Home Office Desk Buying Guide
Working from home is now a firmly established part of our professional lives. Millions of us now have hybrid or remote roles that involve at least a few days at home every month, and that’s why home office desks are in demand now more than ever before.
According to Finder, 41% of British professionals are currently working from home for at least part of the week. That’s around 23.2 million people – 28% are hybrid workers, while 13% are working exclusively from home.
That means millions of people are seeing their living space double up as their workspace. The work from home (WFH) generation are becoming experts in balancing personal and professional lives – and it all starts with choosing the best home office desk.
Your Guide to Finding the Best Home Office Desk
If you’re looking to find the best desk for home office use, don’t rush your decision. Resist the temptation to buy the first one you like the look of. Instead, think about your workspace and the requirements of your role – both now, and what it’s likely to be in the future.
To get maximum value for money from your desk at home, it needs to be the right choice for you, your home and your work. And it all starts with five key questions to ask yourself:
- Floor space – how much space have you got to play with in your room?
- Storage space – do you need to keep essentials or paperwork organised?
- Your budget – what’s the maximum amount of money you’re willing to spend?
- How you work – would you like to switch between sitting and standing?
- Home interior – which style or decor do you need to coordinate with?
How Big is Your Home Office?
Measure twice, buy once. This should be your thinking the moment you start looking for any home office desk. The layout of your home is going to have a big impact on the type of desk you buy.
If you have a designated office at home, especially a small one, you need to measure the space for your desk to ensure it fits comfortably. Don’t just think about desk dimensions – you’ll need to factor in space for getting on and off your office chair as well as the additional room you’ll need to open drawers and move around.
A standard office desk depth is 800mm, but you can find plenty of small desks with depths of 600mm to save on floor space. Desk widths vary from 600-800mm for the most compact laptop desks, right through to 1800mm or more for long desks.
Do You Need Extra Storage Space?
If you work in a paperless role and you only need your laptop, storage isn’t going to be a priority. But if you need to keep stationery, files or accessories within easy reach, you’ll need to consider a desk with drawers for your home office.
A home office desk with storage often requires a bit more room than a standard laptop desk, but it’s still far more efficient on floor space compared to buying separate filing cabinets or pedestal drawers.
If space is tight, look for a small office desk that is creative with its storage. Instead of the traditional three side drawers, choose a desk with drawers built into the desktop. Alternatively, desks with clever cubby holes and storage compartments maximise space that would otherwise be unused.
What is Your Home Office Desk Budget?
Your budget very much depends on how often you’re planning to use your home office desk. If your hybrid role involves one or two days of WFH per month, you can probably make do with a small or space-saving desk for occasional laptop use.
However, if you’re working from home on a more permanent basis, you’ll need enough desktop space to hold a complete workstation setup such as dual monitors, additional tech, accessories or paperwork – and these requirements come at a higher price.
A home office desk is a lasting investment, so you don’t want to set your budget too low. Paying slightly more for higher quality and durability now will save you money in the future. Settle on a flexible budget with a fixed upper limit so you don’t overspend. Here’s a rough guide of what to expect for different price ranges:
| Type of Budget | Price Range | Features | Perfect For: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low | £50 to £150 | Compact desktop space, lightweight frames, minimalist design | Laptops, home admin work, occasional WFH days |
| Mid | £150 to £500 | Generous desktop space, integrated storage, sturdy design | Laptops or PC with single monitor, regular WFH days |
| High | £500 to £1,000+ | Expansive desktop, plenty of storage, high-quality materials, professional finish | PC with dual or triple monitor setup, multitasking, full-time WFH |
Do You Switch Between Sitting and Standing?
Do you prefer a height adjustable desk that lets you switch between sitting and standing throughout the day? These highly versatile workstations are no longer limited to professional workplaces – you can now enjoy a more flexible way of working in your home office too.
