When space is at a premium, every extra inch you earn from thoughtful design choices is precious. Happily, there are a ton of stylish, useful and cheap desk options for all sorts of tight squeezes. So, whether you’ve got a tiny office or no office at all, or you’re looking for a slim desk to decorate a bedroom or another spot in your home, there’s a pick that suits your taste — and your budget!
Below are 15 fantastic and fantastically cheap desks in all sorts of gorgeous finishes and styles, plus some advice on buying wisely. Start scrolling to see them all.
The Best Cheap Desk Under $50
Mainstays Side Storage Desk
This clever little desk reduces clutter with small shelves along the sides for efficient organization. Those also allow you more workspace, a huge plus when you’re in a tight spot. The metal frame has a modern, streamlined feel, so the piece isn’t overly heavy.
Why We Love It: On top of the budget-friendly price tag, this metal and laminated particle board desk is a go-anywhere piece. Each side shelf can hold up to 15 pounds, and the desktop itself can hold up to 50. Be prepared, this desk, like many others listed here, requires at-home assembly, and the directions say it’s helpful to have two people to set it up.
Price: $39.96 at Walmart
The Best Cheap Lap Desk for Working in Bed
UGG Coco Bamboo Lap Desk
If you like working in bed or with your feet up on the couch, this unconventional desk is perfect for typing, note taking or taking a break to watch season one of Ted Lasso again.
Why We Love It: First of all, it’s cute! Most lap desks look hideous and are cheaply made, but this preassembled bamboo and flannel UGG desk is attractive and well constructed. It’s also comfortable, with a plush padded flannel underside so your legs won’t get hot, and it has a handle for easier carrying. Bonus: There’s a hidden storage compartment inside to hold work essentials.
Price: $34.99 at Bed Bath & Beyond
The Best Cheap Treadmill Tray Desk
VIVO Universal Treadmill Desk
If you’ve got access to a treadmill, or are thinking about buying one, this slim DIY treadmill desk straps securely onto a treadmill’s arms so you can get down to business while you exercise, like the multitasking boss you are.
Why We Love It: There’s no assembly required here, and the desk slides easily on to the handlebars of treadmills with distances from 26.8” to 31.5”. The desk itself holds up to 22 pounds, and comes with a three-year warranty and tech support. When you’re not using it, it’s slim and easy to tuck away in a closet or under a bed.
Price: $49.99 at Amazon
The Best Cheap Nightstand Table Desk
Astoria 19-Inch C-Table Nightstand
A C-table nightstand is the perfect minimalist bedroom piece, whether placed by your bed or in a corner.
Why We Love It: This solid mango wood table from Pottery Barn is made at a Fair Trade-certified factory and the materials are sustainably sourced. It features adjustable levelers so it doesn’t wobble on uneven floors or plush rugs. Though slim, it’s a solid 40 pounds, and holds up to 300 pounds of weight.
Price: $159 at Pottery Barn
The Best Cheap White Desk
Ampton Writing Desk
The solid wooden splayed legs give this mid-century modern desk a fun kick of style.
Why We Love It: Though not at all flashy, this desk is classy AF. It pulls a small space together perfectly, with a streamlined feel that reduces the claustrophobic vibe that can too easily occur in cramped environments. Comes in white, shown here, along with three other colors, and it holds up to 22 pounds.
Price: $167.95 at Raymour & Flanigan
The Best Cheap Dropleaf Table Desk
BJURSTA
Attach this to your wall, and it’s a table for two for mealtimes or a handy spot to get work done. When you’re not using it, the shelf folds down — like a Murphy bed for your computer!
Why We Love It: Cheap and practical for the tiniest of apartments and homes — just what IKEA is beloved for! And you can mount this at either desk or bar height, depending on your chair options or if you want a standing desk instead.
Price: $39 at IKEA
The Best Cheap Corner Desk
Bradley Corner Desk
This desk laughs at your tight corners.
Why We Love It: With a simple, smart design, this desk has a sliding drawer that you can pull out when you want to work on your computer and slide back in when you’re done, plus a small bonus top shelf to hold a favorite knickknack or pencil case. It comes available in four shades, including white, black and a rustic brown with yellow details, and it holds up to 49.5 pounds.
Price: $209.95 at Raymour & Flanigan
The Best Cheap 2-in-1 Bookshelf Desk
Helix 70” Walnut Desk
Any time you can find a piece of furniture that does two things (e.g., a pretty ottoman with storage inside), go for it! It will save you money and space.
Why We Love It: This has a streamlined and elegant shape, with attractive walnut veneer shelves and a metal frame. Note that the brand recommends stud mounting this to the wall for safety, and they include all the hardware required to do so.
