In many ways, working from home is a dream gig. No awful florescent lighting, no $7 ho-hum sandwiches, an easy commute in your PJs. Writing from my beloved sofa was high on that list. But as laptops aren't as comfortable when actually on your lap, I've found myself in the market for a small, chic and inexpensive desk.
1. First on the search is the classic: the mini Parsons desk. Clean lines, great price, timeless style. Just big enough for a laptop and a few books and fits into most decor. 30"W x 24"D x 30"H.
2&3. Wall-mounted options are an obvious space saver. Minimizing the footprint, both the Helix and Murphy options are great office-in-the-bedroom options, keeping work as invisible as possible. Helix: 30"W x 20"D x 70"H; Murphy (when folded down): 30"W x 20"D x 28.75"H.
4. The widest of the bunch, this A-frame desk is larger without being visually heavy. And the shelving would be a bonus. 47"W x 20"D x 29"H.
5. The cheapest and surprisingly one of my favorites, this glass top desk is small, unassuming, and takes up minimal visual space. 36"W x 20"D x 30"H.
Images: as linked above.
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I had a green mini parsons from West Elm that looked great in my little living room (white tile with white floors). Also works great as an entry way table or a vanity walk in closet table if you ever get tired of it as a desk.
Not only are laptops uncomfy on the lap, can also overheat, frying your hard drive, always should be on a flat hard surface.
that second one is uuuuuuuuuugly! wait... it's 249 bucks?!?! Doubleyoutee-ef?! You could make that thing yourself for a fraction of that!!!
This says 5 workspaces for under $300. But... you need more than a desk for a nice workspace. That eames chair in the first photo is $600.
I'm shocked that the last desk is from Walmart, it's surprisingly cute.
I own #5 and it is just perfect. Very light, lean and large enough to hold a laptop and files. $50 @ Walmart.
I've actually had fabulous luck with walmart furniture. I'm just careful with what I buy, and I assemble often a bit different than the instructions. Same with ikea. Inexpensive doesnt always mean cheap :)
I have been doing a lot of small desk searching for quite some time now. Amazingly, a stylish, inexpensive desk with stoeage is hard to come by!
The Helix desk is quite nice, despite the photo. I have seen it in person (at a CB2 store) and I purchased a couple of the Helix shelf units. They are very well-made and sturdy.
Might I add a recommendation that I plan to purchase .... Crate & Barrel Pocket Desk, $169-199.
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/furniture/desks/pocket-two-drawer-desk/s242015.
The "Mainstays" stuff is definitely inviting, price-wise, but I question the quality. There is a metal bed on WalMart.com, for $150 that looks nearly identical to the $700 Parsons bed from Room&Board. I simply question its quality for long-term use. For the short term, how can you beat a $49 desk? :)
I like the a-frame best.
For the Murphy, I would mount a mirror on the underside of the desk so that, when it's folded away, it would be a wall mirror and not just a wooden box on the wall. :)
I'm always looking for an unfairly cheap, narrow desk with an adjustable height and shelves that doesn't need to be screwed into the wall. I'm pretty sure I'm going to need to make it myself.
#1 is $200? Really? It looks like an $8 Lack side table from Ikea, but with longer legs.
I really like my $80 Goliat desk from Ikea. It has a surprising amount of storage for something so small.
I like the idea of the Murphy option--a nice way to get work out of the way--but I'm wondering how you could work in laptop storage. We have three laptops and no convenient way to store them. Is there any sort of vertical laptop storage/charging system that could work in a small space?
To clarify my comment, I'm specifically looking for solutions to store multiple laptops without taking up a lot of space (and without risk of overheating the laptops.) Perhaps this is a question for Unplggd...
Sam I Am, I assure you the parsons from west elm doesn't look like $8 in person, its a nice shiny lacquer, materials are really solid/heavy.