Tight on square footage? Then you need a hard-working desk that doesn’t feel like an eyesore in your home office. Here, we’ve gathered the best desks for small spaces, each offering an ample work surface and plenty of extra storage—without taking up valuable real estate in a tightly squeezed studio apartment, bedroom, or living room.

Read on for compact desk options from some of our favorite retailers in a variety of styles, including midcentury secretary desks, laptop desks, minimalist ladder desks, and more. Whether you’re looking to store office essentials, transform a bookshelf into a workspace, or ditch an overstuffed filing cabinet for something a bit more streamlined, rest assured: Your cramped corner, tiny work-from-home office, or small home is about to get a major productivity upgrade.

Our Top Picks for the Best Desks for Small Spaces

Storage-Heavy Picks

Article’s Fantol Secretary Desk features clean lines, a solid wood frame, and removable storage shelves that lend themselves to multipurpose functionality. Need a home office setup that can be hidden away at day’s end? Done. A child-friendly workspace for homework and art? You got it. A tidy bar cabinet to be tucked beside a dining table or into a tight living room corner? Consider it accomplished. Adding to the desk’s do-it-all appeal: sturdy, solid oak legs and a natural wood finish with one-of-a-kind character.

For those interested in a work surface that can double as a vanity or living room sideboard, the Sloane Desk from Castlery is up to the task. Elevated by fluted panels and a duo of discreet storage drawers, its look is polished enough to nimbly complement non-office settings.

Available in eight color options (we’re partial to the combination of olive and ash), this clever home office addition pairs a solid wood tabletop with a handy storage drawer that can be arranged to accommodate both left- and right-handed workers. Added perks: Reviewers applaud how easy it is to put together—and its narrow legs give it a lighter look despite its width of nearly four feet. All you need now is a chic, ergonomic office chair to match and your sleek, space-saving workspace is complete.

A treat for the eyes—and a space-saving solution for any small home—this compact wood desk pairs its clean, design-forward aesthetic with discreet, functional details: a drawer for extra storage, a hidden cubby for cables, and a fully finished back that allows it to be displayed anywhere in the room. With solid wood legs and slats, it’s a sturdy home office addition that’s both handsome and heirloom-worthy.

There’s something magical about furniture with hidden functions. This is one of those pieces of furniture. At first glance, it looks like a slightly retro cabinet, but you’d be fooled. There’s a hidden Murphy desk once you open up the cabinet drawers with storage packed into every corner of this design. We’re especially into the low-profile bookshelf on each side and interior shelves. Heads-up: It might be best to assemble this one with a buddy, and make sure to anchor the cabinet to the wall.

Basic, Multipurpose Desks

An older version of the Ryan desk has been featured on this list before, but a space-saving update to its design warrants a reappearance. Outfitted with a collapsible steel tabletop, foldable legs, removable wheels, and a clean white finish, it’s built to meet a diverse range of needs. It also easily subs in as a desk or console when needed—and stays conveniently out of sight when it’s not. (A non-collapsible version is available, too, in punchy powder-coated shades like sky blue and kelly green.)

With its warm, natural ash frame and pleasing lack of technical bells and whistles, this Finnish-made wood desk is just right for those in search of a functional, compact workspace that, well, doesn’t look like one. Equally at home in a kitchen, living room, or bar, Fem features two spacious tabletop surfaces for work and storage—with the top down, the piece functions as a standing desk; when it’s folded back, it’s the perfect height for an office chair. Our associate commerce director Lori Keong owns this desk in her small New York City apartment and can attest that it’s the ideal adjustable height to make the most of wall space and is super easy to put together since all the pieces fit into each other like puzzle pieces.

Branch’s small-space-friendly Daily Desk was designed using what the brand describes as a “nothing unnecessary” approach. Accordingly, what may first appear to be a bare-bones minimalist frame is just the base of a modular system that allows users to opt in to details and accessories that work for them—and say no to the ones that don’t. Among a slew of add-ons to help your home office work harder: a felt-lined desk drawer, caster legs, privacy panels, headphone stand, and more. Choose from three sizes and six head-turning finish combinations.

A modern, minimalist dream, this solid wood, L-shaped desk features a surface that swivels, for a flexible office space that can expand and contract as the day’s needs dictate.

Wall-Mounted Options

For lofty home offices with high ceilings but cramped quarters, this tall ladder system from The Container Store delivers. Its strong stainless steel shelves can hold your laptop, plus store trinkets, books, and decor up top (with a weight limit of 88 pounds per shelf). You can even request that it be installed by the Elfa team if you’re not the best at using drills.

Create the home office of your Danish design dreams with this solid wood ladder desk that combines space-saving functionality with the option of expandable shelving. Featuring solid wood rails and a choice of three finishes (black, natural ash, or walnut brown), the Folk Ladder Desk can be combined with additional shelving for a modular workspace that’s as gratifying to use as it is delightful to look at.

There’s no need to sacrifice floor space with this tidy wall-mounted desk from West Elm. Available in three sizes, it features a compact work surface with a narrow ledge that offers just enough space for pens, picture frames, and office supplies. Another reason to love it: It’s crafted from repurposed construction debris, so its minimalist frame is sustainably made to boot.

Metal Desks

A visual breath of fresh air, the Slim Desk more than lives up to its name, providing all the sturdiness of a larger piece, minus the bulk. Combining durable, hand-welded steel construction with graceful, slender lines, it’s simultaneously hardy, elegant, and functional: There’s not one but two full-sized surfaces to work with, and a choice of two sizes (and 14 vivid colors!) allows for a multitude of styling possibilities. Pair with the collection’s matching bookcases, storage shelves, and side tables to customize further.

Though it may appear minimal, the under-$60 Micke desk from IKEA offers impressive functionality despite its no-frills frame. A roomy drawer features plenty of space for tools and supplies, the design can be paired with other Micke pieces to create workspaces of various sizes, and a clever cable outlet keeps the tabletop clutter-free. Plus, its simple, streamlined design makes it an undeniably versatile choice, suited to play a range of roles—from computer desk to crafting table, entryway console to elegant vanity.

Level up your at-home work station with this sophisticated metal, wood, and glass desk from West Elm. Featuring a tempered glass top, it’s designed to function both as an adaptable work surface and a means for keeping art, knick-knacks, and other assorted tools and treasures comfortingly in sight—and within arm’s reach.

Sit-to-Stand Tables

Adaptability on wheels! This Herman Miller laptop table offers several ways to customize your work experience. Choose your preferred tabletop and painted metal base finishes, opt for casters or glides, and, once you’re all set up, enjoy the freedom of rolling its lightweight frame wherever you please (a perk of its cordless, non-electric design). The cherry on top: Its surface can be raised and lowered manually, transforming it from a sitting to standing desk in one easy motion. A compatible bag hook and privacy screen are sold separately.

Available in three sizes and color combinations, the height on this detail-oriented, electric standing desk is conveniently adjustable at the touch of a button. Its ice-blue finish provides a welcome break from ho-hum neutrals—and, if you’d like, you can order a desk chair in the exact same color for a sleek, monochrome setup.

Foldable and Portable Desks

This height-adjustable side table pulls double duty as a desk in a snap. Despite a solid wood tabletop and powder-coated steel foundation, the Portima C weighs in at just 20 pounds, which means it can easily move from living room to office to bedroom and back again. Plus, its slender base can slide under chairs, sofas, and beds, minimizing its footprint and keeping its contents as close as needed.

Take the guesswork out of building your own desk with this fully assembled model. Perfect as a portable workspace in a small home, this desk folds down to one-inch thickness, so it can easily be stored under your bed or in a closet after you’ve clocked out for the day.