Credit: architecturaldigest.com
Let’s be honest. When you think of a desk riser, you don’t necessarily think visually beautiful. We’ve tested enough office chairs and desks to know that finding something that checks the boxes of ergonomics and compelling design is a tall order. From electric-powered to lift-top options, the style of height-adjustable desks can be pretty blah. A desk riser is a means to get all the ergonomic benefits of a standing desk in a smaller package (not to mention a smaller price tag!) so you don’t have to give up your entire office aesthetic.
With its streamlined design, the Branch Desk Riser checks all of those boxes. Its minimal construction appeals to a wide range of design sensibilities but has all the ergonomic features of the best standing desks to make your workday more comfortable. The tallest and shortest members of our team put it to the test to see if the sit-stand desk riser style works for a variety of heights and office spaces. Here, the fine print on how it stacks up.
Design
Aesthetically, the Branch desk riser has a minimalist Scandinavian style that can blend into all kinds of home offices. Unlike most bulky black options on the market—and in line with the modern design of the brand’s sleek desk chairs—it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb. The wood grain colorways (from birch to walnut, white to carbon black) work with what you’ve got going on to ensure a streamlined desk setup. While it’s not completely camouflaged, you’re ultimately not sacrificing style for ergonomics here.
The desk riser is an iteration of one of the brand’s bestsellers, the Duo desk, that’s easily one of the most stylish adjustable standing desks out there. Sharing the same wood top and minimalist frame, it uplifts a WFH setup rather than drag it down with a clunky design.
Constructed out of a single piece of wood, there are no harsh lines in its curved silhouette. An incredibly easy assembly process (simply take it out of the box!) further points to its thoughtful design. The downturned front comfort edge is a small but super-useful design detail. Not only does it give the desk riser a fluid shape, it also provides a natural resting point for your wrists, reducing strain.
Our Experience
Lauren Arzbaecher, commerce producer: “I’m in a consistent battle with myself to try and have better posture while at work (one that I often lose). Sitting cross-legged, slouching, hunching—basically, name any habit of bad posture imaginable—even an ergonomic chair can’t stop me! A standing desk converter felt like a way to give myself a fighting chance to help my spine out without fully committing to a standing desk. Though, at five foot ten, finding a desk riser that is tall enough for me when fully extended is usually a challenge.
Surprisingly, my height is a nonissue for the Branch riser. It reaches a level (admittedly at the top of its range) for me to easily rest my forearms flush against the desktop when I stand up without hyperextending my shoulders down.