Choosing a smaller sit-stand desk with a single electric motor and basic UP/DOWN functionality is a great way to upgrade your home setup without breaking the budget. If you increase the price, you’ll start to benefit from additional features like programmable desktop heights and anti-collision detection – and a higher load capacity for heavier workstations.
If you’ve not tried carrying out desk work on your feet yet, it’s certainly worth considering. Check out our blog highlighting the Benefits of a Standing Desk and see how you can incorporate it into your workday.
What’s the Interior Style of Your Home Office?
Lastly, your own personal taste is going to play a huge role in the type of home office desk you buy. After all, you’re not limited by office style – you can find the exact design, colour and desk material that works with your home interior.
- Wood – excellent for a rustic and homely feel. It looks great with most interiors and even MDF or reclaimed wood desks can last for years. Be aware that a real wood desk will cost you more and can stain quite easily.
- Metal – perfect for creating an industrial office chic vibe at home. Strong, sturdy and easy to clean, metal desks are highly resistant to spills and stains. They look great with modern or minimalist decor. If you have a wooden floor, look for protective feet or mats to avoid scratches.
- Glass – a stylish and sophisticated look that uses natural light to make your home office appear more spacious. Glass desks look like they’re taking up less room than they are. They’re pretty easy to keep clean, but do require regular care to remove marks and fingerprints. Look for toughened or tempered safety glass for maximum durability.
| Interior Style | Home Office Desk Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Modern | Vertex Home Office Desk |
| Industrial | Foundry Industrial Style Laptop Desk |
| Rustic | Bately Home Office Desk |
| Minimalist | Morton Home Office Desk |
| Traditional | Fenwick Computer Desk |
| Gaming | Synth Gaming Desk |
| All-Rounder | Aspyre Corner Home Office Desk |
Home Office Desk Ideas – Our Most Popular Types
With such a wide variety of home office desks to choose from, consider your answers to the questions above and browse our most popular desk types. Each one comes with its own unique advantages and benefits – align them with your home and work requirements to find the best investment for you.
Computer Desk
Your best option when you need a traditional rectangular desk for your home setup. Although primarily designed for office use, these desks are available in widths as small as 600-800mm so you can fit them in small spaces.
These professional computer desks bring workplace comfort and convenience into your home office with features such as built-in access ports for tidy cable management and panel end frames for privacy. Perfect for permanent WFH offices that are in use 4-5 days a week.
Best For:
- Regular working from home
- Permanent home office spaces
- Easy and tidy cable management
Laptop Desk
The go-to choice if you’re only working from home once or twice a week and you don’t have a big setup. These desks won’t have room for dual monitors, but they’re perfect if you just need a convenient desktop to fire up the laptop occasionally.
These home office desks are budget-friendly and they’re ideal if you’re in a paperless role where all you use is a laptop and a mouse. Some laptop desks come with built-in storage too, either traditional side drawers or slimline alternatives beneath the desktop to save space.
Best For:
- Occasional working from home
- Multipurpose use in small spaces
- Non-work or home admin tasks
Standing Desk
It’s not just modern offices seeing a boom in popularity for standing desks – WFH professionals are also turning to them to upgrade their home office setup. These adjustable desks set new standards for flexible working, allowing you to switch between sitting and standing throughout the day.
Sit-stand desks don’t require as much space as you think. Some modern designs are as compact as 600-800mm in depth and width. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, reduce costs by looking for lower weight capacities – even 60-80kg is still more than enough to hold a laptop or small WFH setup.
Best For:
- Breaking up long spells of sitting
- Preventing aches, strains and fatigue
- Boosting energy levels to retain focus
Folding Desk
The best choice when space-saving convenience is your top priority. Folding desks may lack the size and strength of standard computer desks but they offer one unique advantage – you can pack them away between uses.
This versatility is perfect for people who only WFH a few times a month and want to keep their living space free from work equipment the rest of the time. A folding desk for home office use can also be moved with ease, allowing you to temporarily set up in different rooms and work around your family commitments.
