The piece that doubles your work surface without a bigger office
In short
An office credenza is a low storage cabinet at work-surface height (about 74-76 cm), placed behind or beside the desk. Paired with the main desk it creates a second surface and closed storage without crowding the workstation. The desk-plus-credenza pairing structures an executive area in Switzerland, with stable ergonomic dimensions (desk at 72-75 cm high) and a manageable budget.
A desk alone rarely covers an executive workstation. As soon as files need filing, a printer needs a home or the work surface has to be cleared for a meeting, a secondary surface is needed. That is exactly the credenza's role: a low unit that extends the workstation without taking up more usable floor.
Desk and credenza: two functions, one workstation
The credenza is a low, usually closed storage unit at work-surface height. It sits behind or at a right angle to the desk, offers a usable top and hides day-to-day filing. The desk stays dedicated to active work; the credenza absorbs storage and equipment.
- Desk: primary work surface, screen, input and receiving visitors.
- Credenza: closed storage, hanging files, printer, secondary surface.
- Together: a continuous workstation where everything stays within reach.
Why the office desk and credenza pairing structures an executive workstation
Treating the office desk and credenza as one set, rather than two separate purchases, avoids mismatches in height and finish. When the credenza is set to desk height (about 74-76 cm), both surfaces read as a single work zone. The result is a workstation where you file, print and receive without changing rooms or breaking the visual line.
- Ergonomic height 72-75 cm (Swiss norm at 72 cm).
- Depth of at least 80 cm for two screens.
- Usable width from 160 cm.
- Adjustable version: indicative 65-125 cm sit-stand range.
- Height set to the desk, about 74-76 cm.
- Depth 45-60 cm depending on use as a secondary surface.
- Common width 150-180 cm.
- Closed storage: hanging-file drawers, doors, open bays.
Dimensions and ergonomics to check
The right measurements are confirmed before the purchase, not after delivery. A desk that is too low tires the shoulders; a credenza that is too deep blocks circulation. The ranges below cover most executive workstations and should be adjusted to the user's height and the available floor.
- Fixed desk: height 72-75 cm, elbows at 90 degrees when typing.
- Adjustable desk: indicative travel 65-125 cm to alternate sit-stand.
- Desk depth: at least 80 cm to set the screen back.
- Clear passage around the workstation: aim for 80-100 cm.
- Credenza as a return at 90 degrees: depth 50-60 cm, at least one file-depth drawer.
We fit desk, credenza and circulation to your real square metres. Describe the room and we propose a costed layout. Compare architects in your canton
Materials and finishes
Three material families recur in executive fit-out: solid wood or wood veneer for a warm presence, laminate for durability and easy care, modular metal (Swiss element systems) for longevity and reconfiguration. Finish consistency between desk and credenza matters more than the material choice itself.
Budget in Switzerland: indicative ranges
Prices vary widely by material, brand and new versus used. The ranges below help frame a budget for a complete workstation; they do not replace a quote. In Switzerland, the professional second-hand market often lowers the furniture line noticeably.
Complete executive workstation, indicative ranges
The credenza is not a side piece: it is what lets the desk stay a clean work surface.
Layout and placement
Two layouts dominate. In parallel, the credenza sits behind the chair: you pivot to reach storage, the desk stays clear facing visitors. In an L, the credenza forms a return at 90 degrees from the desk: the secondary surface is immediate, but circulation needs more clearance. The choice depends on room depth and how often you receive.
From plan to installed workstation
acdesign supports Swiss companies from survey to assembly. Contact us for a coherent executive fit-out, from the first sketch to delivery.
Describe my projectFAQ
It is a low storage cabinet at work-surface height (about 74-76 cm), usually closed, placed behind or beside the desk. It offers a flat secondary surface and hides filing, a printer or supplies.
An ergonomic desk sits between 72 and 75 cm (72 cm under the Swiss norm). The credenza is set to roughly the same height, around 74-76 cm, so both surfaces read as one work zone.
The credenza is distinct through its work-surface height and immediate proximity to the desk. It serves day-to-day filing and a secondary surface without standing up, where a cabinet answers bulky or distant storage.
Allow 45 to 60 cm. Around 45 cm it stays discreet storage; around 55-60 cm it becomes a real secondary surface for a printer or laptop.
Indicative ranges run from about 800 to 3500 CHF for the desk and 600 to 2800 CHF for the credenza, excluding chair and installation. Price depends on material, brand and new versus used; only a quote sets the figure.