We Tested (and Rated!) All the Desks at Pottery Barn — Here Are the Best to Suit Your Style and Space

As far as furnishing your home goes, a desk might initially seem low on the priority list, especially when you consider your need for a sofa, bed frame, or dining table. But really, it’s one of those pieces you don’t realize the importance of until you find the right one — especially if you live in a small apartment. A desk can quickly become your dining table, vanity, and reading corner, all rolled into one. It has the potential to be far more than just a spot that you work from. That’s why we’re looking at Pottery Barn desks today. We know the store will get it right!

In our Personal Shopper series, we visit the brick-and-mortar stores of your favorite home retailers, including West Elm, Design Within Reach, Ashley, and others to test the furniture and decor. After our visit, we provide a detailed breakdown of which rug, dresser, or coffee table is best for your space. 

We were impressed with the variety in size, aesthetic, and functionality of the Pottery Barn desks we saw on display, and can confidently say there’s something for everyone on our list.

As one of the best home retailers across the country, Pottery Barn is a reliable brand that stays on top of trends, ahead of production and shipping delays, and true to its Americana roots. Beyond this, Pottery Barn has a Design Crew, a team of interior design experts across the country, to help with all things planning, logistics, and aesthetics. Not only can you take your pick from virtual, storefront, or in-home meetings with crew members, but they will also listen to your every desire when it comes to your dream space — whether it is one room or your entire home — and develop custom renderings. Oh, and they’ll do it for free. Yep, free! No need to purchase anything, either (though, yes, we can pretty much guarantee you’re going to want to).

We judged the Pottery Barn desks we found in-store based on the following five criteria. This helped us determine whom the desk suits best, from the space-conscious studio dweller to the remote nine-to-fiver.

• Appearance: What style of decor does the desk cater to? Does its design lean warm and traditional or sleek and modern? Is it classic with a wooden finish or contemporary with clean lines and a mixed-material construction?
• Storage Capacity: Does the desk have drawers? If so, how many, and how big are they? Does it have shelves or extra storage?
• Space Requirements: How much space does the desk take up? Does it require a lot of horizontal floor space, or is it relatively compact? Is its surface expansive or narrow?
• Surface Area: How big is the desktop? Does it offer enough space to work, store supplies, and even display some decor? Or is there just enough for your laptop and a coffee? 
• Durability: Does it stain or scuff easily? Is it made from fragile materials? Do you have to use coasters? Would it age well with regular use?

These Pottery Barn desks were tested by Shopping Writer, Nikol Slatinska. Nikol has written for Apartment Therapy since 2022. She has tested and reviewed furniture for the Personal Shopper series to help readers find the best pieces for their homes, especially small spaces. From sofas and bed frames to dining tables and accent chairs, she’s covered it all — making her a furniture expert. 

Nikol spent the day at the Pottery Barn store in NYC to evaluate the brand’s desks on their design, storage capacity, and space requirements.

What impressed us: The Dillon desk provides just enough surface area for your laptop and a few personal items, but its simple design also makes it a great option for a vanity or even a console table for the front entryway. It was made with small spaces in mind, though it does take up a good chunk of floor space widthwise. But the Dillon makes up for this with the fact that it’s not that deep.

We also love that it doesn’t have any beams running under its surface, which adds to its sleek appearance. For storage, you get two short but wide drawers that can fit all of the essentials, be that notepads and pens, makeup and skincare, or your keys and other items that could use a secure spot.

Specifications:

• Styles: Also available in rotating desk, console desk, andpeninsula desk styles
• Dimensions: 54″ wide, 20″ deep, 30″ high
• Finishes: Available in two wood finishes

What impressed us: The Pismo is the same as the Dillon in its design, but we would classify it as too large for most apartments. Pottery Barn’s store manager told us that clients who live in the suburbs or own homes in the Hamptons usually use this piece as a general media or console table. If you do have the space for it, the Pismo would look right at home in just about any room. Use it to store table linens and hold serveware in the dining room or to display decor behind the sofa.

If you do actually use it as a desk, you might need an extra filing cabinet or two, as this model only boasts two slim drawers (although they are very wide). That said, what the desk lacks in built-in storage, it makes up for in ample surface space — suffice it to say that you’ll never run out of spots for your digital devices, snacks, beverages, and other personal items when working at this desk.

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 80″ wide, 20″ long, 31″ high
• Finishes: Available in two reclaimed wood finishes

What impressed us: By far the coolest desk we saw in-store was the Cayman desk, for obvious reasons. We’ve never seen anything quite like its rotating top, which is much easier to swivel out than you might think. The surface may look weighty, but one person can easily pull it outward to create an L-shaped form and increase the size of the workspace. The desk is incredibly compact when not expanded, which is why we deemed it the best option for small spaces. But even if you don’t have a dedicated home office, it’s still nice to have the option of a larger tabletop, especially if you plan on eventually moving into a bigger apartment. Also of note is the Cayman’s smooth mango construction, which is almost velvety soft to the touch (coasters are a must). Of course, it goes without saying that this unique model is sure to become the topic of conversation anytime a visitor sees it.

Specifications:

• Styles: Also available in 72” executive desk, 108” executive desk, and wall desk styles
• Dimensions: 50″ wide, 20″ deep, 30″ high
• Finishes: Available in a Biscotti wood finish

What impressed us: “Executive” could not be more fitting a descriptor for the stately Livingston desk, which looks important in all the best ways.This piece would definitely require a room of its own, which it would anchor with ease. For all that real estate, you get three slim drawers on top, two medium drawers on the sides, and two large file drawers at the bottom. The desk’s surface is also large enough for both work supplies and decorative objects, so you can dress up the Livingston to make it stand out even more.

We were also drawn to the desk’s classic molding, pewter hardware, and fluted touches, which make it look like a lucky antique find. It also boasts Pottery Barn’s signature gray wooden finish, albeit in a darker tone.

Specifications:

• Styles: Also available in other desk styles
• Dimensions: 75″ wide, 30″ deep, 30″ high
• Finishes: Available in five wooden finishes