31 Desk Ideas for Small Spaces

Space is always at a premium in any home. As more and more people are working from home, the need for comfortable desks that don’t take up too much room has grown.

That’s where we come in. This list of desk ideas for small spaces will inspire you to consider different approaches when planning a home office or homework area. In addition to creative desk ideas, we’ve included a few tips for making your new home office space look and feel more comfortable. 

If you aren’t sure where to start, a local interior designer in your area can help you make use of the available space.

1. Transform an Unused Closet

It’s pretty easy to overlook a closet, but it could easily transform into an office space. If you have a spare room with an underutilized closet, moving a desk into that space (or building a floating desk) to create a cloffice could be a quick and easy solution. 

2. Build a Corner Desk

Building a corner desk is easier than it might look. Take measurements of the two walls that make up the corner, measure and cut a piece of wood (use finished plywood or solid wood for a nicer surface) to fit the corner, and attach it to the wall using brackets. That way, you can add a dedicated work space without taking up too much square footage.

3. Use a Ladder Desk

Ladder desks are a trendy and excellent way to maximize an awkward or small space. There are tons of ladder desks available in stores, or you can research plans for building your own. In addition to the style points you’ll add to the room, you also get extra storage space for the ultimate win-win addition. 

4. Cut a Table Down to Size

Sometimes things don't work the way they are. But that doesn’t mean you can’t change them. For example, if you have an empty corner and a large table, cut the table down to get it to fit in the corner. Instead of adding all four legs back, anchor the cut side to the wall with brackets or screws. DIYing a desk will transform a room and give you a workspace you’ll love.

5. Save Space With a Floating Desk

A floating desk is one of the best solutions for rooms with the least amount of extra space. A floating desk attaches directly to a wall and doesn’t rest on legs or supports. This tiny footprint means that you can take advantage of even the smallest spaces. Many of these desks have built-in storage options, too.

6. Get More With a Nesting Desk

A nesting desk is several small tables or desks that nest together. This method limits the occupied square footage and makes your workspace more flexible. Have a call with a client? The main desk will be fine. Need to spread out the work on a big project? Use the extra surface space to get a handle on the bigger picture. 

7. Use a Hall Table

Do you have a hall table that’s a catch-all space for your keys and a few random items? That could be the new desk you need. Because hall tables are generally shorter and less wide than other tables, they can fit in tighter spaces. While you might not want to pull up a chair in your hallway, moving a hall table to another room and sliding it next to the wall or window might be perfect for a workspace.

8. Repurpose Old Furniture

If you have an old desk or table tucked away in storage, consider using it for your small-space desk. Repurposing old furniture is good for the environment and good for your wallet. Using what you have also clears space in other areas of your home that you could put to better use.  

9. Dedicate One Section of a Long Table to a Desk

Do you already have a table that’s used for storage or displaying decor? Is there any extra space at one end? If so, you could use the extra space as a desk area. It would even allow you to update, rearrange, or organize the decor and items stored on the table to make room for your laptop and a few office essentials.

10. Get on Your Feet With a Standing Desk

Study after study has shown that standing more often positively affects your health. If you want to stay active when working from home, there are affordable adjustable standing desks available in small sizes. Don’t want to spend the money on an adjustable option until you’re sure you like standing? You can use a tall table or workbench as a standing desk to get a feel for it.

11. Make Use of the Space Between Built-Ins

Built-ins are almost universally awesome—they improve any room’s look and give you more storage. But if your built-ins are a little older, the space around or between them may not be as usable. If you have a space between them that won’t fit your TV or if there’s a mantel that you don’t use, you can add a desk or install a floating desk. It will be an attractive and useful addition to the room.

12. Install a Permanent Folding Desk

For those spaces that have to remain multi-use, a permanent folding desk is an option that can do a lot. You get a work surface, built-in storage, and don’t use valuable floor space when you aren’t at work. Best of all, when you fold your desk at the end of the day, you get a nice, clean separation between your work and your home life.

13. Mix and Match Work Surfaces

When trying to fit a desk into a small space, it’s easy to get frustrated because every option seems too big or too small. Instead of looking for a one-piece desk, you could use several different pieces to create a work surface. Visit second hand stores to look for smaller tables or desks and end tables that could fit into odd-shaped areas of your home.

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14. Build a Desk You Can Take Down Each Day

Don’t have any room where you can stick a permanent desk? A folding table stand and a desktop made from a light but durable material gives you a workspace that folds up and tucks away at the end of each day. That movability means you can set it up in different parts of the house if needed.

