Reworking Workspaces: How Refurbished and Resized Office Desks Save Money and the Planet

Ida Gorecka • June 2, 2025

Our approach to workspace design is evolving as organisations recognise the enormous waste and environmental impact of the traditional "buy new, dispose later" furniture cycle.


Every year, organisations across the UK retire thousands of perfectly usable office desks-not because they’re damaged, but due to layout changes, branding updates, or relocations. These desks often end up in landfills, despite being made from valuable materials that require large amounts of energy and resources to produce.


This disposable mentality is costing your business money AND damaging the planet by wasting valuable resources. But what if there was a solution that saved you money while reducing your carbon footprint?


By choosing refurbished and resized office desks, you can make smarter, more sustainable choices that help reduce waste, cut costs, and create premium-quality offices - all without the lengthy lead times that accompany new furniture purchases.


If you've never considered refurbished desks before, you're in the right place to learn why they should be your obvious choice for your next project. But even if you have, keep reading for valuable insights into how refurbished and resized desks can improve sustainability initiatives, maximise cost savings, and support long-term business goals.


Curious to see what’s available? Browse our current inventory of high-quality refurbished desks-updated daily and ready for fast delivery.

Desk Waste = Environmental Crisis

Traditional office desk procurement follows a linear model: buy new, use, then dispose. This cycle results in millions of perfectly functional desks heading to landfill each year for reasons that have nothing to do with their usefulness:


  • Office redesigns forcing standardisation of furniture
  • Relocations where existing furniture doesn't fit new spaces
  • Aesthetic updates to match new brand colours or designs
  • Downsizing that leaves excess furniture without a home


Desks are among the biggest contributors to office furniture waste. Approximately 1.2 million tonnes of office furniture are thrown away annually in the UK alone. The truth that most furniture suppliers won't tell you? With the right expertise, these desks could be refurbished, reused, or resized for second, third, or even fourth lives!


High-end office desks are made to last decades, and with expert refurbishment and resizing, these pieces can be restored to like-new condition and be ready to serve new workplaces over and over.


Want to stop contributing to landfill waste? Click here to explore sustainable desk options.

Premium Quality Without Premium Prices

A common misconception is that refurbished desks mean lower quality. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. 


At Coggin SOS, second-hand desks undergo a comprehensive restoration process:


✔ Thorough cleaning and sanitisation

✔ Structural integrity testing

✔ Frame reconditioning

✔ Final quality inspection


These desks were built to last for decades, and with the right restoration, they still can. By choosing refurbished, you're saving money and getting exceptional value with proven quality. Here’s what that looks like in practice:


✔ Save up to 80% compared to buying new

✔ Maintain high design standards with premium brand options

✔ Benefit from a 12-month guarantee for total peace of mind

✔ Industrial-grade components designed for many years of use

✔ Superior ergonomics compared to budget new furniture


If you’re looking to balance quality, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness, refurbished desks offer a smart, future-ready solution - without compromising on aesthetics or performance.


Discover how to extend your furniture’s life even further. Read our full guide on the office furniture lifecycle.

Professional Desk Resizing: Get the Perfect Fit 

Unlike new furniture, which mostly comes in standard sizes, second-hand refurbished desks can be customised to fit your exact space requirements. This solves several common office space challenges that facility managers and organisations face daily.


Got an office with unusual dimensions? Need to make the most of a limited space? Custom resizing allows you to:


✔ Convert desks to fit more workstations

✔ Design unique configurations for reception areas or executive offices

✔ Maximise your available space without compromising on functionality


As hybrid working becomes the norm, your office needs may change. Resized desks help you adapt to these changing work patterns by allowing you to:


✔ Convert standard desks to collaboration tables

✔ Create touchdown spaces for remote workers

✔ Design multi-functional workstations that serve various purposes

✔ Reconfigure existing furniture instead of buying new pieces


Have a challenging space to furnish? Let our resizing experts help. Get in touch with our team today. 

Faster Delivery - Avoid Common Project Delays

You know how frustrating it is when long lead times for new office desks delay your projects. Supply chain issues and manufacturing delays mean you could be waiting 8 to 12 weeks-or even longer-just to get your furniture delivered. That kind of wait can throw off your deadlines, slow down your team, and cost your business valuable time and money.


Imagine if you didn’t have to wait that long. With refurbished and resized desks, that problem disappears! At Coggin SOS, we can deliver your desk within 10 days, making sure your projects keep moving on schedule without waiting months for furniture to arrive.


For a medium-sized office refurbishment of 50 desks, this could mean your workspace is operational months earlier-creating immediate value for your business.


Plus, when you buy refurbished desks from us, we’ll recycle your old desks free of charge-making your upgrade even easier and more sustainable.


Take a look at all our solutions.

Backing Your ESG Goals with Certified Savings

If your organisation is serious about meeting ESG targets, you need clear, credible evidence to demonstrate real progress. At Coggin SOS, we understand how important it is for you to show results, not just intentions.


That’s why every piece of refurbished office furniture you choose comes with a detailed Savings Certificate. This certificate provides transparent, quantifiable data on your positive impact, including:


✔ The exact carbon emissions you’ve saved by choosing refurbished over new

✔ The amount of valuable materials you’ve kept out of landfill

✔ The financial savings that help you stay within budget


This way, you can confidently track and report your environmental and financial achievements to stakeholders, clients, and your wider team, turning your sustainability commitments into verifiable action.


