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If we said desk, you’d think office—right? It’s only natural. But for our style director, Benjamin Reynaert, a different space jumps to mind. At the Next in Style panel this week (a series of virtual conversations hosted by Domino, the Cut, and CB2), he shared his top tip for making the most of your home during this time: Combine your workspace and sleep space. “A secretary desk is a great bedside table,” says Reynaert. “You can have books, plus it folds down so you can work during the day.”

Designer and fellow panelist Shavonda Gardener is also a big proponent of this dual-purpose furniture, and understandably so. (She lives with her wife and two kids in a 1,200-square-foot house.) “A lot of times our bedrooms are quieter and more private than the rest of the areas in our home,” she shares. “So they’re the perfect places to tuck away and do work.” 

Also, your desk doesn’t even have to be a desk. A console table can easily take the place of a standard work surface (simply adjust the height of the legs and…voilà!). “Have fun changing things around,” says Reynaert. Small-space dwellers, take a page out of Home Union founders Daniel King and Meghan Lavery’s book and go with a floating vanity instead. This sidekick will have your back morning and night, Monday through Sunday. 

Our Winter Renovation issue is here! Subscribe now to step inside Leanne Ford’s latest project—her own historic Pennsylvania home. Plus discover our new rules of reno.