Best For:
- Infrequent working from home
- Setting up in different rooms
- Space-saving storage between uses
Wall-Mounted Desk
Wall-mounted desks are rather unique compared to the other home office desk types available. Mounted to the wall by brackets, they can fold down to reveal a desk or sit out the way in the corner, taking up minimal room.
Also known as floating desks, they’re perfect for freeing up floor space but you do need to be 100% sure of positioning before you mount it. Also, these desks tend to offer less legroom due to their proximity to the wall, so it’s a good idea to invest in a proper ergonomic office chair to make sure you’re looking after your posture.
Best For:
- Freeing up floor space in small rooms
- Finding a specific fixed height to suit you
- Easy cleaning and vacuuming underneath
Wheeled Desk
Wheeled desks are perfect if you have no designated home office and need to clear up your workspace at the end of the day. Their castor wheels work on any floor, and their compact size lets them slot in between other furniture without issue.
Some designs even come with storage underneath for printers and files. Unfortunately, wheeled desks are not always made with ergonomics in mind, so it’s recommended to invest in an ergonomic chair along with it to make sure you’re working comfortably with a healthy posture.
Best For:
- Changing the room layout for different tasks
- Easy movements to maximise natural light
- Adaptability in shared living spaces
Ergonomic Desk
If you’re working from home permanently and you’re setting up a dedicated home workspace, choosing an ergonomic office desk is the way to go. Sure, they’re big and more expensive than home office desks, but they’ll provide you with the professionalism you need.
You’ll need a bigger room, but these corner desks ensure you have all the space you need for work essentials. Maximise productivity with complex dual monitor setups and enjoy a spacious desktop area that lets you switch between computer work and paperwork without leaving your seat.
Best For:
- Permanent working from home
- Dual or triple monitor setups
- Large and professional home offices
Our Best Home Office Desk Recommendations
Now you’ve got a good idea which type of home office desk is best for you, it’s time to start browsing! Here at Office Furniture Online, we have hundreds of desks to choose from. So to help get you started, we’ve picked a few of our most popular best-sellers.
Best All-Round Desk for Home Office Use
It’s easy to see why the Aspyre Corner Home Office Desk is so popular for a WFH setup. It offers a spacious desktop area with plenty of room for a laptop or a single monitor and maximises storage with L-shaped design featuring drawers and open compartments for essential accessories.
The combination of natural oak and crisp white finishes make this an attractive addition into any living space, providing a reliable and convenient work desk that won’t impede on your home comforts.
Best Home Office Desk with Storage
The traditional design of the Fenwick Computer Desk squeezes an impressive storage capacity into its 1200 x 596mm footprint.
The left pedestal has three box drawers, while the right pedestal has a CPU cupboard. Both sides also have an open compartment for storing your most-used items, and the desk is available in a variety of natural wood colour finishes to best suit your room’s decor.
Best Home Office Desk for Small Spaces
We love the Twist Home Office Desk for its ability to adapt to almost any living space. It’s a modern hideaway workstation with a rotating desktop, which allows you to configure it as a small L-shaped desk or as a compact storage cabinet.
This space-saving home office desk includes two storage drawers and an open bookcase that can be hidden by a sliding door. You can also assemble it to have a left or right-hand return – it really does work in any setting.
How to Maintain a Good Work-Life Balance When Working From Home
Where Can I Buy a Home Office Desk?
Office Furniture Online is the UK’s leading supplier of professional desks for use at home. We have a huge collection of home office desks in sizes, styles and colours to suit any living space.
With so many options to choose from, we know it can feel a bit overwhelming when trying to find the best desk for home office use. Before deciding, it’s important to know exactly what space you’re working with as well as which features matter most.
In addition to highlighting our most popular designs and styles, we’ve shared some of our favourite home office desk ideas to get you started. If you’re still unsure, don’t worry – our friendly team is always available to help you find the best home office desk for your space, so feel free to contact us for expert advice and support.
Upgrade Your WFH Setup
Check out our extensive collection of home office desks to increase productivity and professionalism while keeping your house feeling like home.
Related Posts