01
Measure the Largest Item in Use
Record the desk width, its full depth with cables attached and the space taken by screens or monitor arms. Then measure the chair when someone is seated and when they stand up. A drawer pedestal, printer stand or equipment trolley must be shown with doors and trays open. Those active dimensions establish a truthful minimum working zone rather than an attractive empty outline.
If a wide creative surface or sample table is the largest item, use that instead of treating the desk as the automatic reference. Mark where hands, tools or documents extend during work. The main item should be usable without moving another piece of furniture first. This disciplined start gives every later choice a known boundary and protects the room from gradual overcrowding.
