Working From Home: 5 Compact Desk Designs For Small Spaces
COVID-19 has led to a large proportion of the UK workforce now working from home. If you did not regularly work from home before the outbreak, you might be finding it hard to concentrate sitting at the kitchen table being distracted by the fridge, or sitting squashed up on the sofa in front of the TV. A dedicated workstation where you can sit comfortably and have everything to hand can boost productivity - the problem is that many of us do not have a spare room or a large area to place an office chair and desk…
The good news is that there are some stylish home office desk designs out there that take up minimal floor space and can be placed in the most awkward of areas of your home. Below, I have listed 5 compact desk options that are perfect for small-space living (and some of them can even be transformed into shelving or other forms of storage when you return to the office).
Image Credit: Alvhem.com
The String Shelving System
String is a Scandinavian design company known for the flexible ‘String® Shelving System’ designed by Nils Strinning. This shelving system is modular, enabling you to combine individual parts to create a functional piece of furniture to suit your needs. The panels that you attach to the wall are skinny and thin, letting the light travel through them (perfect for small spaces where block pieces of furniture feel too chunky and dominating.) You then have the option to add a range of shelves, cabinets, racks and organisers, depending on your requirements. This light-in-feel, wall-hung design allows easy threading access for cables and enables you to place connectivity devices as close to your laptop or computer as required (for example, when you need access to the best rural internet available if you live in a remote area or in the countryside).
Image credit: String Furniture
Purchase a string shelving system with a work desk for a stylish, light and airy workstation at home in an alcove or on a wall, then swap out the desk later on for a display shelf or storage rack when the desk is no longer required. Buy String Shelving with a desk via John Lewis & Partners.
Image credit: String Furniture
Ladder Desk
A ladder desk is a great option for a small space as its proportions are thin and narrow. As it only has two legs it takes up minimal floor space, yet the height allows extra storage other than just the desk surface. A ladder shelf is a great option if you have a small nook or area of space where it can rest against the wall. Team it with a skinny-frame chair to keep the area from looking heavy and bulky.
This ladder desk is currently on sale at West Elm
Oak ladder desk - £250 via Cox & Cox
The fold-down desk
Nyjo Wall desk by La Redoute Interiors.
The fold-down desk is the most compact desk you can purchase. Attach it to the wall and simply pull it out when required. Many of them are designed so well you can even store paper and stationary inside, alongside a space to host a laptop.
Flapps Desk Table via Naken Interiors
Esme wall desk in Ash via Made.com - £149
The slim-line or compact desk
Desks need not be large pieces of furniture. In fact, many desks now come as small, slimline versions of their larger counterparts. My Audrey desk by West Elm is a ‘mini’ version of the larger, original version at just 91cm in length. My compact desk is perfect for my needs and slots into a small corner of my home with ease.
My Audrey Mini-Desk from West Elm is a compact 91cm across, making it suitable to place in small areas of my home.
Umage has designed a ‘streamlined desk’ which contains hidden draws and compartments to keep your wires, papers and other items out of sight. 100cm in size, all the secret pull-out areas keep surface clutter to a minimum. Buy the Ambitions desk via Black By Design.
This Umage Ambitions desk has been cleverly designed to hide cables and stationary. Image Credits: Umage
The Legless DIY Desk
A totally budget-friendly way to create a workstation is to install a DIY desk. Simply cut and mount a thick piece of MDF / shelf / old tabletop or a laminate worktop offcut in an area where it can be supported.
DIY blogger Medina Grillo cut this IKEA tabletop at an angle to fit perfectly in a dead space area under her stairs. She then slotted in an IKEA drawer unit for a sleek workstation set-up.
A shelf has been cut to size and hosted in a narrow area off the kitchen in Eyeswoon’s incredible Brooklyn home. Image Credit:AD.
Below are a few of my favourite compact desks and desk accessories to create a stylish, yet functional, workstation at home. Indulge in well-designed stationery and office accessories that complement your home (along with scented candles) to build an environment you want to stay and work in.
La Redoute - Elori Scandi-Style Oak Desk - £202 / 2. Wapong Concertina Desk - £479 / 3. Kate Spade Gold Dot Stapler - £26 / 4. Monograph - Brass Stationary Organiser - £39 / 5. HAY - merselis table lamp - £155 / 6. HAY - Sand Timer - £65 / 7. HAY - Iris Pen Holder - £29 / 8. Diptyque Baies scented candle - £47 / 9. Menu wood and fabric chair - £599 / 10. Made Jory Modular Desk - £249 / 11. Waska rattan and oak desk - £299 / 12. MIni Anglepoise Lamp - Heals - £114 / 13. Shoulder Vase - £45 - Heals.