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By Blake Bakkila and Erika Owen
Illustration by Gabrielle Pilotti Langdon
Tight on square footage? Then you need a desk that won’t cramp your style. We’ve gathered the best desks for small spaces that give you an ample work surface and plenty of storage areas without eating up valuable real estate. These desks will give you a tucked-away work-from-home area to fit neatly into a studio apartment, bedroom, or living room.
Below, read on for compact desk options from some of our favorite retailers in a variety of styles, including midcentury-modern secretary desks, laptop desks, minimalist ladder desks, and more. Whether you’re looking to store office essentials, transform a bookshelf into a workspace, or ditch that overstuffed filing cabinet for something a bit more streamlined, that small room (or small home) of yours is about to get a major (productivity) upgrade.
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Available in eight color options (we’re partial to the olive/ash combination, for a pop of color), this desk can be arranged with the slim drawer on both the left or right side. This would serve well as a slim computer desk or a workspace for a writer’s home office. Why we really love it: The desk itself is sleek, but the narrow legs give it a lighter look, despite its width of nearly four feet. Reviewers applaud how easy it is to put together, which is a major plus. All you need to do now is add a chic, ergonomic chair.
You don’t need to give up any floor space for this wall-mounted desk. It’s available in three sizes—small, medium, and large—and features a small workspace with a slight ledge above. The design is made from repurposed construction debris (love to see it!). Sometimes, there’s just no room for a desk, and anyone who has ever lived in a studio can attest to that—and this desk is just right for situations like that.
Whether you go with kelly green or sky blue, this desk is the utilitarian desk you’ve been searching for. It’s easy to move around, thanks to a set of casters—this is a great addition for small spaces, as it immediately turns your workspace into a versatile mobile station of sorts. Need to fold some laundry and your bed is full of dirty clothes (about to head into the washer, of course)? Grab the Ryan Desk! Hosting a cookie decorating party and you need a workspace? Ryan has your back. It’s made of metal and easy to clean—just wipe it clean as needed.
If you are looking for a desk that can double as a vanity or a living room sideboard, the Sloane from Castlery is a great option. The fluted panels and storage drawers give it a sophisticated look that won’t look out of place in a non-office setting.
There’s something magical about furniture with hidden functions. This is one of those pieces of furniture. At first glance, it looks like a slightly retro cabinet. Psyche! There’s a hidden murphy desk once you open up the cabinet drawers. There’s storage packed into every corner of this design—we’re especially into the low-profile bookshelf on each side and interior shelves. Heads up: It might be best to assemble this one with a buddy, and make sure to anchor the cabinet to the wall.
Level up your at-home work station with this sleek, sophisticated desk from West Elm. The desk features a tempered-glass top, steel frame, and engineered wood. It’s available in cloud and walnut (pictured).
One of our favorite brands for office furniture, Branch makes some of the cleanest, most reliable desks and chairs around. For small spaces, we recommend their Daily Desk, which, at just $279, is an exceptional value. It can be assembled in just five minutes and boasts a design that goes with anything and is endlessly customizable, no matter what your space looks like. It comes in six colors, ranging from a classic white-and-woodgrain to a modern charcoal-on-charcoal. It’s tall enough to fit an office chair under if needed, but it also goes great with a stool or extra dining chair.
Another AD favorite, Article is a site we’d have no problem using to fill our entire house. Their office furniture is modern, well-built, and made to last, so it’s no surprise the Fantol Leaning Desk made the list. It doubles as a bookcase or home for your favorite small plants thanks to two shelves at the top and the two sleek drawers are just big enough to house all of your random office trinkets.
We like that this Cayman desk can serve as a useful office space by day and a minimalist dining table by night. Sleek and modern, this L-shaped desk is made from solid mango wood and has a rotating section that allows you to take up less space whenever you’d like.
As the name suggests, this desk has a lot of personality. The colorful dividers create cubbies for a special touch to the design, and the overall shape gives you ample space for work or play. The Nelson Swag Leg was designed by Herman Miller’s then design director George Nelson in 1958 and we think it still looks excellent over 60 years later.
Height-adjustable desks don’t have to be large or clunky affairs. Case in point: this compact desk with a metal frame and low profile. It gives you enough space to work without cramping the style of a living room or bedroom. It’s not as easy to use as an electric standing desk, but is way more economical if you’re tight on space.
Simple, stylish, and small, this office desk checks all the boxes. Plus, it’s got two drawers to store away all kinds of papers and office supplies. A writing desk is always a top choice for small spaces thanks to its utility and small footprint.
This desk comes from Pottery Barn Teen, but it’s a solid choice (made of solid wood) for all ages. It’s great-looking, of course, and it’s also Greenguard Gold certified, meaning it’s free of harmful chemicals. It’s available in white or dark walnut and is easily small enough to fit in any nook or cranny.
Give your workspace an industrial touch with this wood-and-bronze metal desk from West Elm. It’s handmade in India and comes in black, cerused white, or cool walnut.
This midcentury-modern secretary desk with a drop-down door looks like it came straight off the set of Mad Men. It’s made of solid eucalyptus wood and has metal hardware in an antique bronze finish throughout.
Not only is this Target find small, it literally folds up and stores away in a closet or under a bed, which makes it an obvious choice for anyone who wants to reconvert their bedroom into just a bedroom when the weekend rolls around. Check out this glowing review: “This desk is already fully put together and ready to go out of the box. All you have to do is unfold the desk, which only took a few seconds. It’s a great quality desk that doesn’t take up much space. You have enough room to do laptop work, writing, etc. I love the added drawer that I fill with pens, tape, and a calculator. I highly recommend this, especially if you’re tight on space!” The foldable desk is available in white, walnut, natural, and gray (pictured).
This space-saving small desk tucks neatly into a corner and can be adjusted to your desired height. There aren’t many height-adjustable corner desks, so this is a great find. We love the clean, contemporary look.
Feel free to roll and adjust this desk to your exact specifications. You’ll be able to customize it with your preferred tabletop and base finishes as well as choose between casters or glides (note that there is also a smaller size that comes with glides only).
For a welcome break from the neutrals, the icy blue base finish on this sit-to-stand electric desk for small spaces is ideal. Available in three different sizes and color combinations, the desktop height is conveniently adjustable at just the touch of a button. Bonus: You can order a desk chair in the exact same color for a monochrome setup.
Desk Organizer Office Sure, nobody puts baby in a corner—but you certainly can design your office space there. A corner desk frees up plenty of space for other interior design essentials. This one comes with storage shelves, and while we’re partial to the white finish, it’s also available in black and rustic brown.