Of course, if a window isn't quite the right height or at quite the right orientation, it can seem awkward to place a desk directly beneath or in front of it. So we thought we'd come up with some photos of different desk/window layouts to inspire you.
Some of these workspaces are organized and functional, while others are dreamy and contemplative. Some are cleverly carved into small corners, while others are blessed with open, airy spaces and high shelves. What all of them share is a desk at a window, a place to work with easy access to fresh air and sunlight.
Do you keep your desk at or very near a window? How do you like it?
(Images: Lonny; Canadian House and Home; Mark Lund for This Old House; Livingetc (4, 5, and 6); Laurey W. Glenn for Southern Living; Better Homes and Gardens; Canadian House and Home; Tara Donne)
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when i set up my bedroom, i found that my great-grandpa's old blue desk fit perfectly under the window just like this! I was iffy at first, but I love it!! It's so nice!
The chair in the first picture from Lonny Mag is amazing! Does anyone have any idea what it is/where I could find it?
I am fortunate to have a panoramic window with a wonderful view in front of my desk/dining table. I love it because I can watch wildlife and the sky while I work. It's very soothing.
Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/patia/3351107678/
I put my home office desk in front of a window. Though with the privacy film I get lots of light, but no view. My only complaint is that sometimes I get too much light through the window to work comfortably. But that's just as well because it makes it easier to leave my work-work, and go off to do housework until the light shifts favorably.
The only problem with a desk-with-a-view is that many rooms have the window opposite the door, so that if you sit at a desk under the window you have your back to the door. It's bad feng shui - it can make you feel subconsciously vulnerable.
I have my desk under the window but side on, so that I get the best of both worlds.
However seeing these pictures makes me want to want to upgrade my junkheap-ready desk for something more beautiful, like the desk in pictures one.
South-facing or West-facing windows (in N hemisphere) blessed with a honking big deciduous tree for dappled light/shade... Ahhhh! Now that would be my dream situation.
Almost there... but the tree's not a honker... yet.
I wouldn't know what to do if my desk didn't sit under the windows - I must admit I'd prefer a better view than more apartments and a parking lot of vehicles, but I take what I can get. The only part that can be annoying is the light - but our apartment has mini-blinds so I just half close them to block it. Our windows are a bit drafty, so it can be a little cold at my desk in the winter.
Blandwagon - Some of us don't honestly believe in feng shui and/or realize you got to situate furniture for practicality other than a guide written who we are supposed to take as serious as the Bible.
Right now my desk is in the dining room of my apartment, so it's the first thing you see when you walk in, and my back is facing the door. I don't so much care that my back is facing the door, as my front is facing the T.V. ;) But I have one window in the apartment at the other end of the living room -- I'm just wondering if it's a good idea or not to put my desk over there... Hm..
Thanks for the inspiration though!
Laura
http://www.justalittlebit.net
I work in front of a window in my home office, and unfortunately I most often keep the blinds closed. If not, the light bothers me. In my previous place, I worked beside a window (floor to ceiling window), and I did need to get a shade to help block the light. Though because the window wasn't directly in front of me, I was able to get a shade that I could still see through. I'd love to have my old arrangement back. It was nice to see the city right outside my window. Here, if I pull the blinds down, I can see my neighbour's roof. Blah.
Image 7 looks amazing though! I'd love a studio like that.
I'm not big on fengshui, but have felt uncomfortable when I've placed my desk facing a window and my back to the room. I want to see/greet people coming in. Now I have my desk angled in a corner next to the patio door and love it. Like blandwagon said, best of both worlds. It also helps to have a gorgeous view of nature.
In my old apartment I had my studio desk in a bright sun-filled room with windows on two sides and french doors to the living room on a third. As much as I wanted to I never felt really comfortable working in there, trying many different lay-outs. Then I put my desk in the middle of the room, so my back faced one window, my front faced the french doors & the other set of windows was to the side. With all my shelving on the one solid wall. It was a eureka experience, and that became my favorite room in the house.
My desk faces the window its fine for a short period of time then my eyes get sore from the glare.
sambeaux - The good part about Lonny Mag is you can click on most objects and it will link you right the source. I loved that chair too- available at Conran
http://www.conranusa.com/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=20338&cid=ChairsStools&language=en-US
I have this setup now, and while it's one of my favorite aspects of my new home, it's probably more pretty than practical. Previously, my desk faced a wall, which made it much easier to concentrate. Now when I'm trying to focus, I get distracted by the dogs and kids cavorting in the park across the street, and during the mid-afternoon I've gotten headaches from the glare of the sun bouncing off the cars parked along the road. That said, I still love it, and am willing to deal with the distractions accordingly.
Awesome post- inspiring spaces!
I'm incredibly lucky to sit in a corner of windows at work. It's a busy street, so there are times when I feel like a zoo animal... but light coming in through the trees makes it all worth it. (I just have to be sure that I dress nicely for work!)
Anyone have a source for that incredible lamp in the second photo? It has legs!
i tried this in my studio but was not happy with it. i have gorgeous bay windows but the light was too much to work properly! i enjoy having as much natural light in the room as possible when i work. also i missed having the wall above the desk for storage and an inspiration board. now i have a rocking chair with a lamp as well a table for knitting supplies in the windows. now i can knit or read there, usually at night.
if i had a larger space i would try a desk to a window sideways.
Having a window to look out of when I work is essential. My office is set up with my desk perpendicular to an east-facing window, and I look directly out a north-facing window across the room. Having some trees and neighbors and wildlife to look at give my eyes a break from all that close focusing.
I once worked in an office that was a converted closet painted depressing gray, nothing allowed to be hung on the wall. Never again.
Hi there !
My home office is in front of a window, it's really nice, even if the view is not stupendous (but there are trees when I look up from my computer). And I just gave it a makeover today by bringing a mid-century desk found a the local thrift store, check it out : http://nocesdecoton.canalblog.com/archives/2009/10/08/15357316.html ! Hope you like it !
Hi - I do have a "home office" space, but because the view is basically a fence, I find I work at my kitchen table nearly all the time instead. I just move everything to one end when we have a sit-down family dinner (and back into my office if we are entertaining). I took a couple of pictures the other day when I was thinking how lucky I am to be in the Bay Area: http://www.kitchenclarity.com/2009/10/where-are-you-working-today/
I love to see all the different workspaces - thanks!
I moved my desk under my front window last year, and this spring I planted a "Chilean Glory Flower" vine in the tiny bit of ground underneath. It's grown really fast, with clusters of red and orange tubular flowers all season. Best of all, hummingbirds dive bomb it, and I get to see them almost nose-to-nose all day and into the evening!
I plan on having my drafting table in front of the window when I'm finished the legs. I'll have photos when it's all set up. My computer desk is near the window as well, but I wanted to reserve the prime window space and light for drawing.