Investing in the best desk if you now regularly work from home is definitely a good idea. Sure, you might have been fine working from the kitchen table/bed/the sofa for the last few months but since WFH looks like it's going to become a more permanent set up for a lot of us, picking out a good desk is essentially for your productivity. A practical desk is also a good investment too if your children are going back to school or uni having a dedicated 'office' in your home is ideal for a homework spot.
But with so many options out there – corner desks, ladder desks, adjustable desks, fold-away desks – how do you know where to start? We suggest here, with our guide to the best office desks. And need something to pair with your new desk? Check out the best office chairs.
Sturdily built and beautiful, this solid oak desk from John Lewis takes our top spot for best desk. Its rustic distressed wire-brushed wood and welded iron legs are totally on-trend, but the high-quality construction and heft mean it's built to last. You get three deep drawers that are perfect for storing papers and stationery, as well as a cupboard that will fit your laptop so you can pop it away at the of the day.
A desk we certainly wouldn't complain about having in our home office, this Scandi-esque tall work station ticks all the boxes. Those who hate having loose cables around them whilst working will be happy to hear that there's handy cable management in this desk, and if you need a drawer to store important things, the one included can easily fit a laptop, keyboard and much more. There's another shelf which would be handy for those who use a printer, or just to store more paperwork, and there's a slot on top of the desk for your smartphone or tablet to comfortably sit on. The best part? It's compact, so can be moved around easily, and because it's oh so stylish, it'll look good pretty much anywhere in your home. Our pick of the best standing desk for those after something stylish.
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For minimalists and fans of that stripped-back Scandi aesthetic, this is the one. A clean-looking, bamboo desk that leans against the wall for a tiny footprint, it’s a great addition to a small home office. It also boasts a couple of shelves to boost storage and keep essentials within easy reach.
Unlike the ladder desk, this compact desk is completely free-standing so is a good alternative if you’re after a space-saving workstation but don’t want to screw anything to the wall. It’s simple, clean, and bang on-trend, so it’s perfect for any teen’s room or light, bright home office. The storage space isn’t huge, as you’d expect, but it’s just right for storing a laptop and a few supplies when not in use.
Working with a small home office? Just because you lack space doesn’t mean you should compromise on style, as this desk designed by Nazanin Kamali demonstrates. This desk ticks the boxes when it comes to style, with its dainty aesthetics and flash-of-white drawer. There’s subtle contrast in the square, linear design of the worktop and the pin-like form of the legs, too, making it the perfect statement piece for your home office.
If you’ve got the space for this minimalist looking desk, it’s certainly one to think about popping on your shopping list. It has two shelves so you can easily store paper work, a small printer or anything else away, and its 360 degree all round finish allows it to be placed anywhere in your home office, whether it be in the middle of the room or tucked in the corner. Why settle for a boring looking desk when you can get one like this, for a good price, too? The best standing desk for those after something to fit in with the rest of their minimalist decor, we think!
A great buy for strange-shaped spaces, this wooden corner desk unit from John Lewis looks smart and is sturdily built to last. The classic wood and simple design of this desk look less corporate and more cosy, especially if your office adheres to a warmer, more traditional scheme. It offers a great amount of storage and a roomy surface that’s great for those working from home who need space for a computer, huge sheets of paper, and all sorts of other bits and bobs.
With a length of 199cm, this white corner desk offers plenty of workspace. It features a shelving unit which is both stylish and functional, giving you plenty of space to store files or home office gadgets. It also has three drawers to store those more important documents away. Ideal for those who like everything to be organised, and want their home office to look the part. The winning attribute is its interchangeable layout, which can be easily swapped around, allowing you to rejig the layout of your office or if you move house.
How to buy the best desk
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There are a few things to consider before purchasing the best desk; here is what we think should be your biggest focuses:
Size
Not a huge deal if you've a large space to fill but important if you're thinking of moving your desk around the room every few months or you've a certain size space to fill.
Colour
Of course this is down to personal preference and your home office decor, but we have specified the colours available for each of our best desks to help you find what you are looking for.
Material
This is also pretty much all down to how you want your desk to look but you also might want to think about the practical side of it too. A wooden desk, for example, looks lovely but might scratch and is not ideal if you use your desk to write at.
Storage
In terms of practicality, storage is the most important part of your new desk. Think about how much space you need to store documents, stationery and tech. Do you need closed storage to hide away your items or are you happy to have it on show on shelves?
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