COVID-19 changed the way we live and work, especially those who continue to work from home. Even those whose work didn’t get affected by the pandemic need to seriously think about their work setup at home. After all, we can’t just move from place to place with a laptop in our hands, can we? When we decided to set up a home office, we had to decide on a lot of things right off the bat, especially desks. The best modern desks for home office setups can range across sizes, types (sitting/standing), designs, shapes, and budgets, of course.
When we went looking for them, we considered our work, what setup worked for us, the size of our computer or laptop, what other essentials we needed on our work table, and a lot more. To that end, here’s a useful and comprehensive guide to the best contemporary desks that we loved for our own home office, and how we chose them.
Himimi Adjustable Portable Lap Desk
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We begin with the Himimi Adjustable Portable Lap Desk, which allows us to work from anywhere in the house. Since our work is flexible, on the creative end, and doesn’t involve a lot of calls, this desk allowed us to sit even in unusual places like the home garden and the patio, besides the couch and bed, of course. Crafted from handmade polished bamboo, this short desk featured adjustable legs that we could fold up to be used as a flat tray. Moreover, the tray desk even had five adjustable levels of tilt, which was very comfortable for us as we would type for long periods. Rounding up the features was an excellent screen experience, a cupholder, a small drawer for storage, and ventilation holes for air circulation.
Pros
- The table was adjustable and portable.
- It converts to a standing desk.
- We loved the tilting top drawer.
Cons
- This doesn’t work as a regular table, as the height doesn’t extend that much.
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WOHOMO Folding Desk
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Best folding desk. For USD 60, it’s hard to find a high-quality desk, and a folding one, at that. Behold the WOHOMO Folding Desk, whose folding mechanism we were completely taken in by. There were many elements of the mechanism that we loved. Firstly, the nylon buckle beneath the surface made it incredibly easy to unfold and fold. What’s more, it felt sturdy when we were setting it up; it didn’t shake or wobble during setup or use. Another feature we appreciated was the portability, which was due to the weight being just less than 15 lbs. Since it can be assembled and disassembled quickly, we could even carry it on trips and workcations when we’d be working. Watch this YouTube tutorial video to learn how to assemble the desk easily. That’s why it’s one of the best small desks for home office.
“We loved the idea of a foldable desk, which allowed us to customize storage and space while working in the comfort of our home.”
Dizzzi
Pros
- It was easy to assemble and disassemble the desk.
- We could fold it and store it anywhere.
- It’s versatile and compact enough to be used in an RV or caravan.
Cons
- It doesn’t have a shelf.
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UD.houselife L-Shaped 360-Degree Rotating Desk With Storage
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Best expandable desk. Imagine having the flexibility to have a regular rectangular desk one minute and an L-shaped one the next! That’s why we got the UD.houselife L-Shaped 360-Degree Rotating Desk With Storage, a stylish yet versatile modern home office desk space. We loved the unique rotating design that allowed the desk to expand from a traditional office desk to an L-shaped one. All we did was simply pivot the second side around the cylindrical hub on one side and change the desk shape. In fac, thanks to the 360-degree rotation, we could adjust the desk into any number of configurations and angles. Besides a whole lot of surface area, the desk also had a large storage space in the form of a push-open cabinet with a fixed shelf. Finally, it was available in two finishes, light wood, and dark wood and black.
Pros
- The desk had many possible configurations.
- We had a large working surface space.
- The desk comes with a cabinet and shelf.
Cons
- It’s bulky and heavy.
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Tangkula White Corner Desk
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Best corner desk. We had limited straight wall space in our home office, which is why the Tangkula White Corner Desk was the perfect solution to maximize your limited working space. There were many things we loved about this desk, starting with the fact that it fits extremely well into the corner. It made extremely efficient use of space, with the flexibility of placing it in either a right or left corner. What’s more, the tabletop had a ton of surface space for our notebooks and laptops, allowing us to read on our laptops and write at the same time. We liked the cable management holes particularly, as they ensured that there wasn’t a mess of cables on the desk or beneath it. We also loved the storage shelves for office supplies and books. Finally, this desk might be small but it’s very sturdy, with a desktop capacity weight of 200 lbs and an individual shelf capacity weight of 22 lbs.
