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Best Folding Desks: 23 Designs For Your 2023 WFH Days And Beyond
Yes, even your tiny flat has space for a home office
The nine to five of yore is a distant past memory for a lot of us, with many of us working from home at least a few days a week. It means that, going forward, keeping our homes decked out with a functional (and fabulous) office setup is a necessity to ensure you're as productive as can be.
But carving out an office space at home is easier said than done if you're squeezed into a tiny flat, or your partner has bagged the prime spot in the spare room. (And, yes, we are really done with trailing laptop wires across the dining or kitchen table.)
The solution? Invest in a folding desk. These create an insta-place to pop your cuppa and your laptop during office hours without getting in the way on the weekends or while you're trying to cook or entertain. There are two types of folding desks, depending on your needs: wall mounted options that make for a handy shelf when not in use, or standard floor desks that can be collapsed and hidden away in a cupboard.
What are the best folding desks for small spaces?
This depends entirely on your interiors vibe and your needs. Floor-standing desks usually give you more space to work with, overall, but you will have to find somewhere to keep your stuff safe when they're tucked away. Wall-mounted options might be smaller, but you can store your laptop, pen pot and notepad inside them when you're done for the day, which is incredibly useful. Plus, the top of the desk usually gives you room to place a small plant or a candle, which makes your space that bit more enjoyable to sit at all day.
If you have a large enough place for a floor desk (plus a spare cupboard to keep it in), then this might be the better option – especially if you're a renter and drilling into the walls is a hard 'no'. But we'd recommend studio flat-dwellers or those with limited places to hide clutter in wall-mounted folding desk instead.
Finding folding desks that are chic as well as functional isn't easy – but we've found 19 options for 2023 that we'd be proud to give room to in our homes. After all, working from the sofa is so 2020 (and 2021...).
Azalea Home Space Saving Folding Desk
Functional doesn't have to equal unfashionable, as this sweet metal/oak effect desk amply demonstrates. There's space for your laptop and notebook (along with a shelf for a cup of coffee) when you're working, then you can tuck it away in the cupboard under the stairs when not needed.
Dimensions: W300 x H350 x D240cm
Pure Woodesign Murphy Folding Desk
This chic folding desk has one of the slimmest profiles we've seen. Attach it to a spare wall and you've got an instant workspace (or breakfast table) whenever you need. When not in use, you'll not even notice it's there.
Dimensions: Customisable
Bear Claw Reclaimed Rustic Folding Desk
Bear Claw Reclaimed Rustic Folding Desk
Cleverly folding upwards to create a feature box shelf when not in use for your nine-to-five, this is multipurpose furniture at its finest – you'd never even know it was a desk at all.
Dimensions: L60-120cm
Maisons Du Monde Canework wall-mounted desk
Maisons Du Monde Canework wall-mounted desk
Sleek and sophisticated with space on top for plants and decorative items, you'd hardly know this was a desk when you're not using it.
Dimensions: H50 x W70 x D17cm
Argos Home Portable Laptop Tray
Argos Home Portable Laptop Tray
Okay, this is certainly not the most attractive feature in our list, but if you really really don't have room for a desk, this tray will give you a firm surface for your laptop as you tap away on the sofa (or in bed!).
Dimensions: Adjustable
Falkel Design Fold Away Laptop Stand
Falkel Design Fold Away Laptop Stand
And here's a similar but chicer hardwood option. Choose from dark or light finishes.
Dimensions: 55.6 x 30 cm
Dunelm Wide Folding Desk
In a classic folding design, this inexpensive option from Dunelm gives you all the glamour of marble furniture without the corresponding high price tag.
Dimensions: H86 x W120 x D60cm
Futon Company Hudson Folding Tray Desk
If your bedroom now doubles up as a home office, this is a good pick. It wouldn't look out of place as a dressing table either.
Dimensions: W81 x D57 x H82.5cm
Etsy Wall Mounted Folding Desk
Again, if you don't want to be reminded of work when you're not actually at work, this inexpensive and barely there desk is a fabulous choice.
Dimensions: W76 x H75 x D57cm
Coavas Folding Computer Desk
Coavas Folding Computer Desk
This option is less than £100 and has nearly 3,000 five star reviews on Amazon, so it's definitely one to consider. With its black frame and dark wood top, it'd look very at home in rooms with a more industrial vibe.
Dimensions: W100 x D50 x H75cm
Dunelm Evelyn Oak Folding Desk
Dunelm Evelyn Oak Folding Desk
No under-stair cupboard space to store your desk when you're not using it? Well, this one hangs on the wall, thanks to the handy bar along the back of the frame. It's also height-adjustable, which is nice.
Dimensions: H91 x W83 x D60cm
Dunelm Evelyn Concrete Folding Desk
Dunelm Evelyn Concrete Folding Desk
It's also available in concrete-effect, if you prefer a more industrial look.
Dimensions: H85-91 x W83 x D60cm
The Range Folding Table
No frills here, but this is a real steal at just under £50, so we're not complaining.
Dimensions: W80 x H74 x D45cm
Cherry Tree Furniture Compact Folding Desk
Cherry Tree Furniture Compact Folding Desk
Slot this into an awkward nook and voila: instant workspace. There are two colours to choose from, too.
Dimensions: 80 x 45 x 74 cm
Pulse Oximeter Folding Laptop Stand
Pulse Oximeter Folding Laptop Stand
Missing your swanky standing desk while WFH? This folding laptop stand is the next best thing. No frills, yes, but it'll get you off the sofa, at least.
Who said folding desks had to be compact? This large number has room for you and your partner to sit together while you work, which we think is really lovely!
Dimensions: H74 x W160 x D60cm
Habitat Drew Folding Table
Habitat Drew Folding Table
So, this is a table rather than a desk per se, but that's not a problem – it just makes it even more versatile. Pop it outside for guests to sit around during your rule-of-six do next month, when you're off work.
Dimensions: H75 x L70 x W60cm
La Redoute Nyjo Foldout Wall Desk
Here's another option that'd be good to keep in your bedroom to use as a dressing table when things are back to normal.
Dimensions: W78.5 x H62 x D40cm
Charley is former Homes Ecommerce Editor. During her time at Hearst UK, Charley wrote over 300 buying guides and reviews, getting her hands on as many new launches as possible to help you find the best products for your home.
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