Much ado has been made about the home office desk in the past few years. Work from home orders made desks — traditionally a secondary or tertiary purchase — a run-out-and-buy-it-now necessity. In the aftermath, came the realization that picking a desk for home office use can be downright perplexing. After all, ergonomics can be irking, as can whether or not you need options like built-in electrical outlets. And what about drawers? Are they a necessity in a near-paperless world? To answer these questions, we thought it best to take an all-hands-on-deck approach to desk shopping. Ahead, five design pros reveal their best style and practicality desk-selecting tips.
Co-Opt Some Color
Does a colorful workspace boost your productivity? Designers are inclined to say yes, and despite the abundance of brown wood desks on the market, they frequently encourage clients to opt for one in a more vibrant hue. For a desk situated in a primary bedroom retreat, designer Whitney Robertson Wood of the DC firm WRW Interiors selected a Neoclassical desk outfitted in a rich malachite color. Paired with a Klismos chair, the desk feels sophisticated but also a touch playful — ideal for keeping your bedroom feeling restful, not stressful.
Take Stock of Scale
If you’re not pulling a full nine to five at home everyday, you might consider going with a smaller desk. While there are plenty of newly-made options available, designers like Tish Mills are fond of vintage or vintage-inspired designs. The petite, leggy cabriole desk that she selected for the office above, for instance, makes the room feel more inviting than an office barricaded by a massive executive desk. Pro tip: small office desks for home workspaces are fairly easy to find if you do an online search using the keyword “writing desk.”
Assess the Practicality of a Built-In
If you adore drawers, chances are high that not even the most hulking of executive desks will satisfy your whims. In these cases, built-in desks are likely to be your best bet. For a home office meant to function as the hub of the home, Atlanta designer Robin Pelissier installed a floor-to-ceiling built-in desk painted in a soft, lamb’s ear green shade. Take note of the ways Robin worked to lighten the heavy look of the built-in. A bamboo chippendale chair with open fretwork, a light oak desktop, and a pin board upholstered in a playful print effectively “aerate” the look.
Feature a Float
Have a particularly small home office? Floating a desk in the center of the floor can make it feel significantly larger. NYC-based firm Mendelson Group did just that in the petite office above, selecting a Danish Modern desk with a floating top to anchor the space. In a particularly small space, a floating-top desk like the one above prevents the piece from visually blockading the room. (The open air allows a visual sightline between the front of the room and the back.) It’s worth noting that if you float your desk (floating desk or not), you will have to get crafty when it comes to cords.
Consider the Payoffs of Going Custom
When you consider how immensely personal working styles are, there’s definite merit to going custom with your desk. Designer White Webb opted to do just that in the room above, creating a colorful desk with arches inspired by Indian architecture. “When your work area is always on display, the desk plays a critical part in the design scheme,” says White. “Sleek, sophisticated, and functional, this desk provides ample work space, streamlined storage, and lots of style.”
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Lead image design by Robin Pelissier Design / Photo by Michael J. Lee Photography