Pros
- The desk can also be used as a vanity table.
- It was very easy to assemble the desk.
- It comes in 3 color options: white, black, and rustic brown.
Cons
- Some people might find the legroom a bit less.
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Uplift V2 Standing Desk
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The Uplift V2 Standing Desk has to be one of the most customizable standing desks we’ve ever seen. Firstly, we had a sheer number of options, right from storage solutions and accessories to even desktop styles (live edge, solid wood, bamboo, laminate, etc). It was this versatility that brought it into the limelight. What’s more, the desk was surprisingly quick and easy to assemble as well, taking us less than one hour. The design was clearly a priority for the brand, as his desk even featured premium wheels. They made moving our desks around our home office area an absolute breeze. Wrapping things up was the motor, which operated quietly even though it was substantial, with the keypad feeling responsive and solid. Check out this long-term YouTube review.
Pros
- It has a 15-year warranty.
- It boasted a sturdy construction and minimal wobble.
- The table can support a significant amount of weight.
Cons
- It’s expensive.
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Ikea Micke Desk
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Best for storage. Sitting at the top of the list is the Ikea Micke Desk, one of the overall best home office desks. It was perfect for us as storage was our priority. We love this compact 41.3-inch-huge desk which we have been using for a year. We found the storage in the form of two drawers running the length of the desk very handy, even though they were shallow. However, we could easily fit in essentials like keyboards, planners, and stationery. What’s more, there was even a versatile cabinet with two adjustable shelves, which we could position on either the left/right side. Besides the fact that we didn’t feel cramped, this desk even had a hole where we could feed our chargers through, thus avoiding the messy wire look that plagues work desks. Finally, the desk came in four combinations of black and white for a sleeker look.
You might also want to check out the official product page.
Pros
- There’s lots of storage space.
- It had adjustable and versatile shelves.
- The desk is spacious despite its small size.
Cons
- Not really.
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Our Verdict!
While we loved all these modern desks that we could use to work from home, here’s a smaller list to help you decide:
- Best for storage: Ikea Micke Desk
- Best corner desk: Tangkula White Corner Desk
- Best expandable desk: UD.houselife L-Shaped 360-Degree Rotating Desk With Storage
How To Choose The Best Modern Home Office Desks?
Size and Shape
One of the first things we needed to decide was the shape and size of our desk. Desks come in a wide range of shapes, including regular rectangular ones, L-shaped ones, etc. The shape would also decide the size that we wanted, like 40-inch work desks for whom space is very limited at home. Moreover, the ideal height of a desk is very subjective to the person using it. So, that’s why there are adjustable-height desks too. Did we mention that now we even have standing desks for those who want to stand and work? Yes. Hence, you need to choose a desk that suits your room dimensions, size needs, and storage requirements.
Storage
Another important thing you need to check out is whether your desk should have storage space or not. For instance, for some people who don’t work with a lot of paper, files, and stationery, like us, storage isn’t necessary. On the other hand, drawers are incredibly useful for people who want desks with lots of storage for the above items. Aside from the fact that they need to be deep enough to fit essential stationery items like pens, files, etc., they also need to shut properly. In fact, some drawers even have in-built drawer dividers.
Material
Finally, the material of the desk is very important, as it should be comfortable for you to sit at and it should complement the overall aesthetic and design elements of your home office. At the same time, you’ll want desks that are lightweight and practical too. So, the material of the desk also comes down to preference. For instance, desks with wooden tabletops or desktops and metal frames are lightweight and practical. Are you looking for a durable desk? Choose materials such as steel and wood with a sleek finish.
Meanwhile, you might also want to look at the best height-adjusting standing desks.
Where should I Place a desk In My home office?
Usually, desks are best placed near a window. It minimizes screen glare while also allowing for natural light. Additionally, desks placed perpendicular to windows optimize both light access and views.
Is it okay to use a standing Home Office desk all day?
While standing is good for you, doing so for extended periods is not. One should alternate between standing and sitting to maximize health benefits and avoid strain.
What Is the Ideal Size Of a Home Office Desk?
Usually, the smallest size of a desk is a 40-inch one. However, what’s too small or large purely depends on the size and configuration of the room and your needs.