The 14 Best Desks for Small Spaces of 2024

Best Overall

Mercer 41 Micah Desk

$124 at Wayfair

There’s not much Mercer 41’s Micah Desk doesn’t have. It’s stylish, space-saving, and functional all at once. Whether you’re looking for an office desk or something to put in your living room or bedroom, we love this desk’s sleek white surface and the gold-painted frame—it makes the piece stand out in a modern space. The gold hoop hardware is a nice touch, too. 

Even though the desk is undeniably sleek, it does have two drawers, both of which have an impressive 22-pound weight capacity. We doubt you’ll need it, especially because it’s so structurally well-built (it has an overall 220-pound weight limit), but the desk does come with a 90-day trial and a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty that’ll make you feel even more confident in your purchase. 

Just note: Though this desk is great for most remote workers, it doesn’t feature any cutouts to manage your cables—something you might want to consider if you work on multiple screens daily. 

_{Dimensions: 30 x 42 x 20 inches | Weight: 52 pounds | Material: Manufactured wood, steel, and wood | Storage: Two drawers}

Best Budget

JOISCOPE Home Office Computer Desk

$75 at Amazon

The JOISCOPE Home Office Computer Desk proves you can still score stylish pieces on a budget. Though it’s under $100, the base is made of durable alloy steel and the top is scratch-resistant wood chipboard. 

The 40-inch desk is small enough to fit into a narrow bedroom but has plenty of built-in storage for everything you need in a full day of work. There’s a hook for headphones and two shelves to place pencil holders, file folders, and other essentials, keeping the desktop clear. Unfortunately, this desk doesn’t have drawers to tuck office supplies away, but it’s a small sacrifice to make for such an affordable and functional pick. 

_{Dimensions: 39.37 x 23.62 x 29.53 inches | Weight: 30.6 pounds | Material: Alloy steel, wood chipboard | Storage: Two shelves, headphone hook}

Best Splurge

West Elm Mid-Century Secretary Desk

$1,099 at West Elm

For remote workers who need a desk at home, but have to use part of their living room to do so, this secretary desk from West Elm is a worthy option. The desktop folds into the cabinet, so it looks like a typical bookshelf or storage cabinet when closed. This desk also has two concealed shelves and two deep drawers for storage. Whether you choose to house office supplies and a printer or other living room essentials like books and games, there’s plenty of room to do so. There’s also a cutout in the back of the desk to feed your cords through. 

The only downside to this desk is that it cannot fit a monitor within the cabinet. A monitor would have to be placed on top of it, but that might be too high for comfortable use. 

The desk is made of sustainably sourced, kiln-dried solid eucalyptus wood and engineered wood over acacia wood veneer. As a nice bonus, it is also GREENGUARD Gold-Certified, which means it’s a low-emitting product that has been screened for over 10,000 chemicals and VOCs. 

_{Dimensions: 38 x 16 x 44 inches | Weight: 128 pounds | Material: Kiln-dried solid eucalyptus wood, engineered wood, acacia wood veneer | Storage: Two concealed shelves, two drawers}

Best Standing

ERGOBOND White Compact Standing Desk

$380 at Wayfair

For those who want the option of sitting or standing, we like the ERGOBOND White Compact Standing Desk, because it combines the best of both worlds. The desk is thoughtfully designed with a sturdy steel base and an attractive manufactured wood top. A wire basket underneath a cable port keeps an extension cord within reach so you can easily plug in your laptop. 

We also like how easily this standing desk adjusts. The pneumatic raise mechanism makes adjustments smooth and effortless—no electric access or a hard-to-maneuver crank. Unfortunately, the brand does recommend removing anything from the surface of the desk prior to making adjustments—something that can feel like an inconvenience if you tend to keep a lot on your desk. However, this desk is pretty small, so we recommend pairing it with a separate file cabinet or bookcase to maximize storage space. 

