Since working from home is now a big part of our daily lives, your thoughts may turn to a built-in desk to make your setup more sustainable. Whether you find it easy or challenging to focus at home, a custom-designed desk will increase both your productivity and your creativity.
You may like the integrated look and want to create something sleek and seamless. Or maybe you want to introduce extra features into an underused space. You may also be trying to figure out exactly which desk ideas make the best use of a small work area that just isn’t quite right.
Whatever your needs, our trusted experts have provided you with a wealth of ideas that are sure to appeal to you.
8 built-in desk ideas to consider
1. Place your built-in desk near a window
Credit: TR Studio
A desk should first and foremost be a productive space, and its placement has a huge impact on how you feel when you use it. A generous amount of natural light is high on the wish list for most spaces, but it is especially important to consider a built-in desk design.
“When we sit at our desks, we often need some inspiration, so we like to try to build desks under windows,” says Tom Rutt, founder of TR Studio (opens in new tab). ‘The reason for this is that you get the maximum amount of mood-enhancing light and also feel a connection with the seasons and the world beyond.’
In addition to being in a visually appealing location, Tom also suggests that a built-in desk should also appeal to our sense of touch. “It’s also important to consider the material of the desk,” he says. ‘The best agencies feel good; not rough or too cold. Wood and leather generally feel better on the skin than steel and brass.’
2. Build a storage system around your desk
Credit: Virtually Here Studios. Design: A1000xBetter
When introducing something new to your home, especially something that is relatively permanent such as custom joinery, it makes sense to prioritize both longevity and functionality. One way to check both boxes is to make sure the new addition has plenty of storage space — and this is especially true for built-in desks.
A built-in desk should not only fully support your work-related needs, it should also help organize your home office and manage your home. Think about adding cabinets and shelves into the design where possible, and consider whether there are other elements of the room that would benefit from a built-in system – as in the case of this project where continuing the cabinets below creates the perfect place to hide television cables.
3. Use a wide hallway
Credit: Katie Alice. Design: Cortney Bishop Design)
You don’t necessarily need a dedicated office space to have a built-in desk – in fact, awkward or awkward spaces can be the best place to introduce custom joinery, as it can completely transform the space into a place you can to use .
In this beautiful project from South Carolina-based interior designer Cortney Bishop (opens in new tab), the hallway was generous and benefited from a large window overlooking a beautiful view, but missed a mark. A built-in desk turned out to be the perfect solution to make the most of the space. “We chose to build a desk and bookshelves because we wanted to create a truly functional workspace that took advantage of the most breathtaking views.”
4. Experiment with Contrasting Colors
Credit: Stephen Kent Johnson. Design: Jamie Bush + Co)
Although a desk has many practical and spatial requirements, you must also consider its aesthetic qualities. This is especially true for built-in desks, as they are an even more permanent addition to your home than their freestanding counterparts, and will add a lot to the overall look and feel of a room.
“This is a custom desk we designed that became the centerpiece of the entire room,” explains Jamie Bush, founder of Jamie Bush + Co. (opens in new tab), from this bedroom office. ‘The desk itself is made from open grain oak with an oxblood red lacquer finish, and we decided to contrast the dark finish with a pale wall covering to create maximum visual impact.’
That’s not to say that functionality should be given up entirely, and this project from Bush + Co is a perfect example of how to combine both practicality and beauty. “Like so many New York apartments, where every square inch is used, we introduced a lot of storage, but mounted it on the wall so that it floated off the floor to give a sense of weightlessness,” says Jamie. The three floating shelves are aligned with the drawers below, then the desktop extends to create a work surface and has a rounded end. That curved detail is then reflected in the vertical panel at the bottom under the desk to give visual weight to the end of the piece and create a more sculptural design.”
5. Define a built-in with color
Credit: interior fox
Color can also be used to place a built-in desk in a larger space. This is especially effective in open spaces that have to fulfill multiple functions. “A great way to create a distinct space in a room is to split up a small section of the wall and paint it a contrasting color,” says Jen & Mar, co-founders of Interior Fox. (opens in new tab). “This zoning technique allows you to create a space that motivates you, even in the smallest of spaces – in this project we paneled and painted a small section of the wall in a soothing nature-inspired shade, Little Greene’s Olive Green.”
The great thing about built-in desks is that they can be completely customized to your needs, and if your home office is limited, the design can be simplified to create a space that is highly practical, without the other features of the Room. “Here we installed a freestanding shelf that provides desk space during the day, but can be easily stowed to double as a dressing table,” says Jen & Mar. “All you need is a desk lamp and a stool to pop underneath and your home office is ready to go!”
6. Add a desk to your kitchen
Credit: Roundhouse
It might not be the first place you might think of putting a built-in desk, but introducing a workspace into your kitchen can add a whole new level of functionality to the space. Designed by Roundhouse (opens in new tab), this desk was incorporated into the modern kitchen to support the way homeowner Julia Sugden used the space. “It’s a great place to sit and catch up on work, read the morning paper or go through house papers and post,” she says. “In my case, it’s very useful because I can finish some work and keep an eye on dinner at the same time.”
A built-in desk in the kitchen also provides extra storage for those sometimes hard-to-place items, explains Julia. “I find it can be useful for storing stationery, spare greeting cards, and other things we need to keep safe and easy to access without taking up precious kitchen storage,” she says. “The desk space doubles as a charging station for phones and iPad, which is very useful in the kitchen.”
For a really sleek and sophisticated finish, Allison Lynch, Senior Design Consultant at Roundhouse, recommends a sliding door. “A pocket door is a great way to hide a desk because it can be hidden in a kitchen unit with tall cabinets,” she says. “The doors slide back during use and can then be closed again to maintain a clean look.”
7. Make it multifunctional
(Image credit: Workstead)
If you like the idea of having a desk in the kitchen, but don’t have the space to give it a dedicated space, consider making your dining table work a little harder. As in the case of this serene space design from Brooklyn-based design studio Workstead (opens in new tab)building a custom dining table offered the opportunity to also give it a double function as a built-in desk.
The side drawers are the most critical part of the design, as they allow a smooth transition from work mode to relaxation, and provide ample space to store your work-related items and equipment at the end of a long day.
8. Make way for two
Credit: Matthew Williams Design: Studio DB
If you invest both the budget and space in a built-in desk, you may need to serve more than one person in your household. If this is the case, it is important to consider this requirement early on in the design.
A built-in solution can be a great way to make the most of space if you only have a small area that needs to work hard. Try to allocate as much space as possible to the width and depth of the desk so that two people can work comfortably, then make the most of every available ceiling height with overhead storage cabinets.
How deep should a built-in desk be?
Of course, this should always be informed by your own unique requirements and what you need to work, but there is a general rule of thumb that can be helpful to consider as a guideline when designing your built-in desk. “An important consideration is to make sure the desk is deep enough to give you space for a laptop and work comfortably,” says Tom Rutt, founder of TR Studio. “We generally recommend a fairly generous depth of about 25″ to give you plenty of room to play with.”
On the other hand, you may be thinking of a built-in desk for a small or multi-purpose room, in which case you can afford to go for something smaller. “For a floating shelf that doubles as a compact desk, it’s always best to consider the average size of a laptop and add a little extra to ensure a comfortable work setup,” says Jen & Mar, co-founders of Interior Fox. “We recommend a minimum of 18″ – this gives you plenty of room to put a stool underneath without feeling too bulky in a multi-purpose room.”