How do you create a private workspace with an office screen?
Start by deciding where privacy is needed most. For an individual desk, position a freestanding office screen alongside or behind the workstation to separate it from surrounding desks, walkways or communal areas.
For greater enclosure, multiple freestanding screens can be used together to create a three-sided workspace. This can be particularly useful in open-plan offices, shared workspaces, schools and other busy environments where permanent partitions aren't practical.
Because the screens are freestanding, they can be repositioned as the layout or privacy requirements change.
Choosing the right screen size
Consider both the height and width of the office screen, as these will affect the amount of visual privacy it provides.
Panelwarehouse freestanding office screens are available in 1000mm, 1200mm, 1500mm and 1800mm heights, with widths of 700mm, 1000mm, 1200mm, 1500mm, 1600mm and 1800mm.
Lower screens, such as 1000mm and 1200mm, are useful when you want to define individual work areas while retaining a more open feel. A 1500mm screen provides greater visual privacy for someone working in a seated position, making it a useful option around individual desks and workstations.
For greater separation, including increased privacy when people are standing or moving around the workspace, an 1800mm-high screen provides the highest level of visual screening in the range.
Individual heights, desk dimensions and seating positions vary, so it is always worth considering the sightlines within the particular workspace rather than choosing on height alone.
When selecting the width, measure the area you want to separate. A narrower screen may be sufficient alongside a desk, while 1500mm, 1600mm or 1800mm-wide screens can provide greater coverage when dividing larger workstations or sections of a room.
Where should a freestanding office screen be positioned?
The best position depends on what you want to achieve.
If people walking past a desk are causing distractions, position the screen between the desk and the main walkway. If neighbouring desks need more separation, place the screen between the two workstations.
For a more private individual workspace, screens can be positioned around multiple sides of the desk. For example, two or three screens can be combined to create a partially enclosed workstation while retaining easy access.
Remember to leave enough room for comfortable access to the workstation and avoid obstructing doors, walkways or emergency routes.
Are freestanding screens suitable for temporary workspaces?
Yes. One of the main advantages of a freestanding office screen is flexibility. Unlike a permanent partition wall, the screen does not need to become a fixed part of the room.
This makes freestanding screens useful when creating temporary workstations, adapting an open-plan office, reorganising classrooms or changing a workspace as a team grows.
Do office screens make a workspace completely private?
A freestanding screen provides visual separation and helps define an individual workspace, but it does not create a fully enclosed private room. The amount of privacy will also depend on the height, width and position of the screen, and whether the user is seated or standing.
If complete visual or acoustic privacy is required, a purpose-built enclosed workspace may be more appropriate.
For many offices, however, strategically positioned screens provide a practical balance between privacy, flexibility and ease of installation.
Creating your workspace
To create a private workspace with freestanding office screens:
Identify where privacy is needed – such as between desks or alongside a busy walkway.
Measure the available space – including the width and height you want to screen.
Choose an appropriate screen size – considering whether you need workspace definition, seated privacy or greater standing-height screening.
Position the screen around the desk without restricting comfortable access or important walkways.
Use additional screens if necessary to create a more enclosed workspace.
Reposition the screens when required as your office layout or working requirements change.
Freestanding office screens are therefore a practical option for creating private, defined workspaces within larger rooms, particularly where flexibility is important and permanent partitioning isn't suitable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What height office screen is best for seated privacy?
For greater privacy around a seated workstation, a 1500mm-high freestanding office screen can provide a substantial visual barrier. A 1200mm screen can provide some separation while maintaining a more open feel. The best choice will depend on the desk, seating position and individual user.
What height office screen is best for standing privacy?
For increased privacy at standing height, an 1800mm-high freestanding office screen provides the greatest visual screening within the Panelwarehouse range. As individual heights vary, it should not be considered a guarantee of complete standing privacy for every user.
What widths are Panelwarehouse freestanding office screens available in?
Panelwarehouse freestanding office screens are available in 700mm, 1000mm, 1200mm, 1500mm, 1600mm and 1800mm widths. Measure the area you want to screen before deciding which width is most suitable.
Can I use more than one freestanding office screen together?
Yes. Multiple screens can be positioned together to create a larger partition or a partially enclosed workspace. For example, screens can be positioned behind and alongside a desk to create greater visual separation from the surrounding workspace.
Do freestanding office screens need to be fixed to a wall or floor?
Freestanding office screens are designed to stand independently rather than becoming a permanent wall or partition. This makes them particularly useful where the layout may need to be changed or the screens repositioned in the future.