10 Best Home Office Desks in 2022 (IKEA, Novogratz, and More)

When your work demands the use of printers and other large office equipment, what you need is a spacious office desk. Large desks have more perks, although they take up more floor space. But you have the benefits of keeping your work essentials and other devices close.

The space underneath the desk might come with shelves or cabinets for storage, or you can add storage as required. If you work 40 hours a week or more, a large, permanent desk is more beneficial to house all the items in the setup that you need to work productively.

For a dedicated office room, a big desk with a hutch is a great idea. They are available in various sizes and shapes, so choosing one will not be challenging. These desks can be pricey, taking into account the amount of storage they come with.

You can also consider a big desk running along the length of the room. These types of desks are a good option for two people. Installing drawer units to divide the workstations can create individual workspaces for each person. This kind of desk, along with L-shaped desks, can house multiple monitors easily.

An executive desk is another option for a permanent workstation. Executive desks are a great medium between functionality and size. They're large enough, with plenty of storage for most office equipment and supplies, but not too large for most home offices or converted areas. 

Built-in desks are space-saving designs that are mostly integrated with other furniture in the room, or built onto the walls where they appear like cabinets with a working space on top. They occupy less floor space. The downside is you might not find enough space to place larger devices like a printer.

Another option is to integrate a credenza desk. The center of the unit serves as the desk, with many cabinets for storage below and sometimes above as well. Credenza desks offer maximum workspace and many shelves and compartments to store your equipment and essentials. Be sure to measure your intended space, since credenza desks can be quite large. 

There are many desks that can be comfortably incorporated into a living room or bedroom. A slim desk is ideal for small spaces where you can place your laptop and a few essentials. You can find ergonomic and beautiful designs to fit into any corner of a room. Note that slim desks may not be stable enough for heavy items, and don't have as much storage space, either. 

Ladder desks, movable, and folding desks are other space-saving options. Ladder desks lean against the wall and offer vertical storage space. Movable and folding desks are lightweight and simple in design. Some are so portable they even have wheels. For those with light or sporadic work weeks, having a mobile or foldable workspace is invaluable. 

Drop-down wall desks, also called floating desks, are often built into walls or other furniture and can be hidden away when you're not working. You can also integrate pull-out features into your cabinets to convert them into a makeshift table. Since these desks don't have legs, they cannot hold a lot of items or heavy equipment.

Some jobs require meeting with clients and potential clients in person. For example, if you are an interior designer, you may have clients visiting your home office to discuss business. In this case, the style of a desk becomes very important.

A highly utilitarian and aesthetically pleasing desk is a must-have for your home office. The style, be it modern, contemporary, glam, or vintage, should compliment your office. Desks with bold, rich colors, marble, or polished metal accents can accentuate and brighten your office space.

Don't sacrifice function for style, though. Larger desks that are placed in or face the center of a room, with space for your clients to sit, are easier for them to access. L-shaped desks have the space for going over documents or showing them information on your computer.  

Research has shown that too much sitting is bad for your health, but if you work at a computer, it's hard to avoid. If this is a concern for you, consider a standing desk, which is just a taller desk that you can use while standing.

Regular desks for sitting are usually between 28 to 30 inches. There are desks with adjustable heights of up to around 45 inches, which cover the range that's comfortable for most people to stand at.

You can find fixed standing desks and sit-to-stand desks that can be adjusted to a traditional desk height or standing height, depending on your needs. You can also find standing desk-height chairs that give you the option to sit at a fixed standing desk. There are even converters, which are small desktops with adjustable legs that can be placed on top of your desk to turn it into a standing desk. 

Wood is often the preferred material for office desks and comes in a variety of types, cuts, grains, and finishes such as white, black, or natural finish. Many argue that no other material can beat the aesthetic appeal of a wooden desk. 

Oak, walnut, maple, or birch are popular woods for desks because they are very durable and stable. But wood can get dents and scratches. Bamboo is a wonderful alternative because it is lightweight and strong with high water resistance. Bamboo is less expensive than hardwoods and easy to maintain. 

Desks can also be made from engineered wood, which is when pieces are made from scrap wood or sawdust bonded together with strong adhesive. Particleboard and MDF are common types. Desks made from engineered wood are resistant to splitting and cracks, but heavy and can warp under weight. 

Since wood can scratch and abrade easily, the maintenance of such desks is higher. If you do a lot of writing, having a wooden desk may not be ideal, since the pen can indent the surface of softer wood species, like cherry wood. Desk pads or blotters are a common solution to this problem.

Solid wood desks may need repainting and polishing to retain their visual appeal, and they're susceptible to termites. If you like the aesthetic of wood but want something more affordable, a desk with a wooden veneer, or thin wood coating, can be a fine alternative.

Laminated desks are generally engineered wood desks with a plastic finish. The finish can be applied at various pressure levels. The finish is often printed to look like wood, although some brands look more convincing than others. Laminate is easy to clean and is resistant to scratches and gouges.

However, the top layer can start to peel off over time. Go for a high-pressure laminate wooden desk for a more durable choice.

High-pressure laminates, or HPLs, are made from fibers of young trees that get bonded together and treated with high pressure and temperature to create a compact sheet. This material is scratch-resistant, stain and heat-resistant, and hygienic. These laminates often have a natural wood coating for aesthetic appeal. 

Like laminated desks, metal desks are a great budget-friendly choice. They are incredibly durable and are impervious to scrapes and scratches. Metal desks don't attract termites, and are fireproof and waterproof.

Some metal desks can have replaceable parts like legs, shelves, and tabletops, which makes them a great investment. These detachable parts also make the desk easier to move if you want to rearrange your office space.

Steel is the most commonly used metal. These desks are perfect for those that love an industrial style. Some metal desks have a glass or a wood laminate top for an ultra-modern look. For a contrasting style, you can get a steel desk with a wood top.  Metal desks are easy to clean and sanitize.

Glass adds a sleek, modern look to the room and is a good choice if you want your desk to take up less visual space. Glass-top desks are resistant to temperature variations, waterproof, and dustproof. They’re also resistant to rust and weathering.

Acrylic is an alternative option to glass. Acrylic desks have similar properties but are impact-resistant and more durable. They may be more prone to scratches, though.

Certain careers, like designers, artists, managers, accountants, or bookkeepers, can benefit from an L-shaped desk or a desk that extends the length of a room for more surface area. Blueprints, sketches, files, and other items require a lot of space and spread. If you're in one of these professions, having more table space can be a game-changer. 

Neat freaks might want to store everything in their desks except for the essentials. In addition, those with mountains of paperwork may want to keep it off of their desk when not needed. Having storage can be helpful in keeping your work papers handy, but contained. If you handle important or sensitive documents, a desk with lockable drawers will be very beneficial.

Desks with lower cabinets, overhead cabinets, or a hutch are great options for those that require a lot of storage space for books, file folders, and more. Many desks have room in the lower cabinets to hide your computer, printer, and cables, while the upper storage spaces can be used for papers and office supplies. Some even come with a pull-out tray for your keyboard and mouse.

Having wires cluttering valuable desk space is frustrating and unsightly. Many desks on the market have designated spaces for printers and multiple monitors. There are even compartments to hold bulky towers. Desks with hutches may not be ideal for a setup involving a lot of wires unless it has a gap or holes for them to fit through.

For artists and streamers, you most likely have dual monitors, a microphone, a ring light, and other electronics. Consider a wide and flat desk with pullout compartments or extra shelves for your keyboard.