_{Dimensions: 31.5 X 23.6 inches x 29.5 inches (maximum height is 47.2 inches) | Weight: 54.4 pounds | Material: Steel, manufactured wood | Storage: Wire basket}

Best with Storage

Anthropologie Quincy Desk

$559 at Anthropologie

Anthropologie’s Quincy Desk is another stylish mid-century modern piece that goes a long way to help elevate a room. Plus, it boasts three well-sized drawers for storage and a roomy work surface. We just wish there was a little more space underneath the desk to fit a normal-sized office chair. 

The piece is made of eucalyptus wood and coated with acacia veneer. It also has brushed brass drawer pulls. We appreciate that it’s finished on all four sides, so you could place it in the middle of a room, rather than against a wall.  

This desk can take two to four weeks to arrive and Anthropologie charges $149 to deliver it. Thankfully, this fee is for white glove delivery, so there’s no assembly required. They’ll deliver it, assemble it, and remove any boxes or packaging. 

_{Dimensions: 30 x 40 x 20 inches | Weight: Not listed | Material: Solid eucalyptus wood, engineered hardwood, acacia wood veneer | Storage: Three drawers}

Best Corner

Winston Porter Careyann Corner Writing Desk

$164 at Wayfair

A corner desk is a great way to maximize space in a small room, and this traditional option is particularly great for college apartments. There’s a small drawer for office essentials like pens, notebooks, and other smaller items. Users will also appreciate the shelf, where you can stash taller items

The desk comes in seven vibrant colors. Unfortunately, the weight capacity is limited—just 40 pounds. We don’t recommend placing a heavy monitor on this desk or loading down the shelf with large books. On the upside, it’s lightweight at 36 pounds, which makes it easier to move when needed. 

_{Dimensions: 30 x 42 x 28 inches | Weight: 36 pounds | Material: Wood, manufactured wood | Storage: One drawer, one shelf}

Best Computer

Minosys Gaming Computer Desk

$60 at Amazon

This desk from Minosys comes with a monitor stand to free up room for other items like a notebook. We like that the stand is wide enough to hold multiple monitors, plus it can be installed under the desk as a storage shelf in case you don’t need to raise your monitors. The shelving unit is also fully adjustable—install it on either the right- or left-hand side of the desk. 

If there’s any downside to this pick, it’s the lack of concealed storage. Not a fan of the dark shade? Choose from four other color options, including a muted natural beech or a more vibrant green. 

_{Dimensions: 19.7 x 47 x 29.5 inches | Weight: 15 pounds | Material: Steel, engineered wood | Storage: Three shelves, monitor stand}

Best for Kids

Guidecraft Taiga Desk and Chair

$400 at Amazon $400 at Target View on Guidecraft.com

Made of a combination of solid and engineered wood, the Guidecraft Taiga Desk is one of the most timeless options for kids. It can grow with them from preschool and kindergarten well into their teenage era. We also love that it has a matching chair, so you don’t have to shop around. 

We love all of the built-in storage, too. The hutch-style unit features drawers, cubbies, and shelves, plus a corkboard for kids to pin photos, magazine clippings, homework reminders, and other decorations. There are also small cut-outs in the back to help conceal cords. Choose from gray or white—both feature attractive brass hardware. 

Just note that assembly is required; however, the desk includes all the necessary tools and hardware, making it a relatively easy process. 

_{Dimensions: 24 x 40 x 44 inches | Weight: 99 pounds | Material: Wood, engineered wood | Storage: Two drawers, four shelves, corkboard}

Best Writing

Zipcode Design Baber Writing Desk

$107 at Wayfair

When small is a priority, this simple writing desk is a great option. It’s only 39 inches across and 19 inches deep, making it smaller than most other options on this list, but it has ample room on the tabletop for jotting down notes, drawing, or typing on a computer. It’s also equipped with two drawers, so you can store any smaller essentials you’ll need to have on hand. 

Style-wise, this desk boasts a simple white top and oak-colored legs that seamlessly blend into any decor. On the downside, though, the manufactured wood desktop isn’t the most durable, so it’s prone to scratches if you aren’t careful. Thankfully, the desk does come with a one-year warranty. 

