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The end of August signifies the swan song of out-of-office messages and Summer Fridays. Work Week is our one-stop-shopping cluster dedicated to feeling good about getting back into a routine—whether that’s working from home, the office, or a classroom. We’ve got the snazzy task lamps, new desks, and sharp organization tools to help.
Squeezing a whole home office into a tiny corner sounds nearly impossible, but trust us, it can be done. The secret? A few clever tricks of the trade (go vertical, use color to define your spot) and, most important, a desk that fits within the parameters of your WFH space. Think: slim profile, wheels, and built-in storage. The right one can instantly turn a dusty, overlooked spot into a stylish, functional work nook. You might even find yourself wanting to spend time there when you’re OOO.
Take a look at our edit of the best desks for small spaces, below, all design-forward and practical, because limited square footage shouldn’t get in the way of carving out the ultimate home workstation.
Our Favorites
- Best wall-mounted: Hay Pier Office
- Best minimalist: CB2 Peekaboo Acrylic Console Table
- Best standing: Vivo Standing Desk
- Best storage: Pottery Barn Tilden Desk
- Best colorful: Urban Outfitters Rolling Desk
Wall-Mounted Desks for Small Spaces
When you lack square footage, look up. Take advantage of the free vertical space your walls have to offer with one of our favorite floating desks. From barely there shelves to options that offer extra storage space, all these finds need are a couple of solid anchors to attach to.
Pier Office, Hay
EKBY ALEX Shelf With Drawers, IKEA
Rail Desk by Keiji Ashizawa, Audo
Pietsch 30-Inch Desk, AllModern
Floating Desk Le Ketch 36 Inches, La Tenon & La Mortaise
Sector Desk, Burke Decor
Minimalist Desks for Small Spaces
When simplest is best, don’t just look for compact desks. Nondistracting finishes, details, and materials—like acrylic or Lucite, which are literally see-through to help cut through visual clutter—can make just as much of an impact. We’d stick to slim profiles, straight legs, smooth surfaces, and knobless drawer fronts.
Peekaboo Acrylic Console Table, CB2
Fantol Oak Desk, Article
Georg Desk, Skagerak By Fritz Hansen
Parsons Mini Desk, West Elm
Leopard Outdoor Products Folding Computer Desk, Amazon
Index Desk, Burrow
Standing Desks for Small Spaces
When we think of standing desks, big and clunky eyesores come to mind. But none of our picks of the innovative style take up too much space. We found plenty that are petite, ranging in length from a mere 27 inches to just 44 inches, allowing you to go from sitting to standing with the push of a button or lever.
Vivo Standing Desk, Wayfair
Mini Motia Sit-to-Stand Desk, DWR
Float Mini Table, Humanscale
Duo Standing Desk, Branch
Storage Desks for Small Spaces
In a studio apartment or small bedroom, extra storage is always welcome. Our favorites offer drawers that are the same length of the entire desk surface and extra shelving to keep more than just your notepads and calculators close by. There’s even a built-in filing cabinet and modern upgrade on the classic secretary desk.
Tilden Small Space Desk, PB Teen
Monte Nido Oak Wood Secretary Desk, CB2
Rosamonde Modular Desk, Lulu and Georgia
Lewis 36-Inch Pencil Desk, Williams Sonoma
Quincy Desk, Anthropologie
Loyola 34-Inch Desk, Lark Manor
Colorful Desks for Small Spaces
A great strategy to delineate space for a designated work zone is to incorporate a candy-hued pop of color. Our top select also happens to be equipped with wheels, adding mobility to the mix. If you ever need your laptop landing pad to pull double duty as a craft spot, dining table, island in the kitchen, or perhaps even a bar cart—this one’s for you. Because can’t we all agree that there’s nothing better than a two-for-one deal?
Ryan Rolling Desk, Urban Outfitters
mDesign Folding Desk, Amazon
Cant Desk, Blu Dot
Slim Desk, Room&Board
