Can’t Find the Right Desk? Try a Bistro Table Instead

updated May 3, 2019

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The author’s bistro table. (Image credit: Kimberly Graydon)

I absolutely love bistro tables. They’re perfect for small spaces, look great with a number of different chair styles, and are also just extremely aesthetically pleasing (Parisian cafe vibes, anyone?). While these tables are most commonly used in kitchens and breakfast nooks, it turns out that they make wonderful work stations, too.

For a long time, I had kept a desk in the nook outside of my bedroom and definitely appreciated having workspace upstairs (sometimes the kitchen table just doesn’t cut it when you really need to focus!). However, I was getting tired of how much visual—and actual—space the piece occupied, especially given that I don’t work from home often and just needed something that would serve an occasional purpose. I had come across several gorgeous bistro tables for sale online (and swooned over images on Pinterest) before realizing that I could totally make one work in my space.

I absolutely love this new setup. The table and chair set—which I purchased secondhand—were practically meant for this little corner spot, but given their small size, there would almost certainly be space for them in a future home, too. Given that I’m not sitting at this little table for eight-plus hours a day, the lack of storage or surface space doesn’t bother me. Rather, this is the perfect solution for days when I want to be able to sit upright and focus on a quick assignment without taking over my apartment’s actual eating surface with books and a laptop.

While the bistro table-turned-desk trend isn’t super common (yet!), others have had the same idea and created gorgeous setups. Check them out below.

(Image credit: Money Can Buy Lipstick)

A white and gold table paired with glam, feminine accents is the perfect addition to this home office, which belongs to Teresa Caruso, the blogger behind Money Can Buy Lipstick.