15. Try a C-Table to Turn Any Area of Your Home Into a Workspace

C-tables are easy to move and you can use them with nearly any kind of furniture. Want to sit in your favorite easy chair or on the sofa to do your work? A c-table lets you do just that, and many options are stylish, so they won’t stand out awkwardly in a room.

16. Go Thrifting to Find Great Desks at Great Prices

Checking used furniture stores and thrift stores for desks will present you with lots of choices, sizes, and shapes of desks. Thrifted options are typically more affordable than buying something new—and reusing furniture creates less waste.

17. Build Bookshelves Around Your Desk 

Bookshelves provide lots of storage and can help make a desk feel like it’s a part of a room, so wherever your desk ends up, build shelves around it. You’ll appreciate the extra storage, and it can be a huge help to have reference books and materials next to you as you work.

18. Transform a Telephone Nook 

If you live in an older home, you might have a telephone nook that isn’t being used (or is a magnet for clutter). Some nooks are large enough to hold a laptop, but if yours isn’t, you can spend a little time enlarging the nook to give you enough space to work from. Have a qualified local electrician install an outlet, and you’re good to go.

19. Pull a Chair Up to a Bay Window

If your bay window has a seating area, you can replace it with a stable flat surface, like a piece of butcher block, to create a desk. You can even transform the space into a permanent desk or you can take the butcher block down every day and tuck it against the wall.

20. Decorate With Plants

Adding a plant to your desk can make even the smallest space feel more alive and vibrant. If your desk is too small to fit a plant, add some to the windows or shelves around you. You’ll appreciate having the pops of color and the calm that popular houseplants bring.

21. Paint Your Desk to Match the Room

If you’re happy with a room’s style and decor of a room but you need to put a desk in it, don’t fret. You can stop the desk from becoming the focal point of the room with paint. Simply paint your desk to match your walls and you’ll be amazed at how much it feels like a part of the space.

22. Spruce Up Your Workspace With a Makeup Table

Do you spend a lot of time on video calls where you have to look your absolute best? Working from your makeup vanity could solve all of your problems. Makeup tables have small footprints, built-in storage, and a mirror and lighting to help you look and feel your best all day long. 

23. Go Traditional With a Writing Desk

A lot of writing desks are large, clunky pieces that become the center of the room they’re in, but not all of them. You can find contemporary writing desks that are small enough to slot into tight spaces, plus they’re a great backdrop for knick-knacks and decor pieces.

24. Work at a Repurposed End Table

Do you work off of a laptop? Find an end table with long legs with a top drawer for storage. That will give you a compact workspace, and you’ll still have room to put your legs under your new desk. Bonus points if you can use an end table you already have.

25. Move Your Workspace Around Using a Rolling Table

Rolling tables mean flexibility. Move between rooms as needed (or whenever you want a change of scenery). Rolling desks are also a great addition to the kitchen, so you can store them in the kitchen when you aren’t working.

26. Optimize the Area Under Your Stairs

The spot under your stairs is an odd-shaped space, which means you can customize everything from the desktop size to shelving and lighting. Start simple and build it into the perfect space for your needs, including adding seating and storage. 

27. Try a TV Tray

TV trays are small, easy to move, and available in lots of styles, and they work with any kind of seating. One of the best parts? When your work day is done, you can fold it up and put it away and not worry about work until the next day.

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28. Use Folding Tables for Flexible Work Space

Folding tables aren’t only for additional holiday seating and outdoor games. These versatile pieces make great desks for small spaces because they are available in different sizes and are easy to set up and take down. If you have an unused corner, add in two folding tables for a large workspace that you’ll love.

29. Look for Nooks

Most homes have some strange area or nook that was created when building out a more important space. But while these might have been wasted in the past, you can now use them to your advantage. Add a small table or floating desk and some shelves for an instant workspace or reading nook.

30. Keep Your Desk Clear With Hanging Hooks

When you have a small desk, it can be tough fitting a laptop, extra screen, keyboard, and mouse on it, so you need to keep the surface as clear as possible. Install hanging hooks above your desk and hang headphones, cables, and other things you need. You can even hang small storage bins from these hooks for even more storage options.

31. Make Your Desk an Accent Piece

Desks and office chairs aren’t necessarily the first pieces of furniture you would think of when someone mentions style or decor focus, but that isn’t a hard-and-fast truth. Look for funky vintage pieces to add a dash of personality to your room or paint the wall around your small workspace an interesting color to make it feel like it’s supposed to be there.

Now that you have some desk ideas for small spaces, grab your tape measure and start looking for all of the hidden spots waiting to become your new office space. Make sure to spend some time making your new work area productive, and don’t hesitate to hire a professional organizer in your area if you want help making the most of your space.