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 f ull 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.

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By Ida Gorecka • July 16, 2025

If you're managing an office move, refit, or hybrid transition, you've likely faced this question: do we buy new furniture, or make use of what we have? Every year, over 1.2 million desks and 1.8 million office chairs are sent to landfill in the UK- enough to fill Wembley Stadium twice. ( Source: WRAP ) With Landfill Tax raised to £126.15 per tonne in April 2025 (S ource: UK Government ), the cost of disposing office furniture is increasing fast. If you’re trying to balance budgets , meet ESG goals , and minimise downtime , choosing refurbishment over replacement could be the most strategic decision you make this year. In this guide, we’ll show you how to get more from what you already own. Saving thousands, supporting your ESG goals, and creating a more flexible, future-proof workspace. Got a project coming up? Get in touch and we’ll help you explore your refurbishment options.

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By Ida Gorecka • July 7, 2025

Your education budget is under more pressure than ever. Whether you're managing a school, college, or university, you know the challenge: creating inspiring learning environments while budgets shrink and demands grow. According to research by the IFS , between 2010/11 and 2022/23, funding received by colleges for 16-19 education dropped by nearly a quarter, and adult skills funding was cut by more than half. Meanwhile, overall surplus levels fell for the sector as a whole from £2,290 million (5.6 per cent of income) in 2021-22 to £1,284 million (2.9 per cent of income) in 2023-24 ( source ). This financial squeeze is hitting at exactly the wrong time. Your students deserve quality learning environments, but premium furniture prices make this increasingly difficult to achieve. But what if there was a solution that delivered professional-quality furniture without the premium price tag? What if you could create the inspiring spaces your students need while actually saving money ? By choosing refurbished office furniture , you can stretch your budget 3-5 times further, receive furniture in days rather than months, and create premium-quality learning environments - all without compromising on the standards your institution demands. Curious to see what's available? Browse our current inventory of high-quality refurbished educational furniture - updated daily and ready for fast delivery.