The Story in short.
It started in Denmark, when founder Kristers built a standing desk to save his back while studying. With family roots in wood and steel, that first prototype grew into a simple idea: solid European oak, engineered lift, nothing unnecessary.
In 2019, we introduced one of the first solid-oak sit-stand desks to Europe—born from a small workshop, a few leftover planks, and the belief that furniture should feel personal and connected to nature.
We still hold to that belief today. One desk at a time, made right.
We don’t rush quality. We don’t follow trends.
Everything we do is shaped by calm, focus and the feel of real oak. We craft with patience and integrity because your environment shapes your energy—and the objects you live with should reflect that. We choose enduring materials—European oak, precision steel, smart integrations, and natural finishes—to connect what nature gives us with modern technology.
At OAKO, our mission is to create furniture that transforms the way people work and live. Not just functional, but grounding. Not just durable, but meaningful. A desk should help you focus, calm your mind, and inspire better work. That’s why we design for those who expect more: more clarity in their space, more strength in their tools, and more longevity in the things they choose to keep.
Where Oak Meets Technology
The First Prototype
In 2019, height-adjustable desks were just starting to appear on the market. But they all looked the same—laminate, chipboard, nothing real. As a student, OAKO owner Kristers wanted one badly, so he decided to make one. Coming from a family of woodworkers, and with a father working in a metal factory, he saw an opportunity: real oak combined with strong steel legs could be something different.
He spent months building prototypes, website, company, failing more often than succeeding. Friends admired the idea, but nobody bought. Money was running out. At school he had been taught to focus on market at the time- Denmark first, then expand later. But nothing happened. Out of desperation, he listed the desk in Germany—and within 12 hours, the first order came in. Two more followed that same day.
The timing couldn’t have been more critical. Late 2019, just as the world was about to change, OAKO finally came alive.
A World Working From Home
The Turning Point
When Covid hit, people were suddenly stuck at home. Dining tables became offices. Back pain became a daily problem. And for the first time, many were searching for desks that actually felt good to work at.
That’s when the breakthrough came. Orders began pouring in—first in Germany, then across Europe. What started as one desk quickly turned into dozens, then hundreds. The small workshop became a whirlwind of oak boards, oil, sanding, and late-night packing. It was exhausting. But it was also a turning point: families across Europe were unboxing their first real oak standing desks, and OAKO had become part of the new way of working.
From workshop to production line.
The Year of Growth
The momentum of 2020 made one thing clear: OAKO needed to take more control of the production. Until then, oak desktops had been crafted in small batches. But to keep up with demand—and to protect quality—the company invested in its first production line.
It was a big risk. The machines were expensive, and the learning curve was steep. But it gave OAKO full ownership of its most important element: the oak top. Every cut, every sanding, every layer of oil was now done in-house. Seeing rows of desktops finished and ready to ship was a proud milestone—the moment OAKO truly became a manufacturer, not just a workshop.
More Than a Desk
The First Accessories
By 2022, OAKO customers wanted more than just a desk. They wanted a complete workspace. So OAKO expanded its range. Oak drawers that slid like silk, monitor stands that elevated screens, cabinets that carried the same DNA as the desktops—all designed to match perfectly.
That year also saw refinements in leg design and desktop prototypes. The goal was simple: make the desks sleeker, stronger, and more enjoyable to use. OAKO was no longer just about solving back pain. It was about building spaces where people actually wanted to spend their time.
Nature at Its Boldest
The Alive Collection
In 2023, OAKO took its boldest step yet: the Alive Collection. Made from wide, live-edge oak slabs, no two desks were ever the same. Each piece carried its own grain, its own edge, its own story.
It was risky—Alive was OAKO’s most premium desk yet. But the response was extraordinary. Architects, designers, creators and real professionals who valued authenticity embraced it immediately. Alive proved that OAKO wasn’t just building furniture—it was crafting statement pieces.
Protecting what matters.
Built to Last
One question kept coming up: would oak really last in daily life? Oak is strong, but coffee spills, scratches, and constant use are tough on any surface. OAKO spent months testing finishes until it found the answer: a new, resilient coating that was stain-resistant and still satin-matte to the touch.
It preserved the natural warmth of oak while making the desktops tougher than ever. Customers noticed immediately. Many wrote back months later saying their desks still looked brand new. For OAKO, that was proof: beauty and durability could live together.
Raising the Standard
The desk, perfected.
By 2025, OAKO was ready to push beyond everything it had built before.
- New frames with Bluetooth connectivity and app-based controls made movement effortless.
- Oak desktops were completely re-engineered with hidden reinforcement, keeping them perfectly stable for life.
- Every desk was still hand-oiled, hand-checked, and carefully paired with the strongest frames available.
Six years after a student nearly gave up on his first prototype, OAKO Denmark had become something much bigger: a brand that set the standard for real wood desks. Authentic, handcrafted, and made to stay with you for a lifetime.