase stability and it boasted a flat lined writing surface that could be used for reading or drawing. The height of the desk could be adjusted with a ratchet stand.
Many of Jefferson's most famous writings originated at this workstation and maybe he should have taken out a patent for creating the first height adjustable desk.
Ernest Hemingway
Nobel Prize winning novelist Ernest Hemingway was also an avid stander. In an interview published in the Paris Review, the interviewer described Hemingway’s behaviour: “A working habit he has had from the beginning, Hemingway stands when he writes.
He stands in a pair of his oversized loafers on the worn skin of a Lesser kudu—the typewriter and the reading board chest-high opposite him.” It is said he started standing while writing because of a minor leg injury he got in World War I, and learned the standing desk method from one of his editors.
Donald Rumsfeld
This former Defense Secretary carried on the standing desk tradition after Thomas Jefferson’s by working without a chair in his office. After hearing that terrorism detainees were standing for 4 hours at a time, Rumsfeld responded, “I stand for 8 to 10 hours a day. Why is standing limited to four hours?”
A spokeswoman says Rumsfeld stood all day, except when he had lunch with other people.
Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens - one of the greatest authors of all time - created the "gloriously vivid" set of characters for his book David Copperfield at his stand-up desk, as described by 19th-century writer Elizabeth Gaskell when she visited his study.
She explained: "books all round, up to the ceiling and down to the ground; a standing desk at which he writes; and all manner of comfortable, easy chairs."Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill was a fearless man who earned his respected reputation through his unwavering attempts to bring the Third Reich to an end. He was often observed working at his standing desk.
One of Churchill's most famous photographs shows him at his stand-up desk, pondering over documents while smoking a cigar. He must have been doing something right because the former British Prime Minister lived to 90.
Modern Standing Desks - How Have they Evolved?
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, standing desks began to be used more frequently in the workplace as office and factory workers would often stand at their desks for long periods, leading to a need for ergonomic solutions to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal issues.
As technology advanced, standing desks also began to evolve, and in the 1980s, electric standing desks were invented, allowing users to easily adjust the height of their workspace with the push of a button.
Today, standing desks are available in all styles and designs, ranging from simple manual adjustable desks to modern electric desks and cord-free pneumatic desks.
Many companies have also started to offer standing desks as a way to improve the health and well-being of their employees, recognising the benefits of standing while working.
If you’re looking for a quality standing desk for your home workplace, or office, you’re at the right place! Check out our full collection of standing desks and accessories, here. Our desks come with a price guarantee, next day delivery, a comprehensive warranty and call-out support.
Need additional help choosing a standing desk? Get in contact with our expert team with any queries - they'll be happy to help.