Unconventional compact desks are gems in small spaces. Unique features like flip down, pull-out nesting, slide out floating, convertible wall-mount and even classic open-front school desks, make these desks wonderfully efficient.
Pop an attractive file box underneath or nearby and your compact office is done. Also, there's no need to keep a designated chair in front. Grabbing a nearby chair when needed keeps the area open and looking less crowded.
Shown above from left to right:
1. Safavieh Abigail Desk, from Wayfair $291.99
2. Computer Desk Nesting 1 Drawer, from Coaster Home Furnishings $159.42
3. Virco 785 Open Front Desk School Desk NEW, from Ebay $50.00
4. White Alden Convertible Fold-Out Desk, from World Market $229.99
5. Orange22 Botanist Floating Wall Desk, from All+Modern $659.00
MORE DESKS ON APARTMENT THERAPY
• Make It Work: 10 Desks for Small Spaces
• Think Thin: Slim Desks for Small Spaces
• Small Desks, Small Budget: 5 Workspaces Under $300
(Images: As credited above.)






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Love the look of the first desk. The floating desk is something I've never seen! It looks super sleek and gives the impression that it's taking up even less space then it is. And of course I'm a sucker for the old school desk, still have one I used in my room when I was a kid!
These desks are cute, but I've never been able to work at a small desk. I would love to see some creative ways to have a decent-sized workspace in a small space, if anybody has any ideas. :)
The floating desk is neat, but I'm afraid all the empty space beneath it will fill up with stuff. Such is the nature of "stuff".
I'm with you on the small desk thing.
If it helps spark an idea, we took a couple of long planks from a salvage yard and made it into a floating (my husband anchored it to the wall with brackets) desk space in a spare room. We cut it down so that it's about half the width of a typical dining room table. That seems to be enough width for a laptop, a printer and a lot of space to actually work without it getting cluttered or not leaving enough space to move or pile up stuff if you need it.
It doesn't end up coming "into" the rest of the space as much as a real desk and we've put a couple of filing cabinets under it at one end. It's one oft he best space savers I can think of in terms of an actual, workable office space.
These look good; primarily as perhaps, a landing strip desk especially #1, 5 and possibly #3.
@DodieGoldney - I found a small secretary-style desk on Craigslist a few months back. It has a very slim profile, but the front flips down to provide a large workspace with lots of nooks and crannies for storage inside. It's similar to the one here: http://uniquelyyoursormine.com/tag/painted-secretary/.
@DodieGoldney
The second desk would be a good model to use to DIY a desk. First make a table the biggest size that fits, using pre-made legs and a rectangular wooden top (plywood, butcher block, or recycled wood). Then make another table that fits just underneath, but has wheels so it can be pulled out to double the size of the desk. You could find all the parts at Ikea or any big box store and it would be easy peasy. Or have one custom-made.
Also, Drop leaf tables are another fantastic option.