5 Things to Consider To Find the Best Desk for Your Work-From-Home Office Needs

Are you setting up an office for your WFH job? Maybe you’ve been focused on getting the right internet or vertical storage. But one of the most important pieces in your home office is your desk. It’s your literal home base – where you’ll stage and execute your duties most of the time. You need it to support your work and your life – and that might even mean kids in the office. So how do you choose the best desk for your home office?

It can be daunting to even consider all the options, and shiny new models might be beckoning from every website you visit. It’s a big decision, after all.

Your desk:

• Is where you'll spend hours each day typing, reading, taking calls, and whatever else goes into your work-from-home career
• Needs to be big enough to hold your monitor and everything you reach for regularly
• Must support your workflow comfortably.

But with so many styles and sizes on the market, finding the best model for your needs might seem harder than starting your at-home business in the first place. Don't worry – we’re here to help you break it down to a few main factors. Once you understand what those are, you’ll be better prepared to pick your best desk option with confidence.

How Much Space Do You Need (And Have?)

When you’re setting up your office space, you’ll need to consider the amount of space you’ll need to work comfortably at your desk – and also the space available to you. Where these two points intersect (or maybe collide) is a great starting point for narrowing the options.

What does this look like in the real world?

• If you’ve got a whole room to dedicate to your office and like to spread out when you work or use multiple monitors (a friend of mine has two horizontal and one vertical), an L, R, or U-shaped desk might be ideal for you.
• If space is at a premium and your style is portable and compact, you might try a foldaway, convertible, or floating wall desk. For example, my “office” is a corner of my living room. I use an antique secretary desk that’s just wide enough for my mousepad and laptop, but deep enough that I can store needed supplies behind it. When finished for the day, I close my desk and it’s a piece of pretty furniture.
• If you don’t have a lot of space but need room to work and store things, try going vertical with a hutch or shelving above the desk to create more space on the desktop (we have more small workspace hacks for you, too).

In the end, your available square footage might not matter quite as much as you think. Though it will limit your options somewhat, there are still plenty of choices that will give you a usable surface without eating up your whole room.

Want to learn more about desk types? This video tests L, U, and R shaped desks and gives honest feedback on each – with a sense of humor!

Where Are Your Kids While You Work From Home?

Something else to consider when choosing your home office desk is if anyone else will be using it, and how.

If you’re a WFH parent, you probably know these scenarios:

• Your school-aged kid needs a quiet place to study or do homework, and your home office is it
• Your little one needs to be near you, so you pull up a chair for them at your desk
• Your desk is the off-hours go-to for your older kid to game or have a video call with a friend away from younger siblings

If there’s a chance your kids will be pulling up a chair to work beside you, or sitting in yours while you’re not there, you’ll have some extra factors to think about.

Things to consider:

• The width of your desk if you’ll be sharing it with a child. A desk that only fits your monitor and keyboard doesn’t leave room for a laptop or coloring book.
• The surface you choose for your desk. You'll need one that can take a beating from pencils, craft supplies, or the occasional juice incident without getting destroyed (this is also true if you have a cat, since they’re notorious for jumping on desks and often use their claws when landing).
• Whether you need secure storage. Leaving your laptop or client files out can be disastrous and a breach of privacy. But if you store equipment not safe for small hands on your desk, consider whether you need one with locking storage to keep everyone safe.

Weighing Your Budget Against the Long-Term Cost

A cheap desk may sound like a win, especially if you’re just starting out, But what if it wobbles every time you type or the surface starts peeling after eight months?

That's not saving money; it's just buying two desks. You don't need to spend a fortune, but spending a little more on something with solid construction pays off over years of daily use.

If your budget just can’t handle a brand-new desk, though, there are a few creative solutions:

• You can “shop” in your own home. I love looking at the furniture and spaces I have and giving them new purposes that better fit my life. If an old desk or table can fill the gap for a while, you might be in a better financial position to buy what you really want. Even a folding or card table can work in a pinch.
• Ask friends or family if they’ve got a suitable desk to loan. Odds are, if it’s just sitting taking up space in someone’s spare room or garage, they’ll be happy to get rid of it.
• Try thrift stores, yard sales, or online marketplaces for gently used options. With the abundance of return-to-office mandates, many people who outfitted a home office space no longer need it. You might find a great deal on the desk of your dreams.
• DIY it to cut costs. If you’re handy with tools and love a good project, you can buy some components and make others to save money on your work surface. In a pinch, even a shelf mounted to the wall at the right height for you can serve the purpose.

Want to see DIY in action? Here’s a budget build video of a spacious desk for under $40 – using some lumber, basic tools, and items the builder had lying around.

How Will The Material Hold Up?

Before you purchase a desk, thinking about how you will use it and what materials are best for that use can help you make a great choice for your needs.

Some materials will hold up better to daily wear and scratching than others. So, if your work is messy or you tend not to be the most careful, choosing a surface that can handle the realities of your life will keep your desk be functional longer.  

Here are some options:

• Durable woods like oak, hickory, and maple can withstand heavy daily use and still look great.
• Softwoods like cedar and pine can give a rustic look but will dent and stain more easily. If you like a desk that shows its history or are willing to cover it with a desk mat, glass, or other protective surface, it’s a workable option.
• Laminate materials resist scratches and clean up well, but you can’t sand and refinish it if it gets damaged. It also might not be the best choice for heavy-duty work.

Taking the time to decide what material works best for you before you shop will help you make a choice that you’re satisfied with for many hours of at-home work.

Do You Sit, Stand, or Switch It Up?

If you’re the type who works at your desk from school drop off to pick up, maybe only taking a break for lunch or another cup of coffee, it can take a toll on your health, posture, and energy. That’s why standing desks have become so popular in recent years.

Here’s some basic facts to help you decide whether a sitting, standing, adjustable height, or combination works best for you:

• A standing desk lets you shift positions throughout the day, which takes pressure off your lower back and keeps your energy from bottoming out by early afternoon.
• Standard desks cost less and stay stable, but you're locked into one position – sitting.  
• An adjustable desk gives you the option to sit or stand. It’s a smart investment if you work long hours and notice discomfort building by midday,
• A small standing desk sized for a laptop and a standard desk can work, too, if you have the space and a tighter budget.

Want to know more? This short, humorous video shows you what you need to consider when buying a sit-stand (adjustable) desk.

Conclusion: Getting The Best Desk For Your Home Office

The best desk for your at-home career is the one that fits your space and budget, supports your workflow, and holds up to how you actually work.

None of that is one-size-fits-all. Take the measurements, think through your daily setup, consider your preferences, and decide whether you’re better off making do for now, DIYing the desk of your dreams, or buying a high-quality desk for the long haul.   

You'll spend many hours at your desk. If you use these tips, your desk will earn its place in your life. And you’ll be sure you have the best desk for your home office, your budget, and your life.