Price: $279 at CB2
The Best Cheap Desk With Drawers
Winsome Studio Writing Desk With Hutch
This is a sweet desk that would work for a child’s room. It would also get plenty of use placed in a small kitchen if you don’t have a ton of counter space in there. After all, everyone spends all their time in that room anyway.
Why We Love It: The old-fashioned honeywood finish, the built-in hutch with drawers and compartments to keep your things neat and tidy, the charming shape and small size. So cute!
Price: $209.99 at Target
The Best Cheap Blue Desk to Perk up Any Space
Cassiopeia Desk
If you’ve overdone neutrals and want to inject some brightness into your life, this small robin’s egg blue desk could be an easy and fun way to do so. It’s amazing what a bit of color can do to brighten up any room.
Why We Love It: A great size, a great shape and a truly fantastic color make this a winner of a desk. Bonuses include two side cubbies with a wire management slot to hide messy cords, and a preassembled top.
Price: $149.99 at Wayfair
The Best Muted Blue Desk
Mirimyn Home Office Desk
Subtle antique blue is as versatile as can be, and turns a fairly simple desk into more of a statement piece.
Why We Love It: The distressed finish and trestle design gives this such a classic feel. This comes with an attractive water hyacinth basket for added storage and to pull the whole piece together.
Price: $137.99 at Ashley Homestore
The Best Cheap Desk and Chair Combo
Cavanaugh Writing Desk & Stool Set
Make your life easier by getting a desk that comes with a matching stool.
Why We Love It: Matching a desk to a chair isn’t always easy and bad seating can really ruin the look of a piece. This metal and wood desk has a matching backless stool you can store underneath the desk to save space. The overall look is stylish and elegant.
Price: $186.99 at Wayfair
The Best Cheap Standing Desk Under $100
Room Essentials Standing Desk Natural
You don’t want a lot of details or bulk with a standing desk, so this simple one is ideal.
Why We Love It: Compact but still feels substantial, thanks to the metal legs and solid top, and this desk can handle weights up to 100 pounds, so bring it on.
Price: $75 at Target
The Best Cheap Gaming Desk
Mr IRONSTONE Gaming Desk
No need to spread across the entire wall, there are gaming desks with plenty of extras that suit small spots and still let you smite your virtual enemies.
Why We Love It: Thoughtfully made for gamers in mind, this curved steel frame desk can hold up to 110 pounds, offers adjustable feet for stability on any surface, has a headphone hook and a cup holder and smart space for cord management. Amazon buyers love this under $50 pick, awarding it a near-perfect 4.8 out of 5 rating. Next step: Find the best gaming chair to go with it.
Price: $49.99 at Amazon
The Best Cheap Kids Desk and Chair Set
Melissa & Doug Wooden Lift-Top Desk & Chair
Known for their thoughtful, well-made children’s toys, Melissa & Doug’s solid wooden desk and chair set is a practical buy for any kid’s bedroom in the three to eight age range.
Why We Love It: This well-constructed desk has a safety-hinged lid, the chair legs are reinforced and hold up to 100 pounds, and it’s just the right size for younger kids all the way from preschool to their early grade school years.
Price: $98.99 at Amazon
General Tips for Shopping Small Desks for Your Space
Be Thoughtful About Chairs
Though desks are almost always sold on their own, they go together with chairs like peanut butter and jelly. (Standing desks or lap desks notwithstanding). As you’re picking out your desk, think about what kind of chair you’re going to pair it with. Do you want a super-supportive office chair for hours upon hours of sitting in front of your computer, or something that has a bit more style along with necessary back support? And particularly in a smaller space, or in a room that isn’t just a home office, a chair you can roll underneath the desk is ideal.
What Else Is in Your Room?
Which leads us to our next point, which is to consider where the desk is going and what else is in the room. A desk that lives in a kitchen vs. a bedroom vs. a teen’s bedroom vs. a home office vs. — well, you get the point. Think about the other colors in the room, how much room you’ll need to walk around your desk and who will be using it. And if it’s designed for younger users, an easy-to-wipe surface is a must.
Measure First!
Get the specs for your dream desk and use Painters tape to lay out where the desk will go, both the width and height. You may realize you have more room to play with than you thought or conversely, that the desk is too tight a squeeze for your space.
Don’t Sleep on 2-in-1 Furniture
Yes, a desk/bookshelf combo can be pricier, but they are doing the work of two pieces of furniture for one price tag, and saving your space to boot.
Enjoy Splurges on Small Items
Just like in fashion, investing in a few statement pieces can elevate a look. Get stylish new desk accessories in eye-catching metallics, or place a pretty plant strategically next to your workspace. With smaller spaces, it’s also really necessary to keep your work space neat, so anything that keeps your tools organized is a savvy investment.
The post The 15 Best Cheap Desks for Small Spaces appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
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