Get in touch with us today to order your refurbished desks and receive your own Savings Certificate-free with every purchase.

Myths vs. Reality: What You Need to Know  About Refurbished Desks

Let’s clear up some common misconceptions about refurbished office desks, because the truth might surprise you.


Myth #1: "Refurbished means lower quality"


Reality: Professional refurbishment often produces furniture that outlasts many new budget options. Premium brands are engineered to industrial standards designed for decades of use, and expert restoration ensures they maintain that exceptional durability and functionality.


Myth #2: "Refurbished desks look worn or dated"


Reality: Modern refurbishment techniques restore desks to like-new appearance, with options to update finishes and components to match your current design aesthetics.


Myth #3: "There won't be enough matching items for my office"


Reality: Trusted refurbished furniture suppliers maintain extensive inventories, ensuring consistent matching items for your workspace. Plus, they can source additional pieces quickly to keep your office uniform and stylish.


Myth #4: "Refurbished furniture doesn't come with warranties"


Reality: Most quality refurbished desks come with warranties, typically a 6 or 12-month guarantee that offers the same peace of mind as new furniture.


Get in touch to get expertly refurbished and reseized desks without the wait or the cost. We’re here to answer your questions and help you find exactly what you need!

 Cut Waste, Not Corners

What if your next office desk could do more than just fill a space? What if it could save your organisation thousands, reduce your carbon footprint, and still look and perform like new?


Every time you buy new desks for your office, you’re locking yourself into higher costs, longer wait times, and greater waste. But refurbished and resized desks break that cycle, offering you premium quality, fast delivery, and major cost savings without compromise.


Don’t settle for delays and overspend when the desks you need are available now.


Contact us today, and let’s set up your office next week.

Why Paying More Isn't Always Better: The Smart Choice of Refurbished Ergonomic Chairs

By Ida Gorecka • August 19, 2025
Refitting an office today means juggling a lot: tighter budgets, faster timelines, and pressure to deliver on ESG goals. And when it comes to ergonomic chairs, the one piece of furniture an office team relies on every day, many assume paying more for “new” automatically means better. But that’s no longer true. Refurbished ergonomic chairs offer the same comfort , durability , and support as new, backed by warranties , come with less cost and with far shorter lead times . For facilities and procurement teams, that means more budget freed up for other priorities, and fewer delays holding back your project. At Coggin SOS, we work with organisations that once assumed refurbished meant second-best. Until they saw the results. High-performance, fully warranted ergonomic chairs. Fast delivery. Circular outcomes they could actually report on. And savings of up to 80% compared to new (check out our case studies here ). In this article, you’ll learn what refurbished office chairs really offer in practice, why they’re becoming a preferred option for FM teams and procurement leads, and how your next fit-out or move could be both greener and smarter than you think. Thinking about your next office project? Contact our team and see how premium refurbished ergonomic chairs can give you comfort, savings, and sustainability in one.

Beyond Recycling: The Role of Office Furniture in a Truly Sustainable Economy

By Ida Gorecka • August 7, 2025
If you're here, you're probably managing a lot. A relocation, a refurbishment, or a growing ESG brief. Maybe you’re under pressure to meet sustainability targets, stay on budget, and deliver results your team and clients can actually see. And right now, office furniture might not be on your radar. But it should be. In most organisations, furniture is still treated as an afterthought. It’s functional, it’s bulky, and when it’s no longer needed, it’s often sent straight to landfill. But here’s the truth: when you start thinking of office furniture as a strategic asset within the circular economy , everything changes. For your budget . Your carbon reporting . Your project timelines . Your reputation . This article is for you if you’re tired of defaulting to skips. If you want smarter ways to meet ESG goals without blowing your budget. If you’re ready to make office sustainability a measurable advantage - not just a checkbox. We’ll show you just how much office furniture is wasted each year, what it’s really costing your business, and how the circular economy can apply directly to your projects. You’ll learn how organisations like yours are saving thousands, avoiding skips entirely, and turning unwanted furniture into reportable ESG wins - plus practical steps to get started today. Curious what your office clearance could be worth? Get in touch with our team for a free circular furniture audit.

Why Buying Cheap Costs More: The Long-Term Value of Quality Refurbished Furniture

By Ida Gorecka • July 30, 2025
You’re in the middle of planning an office space. Budgets are tight. Lead times are short. It’s tempting to type “cheap office chairs” into your browser and find something that fits the spreadsheet. But here’s the problem: cheap furniture is rarely cheap in the long run . The market is saturated with budget desks, chairs, and storage that look good online, but fall apart in practice. And when they do, they cost more - more to replace, more to dispose of, more to fix (if that’s even possible), and more in lost time and productivity. It’s a vicious cycle that undermines your budget, timeline, and any potential ESG goals. According to WRAP , the UK disposes of over 200,000 tonnes of office furniture every year - much of it barely used. When furniture fails quickly, so does your investment. In a commercial setting, that failure shows up in missed deadlines, spiralling budgets, and sustainability goals slipping out of reach. So before you hit "order" on another bulk buy of flat-packed furniture, take a moment. In this article, you'll learn the hidden costs of cheap office furniture and why refurbished premium office furniture is the smarter alternative. If you're looking to reduce hassle, save money, and build a workspace that actually lasts, keep on reading. Need help getting started? Get in touch with our team for advice, audits, or to browse our refurbished stock .