_{Dimensions: 30.3 x 39.4 x 19.7 inches | Weight: 41 pounds | Material: Manufactured wood | Storage: Two removable drawers}

Best with Hutch

Room & Board Linear Desk

View on Roomandboard.com

Room & Board’s Linear Desk is the perfect option for someone serious about building out a stylish, high-quality home office. This heavy-duty solid wood piece is built in a small woodworking shop in Wisconsin—so there’s plenty of attention to detail and craftsmanship packed into it. 

It’s also bursting with storage but doesn’t necessarily look like a desk at first glance. When closed, you may think it is any other upscale armoire. When open, you’ll notice the roomy hutch perfect for a computer setup, plus two shelves—one of which pulls out to accommodate a printer—and two drawers—one of which functions as a filing cabinet (on the 42- x 20- x 45-inch size). 

And if you have more space and more storage needs? Choose from one of the larger sizes or alternate configurations available. 

_{Dimensions: 35 x 23 x 51 inches, 42 x 20 x 45 inches, 51 x 23 x 51 inches, or 67 x 23 x 51 inches | Weight: Not listed | Material: Solid wood, veneer | Storage: Varies}

Best for Bedrooms

AllModern Embassy Desk

$410 at Wayfair $410 at allmodern.com

Nobody wants to feel like their bedroom is crowded—even if it is borderline. That’s why we love this glass option from AllModern. The clear, streamlined design may not have any drawers for storage, but it tricks the eye into seeing more space than there is. Not to mention, it’s a statement-making piece that makes any bedroom feel instantly more elevated. 

We also love that the desk comes fully assembled, so you don’t have to break out any tools—you can just get right to work. The transparent design is also easy to wipe clean. The aesthetic pairs well with any decor style, even ultra-modern, traditional, and industrial. 

_{Dimensions: 29 x 50 x 27.5 inches | Weight: 127 pounds | Material: Glass | Storage: None}

Best Wall-Mounted

Design Within Reach Pier Office

$1,316 at Design Within Reach

“A simple way to create a work-from-home area in a small living room is by using a wall-mounted ladder desk,” says Vivianne Chow, an interior decorator and founder of the home decor blog VivandTimHome.com. “I love that you can display decor and books on the two shelves above and still have a functional work surface area below for your computer.” 

This Design Within Reach desk is the perfect option since it’s fully modular. You can add additional shelves, increase the desk’s length, and incorporate additional desktop surfaces based on your unique space constraints. And if you move to a large space later? Go ahead and add more to your system! 

Unfortunately, this desk’s slim design isn’t appropriate for a larger monitor setup, only a laptop. Plus, the desk has a low weight capacity of just 33 pounds. 

_{Dimensions: 82.25 x 32.25 x 18 inches | Weight: Not listed | Material: Anodized aluminum, powder-coated steel | Storage: Two shelves}

Best Foldable

Pottery Barn Trenton Fold Out Table

$239 at Pottery Barn

Like a Murphy bed, a foldable desk is a great solution when space is at a real premium—like in a studio apartment. We like this one from Pottery Barn because it’s so compact and versatile that you could even put it in a closet. The simple unit, made of kiln-dried pine wood and powder-coated metal—is nice and sturdy, but folds tight against the wall when not in use.

The desk can hold up to 50 pounds, more than some freestanding options on our list. Unfortunately, there’s no storage, but you can buy companion pieces like a wall calendar and a supplies caddy to help build your home office. Alternatively, tuck away your laptop and use the desk as a surface to fold laundry. 

_{Dimensions: 30 x 22.25 x 31 inches | Weight: 12 pounds | Material: Wood, metal | Storage: None}

Best with Keyboard Tray

Ebern Designs Saru Wood Writing Desk

$159 at Wayfair

Given the price, it’s impressive that this space-saving desk is made entirely of pine wood. Because of this, it’s a super sturdy option that can hold up to 200 pounds. This makes it possible to load the compact desk with multiple monitors and whatever else you can fit atop it for your home office setup. Unfortunately, it lacks additional storage beyond the keyboard tray. 

Assembly is required, but the desk includes everything necessary. We also love the built-in USB port to charge a phone or other work accessories.  

_{Dimensions: 30 x 40 x 18 inches | Weight: 28.25 pounds | Material: Pine | Storage: Keyboard tray}