> office

Desks

Working at home needn’t be a drag. Spending the day (or even the odd power-hour) behind an elegant desk will take the grind out of your nine-to-five. And we think these are all up to the job.

Gary Office Trestles (Set of two) La Redoute

These trestle legs in wood and leather are a great way to create your own dining table. Either buy a piece of tempered glass or wood, or even use a vintage door or upcycled worktop. Works well as a desk, too.
Noya Vintage Desk with Rattan Panels La Redoute

If your home office space has to multi-task, or you live in a student bedsit, then a desk with a natural screen is a brilliant idea. The rattan panels are on trend – but if positioned right, they also mean you can hide your work away at the end of the day without really having to tidy up, as the panels will disguise it all for you. The panels are reversible, too, so you can configure it to suit your space or use it in different rooms or with different layouts should the need arise.
Junius Walnut Linoleum Desk La Redoute

This desk appears to be 50% off at the time of writing (reduced from £1,100!) so if you like it, you'd better move fast. The styling is super-simple and classic so it will work in a sitting room – add a pretty lamp for the evening and slide a laptop and paperwork into the drawer – or in the bedroom, where it can do double duty as a dressing table. It’s made from walnut (move over oak, we’re all about this darker, pinkier tone now) with a lino top, which is made from linseed and therefore natural and sustainable. There's also a removable cable compartment. Yes, it might be an investment price, but it will travel happily round several rooms in the house so you can use it as your needs evolve.
Chinon antique oak desk OKA

It’s an investment piece, but one that you will use for years and years whether as a desk for now and an occasional table later, or something that is passed down to a child or younger member of the family in their first home. The style is classic, the legs are slim, there are storage drawers – but the really clever bit? A shelf that slides out at either end for those days when you are working two to a desk, need an extra screen, or find yourself with extra paperwork to attend to.
Soren desk John Lewis

WFH isn’t going away any time soon and our houses aren’t getting any bigger. This slim-line, mid-century-inspired desk is perfect for an office which has to double up as a bedroom or sitting room. The narrow legs mean it won’t dominate the space, the drawers can be switched to the side that suits you best, and allow you to slide the work stuff away at the end of the day if you need to turn it into a dressing table or just leave it clear with a good lamp for the evening.
Magosia Solid Walnut Desk La Redoute

One of those valuable crossover pieces that will be useful for years and years. Use it (as I have here) as a dressing table that might make a place to WFH too. Move it into the sitting room to double up as a console table and desk. Or, finally, if you do have an office, it's made for in there and you can use it for a desktop computer and keep all your pads and pens together in the drawer. Another reason I like it? No brass tips on the legs. Yes, it's a pet hate – but they tend to look cheap and will date. This is simple, pared back classic and will stand the test of time.
Reclaimed wooden desk Etsy

There's something very elegant and simple about this desk with its single drawer as the sole embellishment. You can choose the size (they will even alter it to fit specifically for your needs), so you can have it deeper or shallower depending on where you need it to go. A desk this minimal is surely an encouragement to work more tidily, or procrastinate in style.
Aponi' Bureau Jointed + Jointed

A few years ago I met Sam Chen, the founder of Joined and Jointed, and I love his aesthetic. His diffusion line is where he teams up with up-and-coming as well as established designers to create beautifully made furniture. This bureau is a case in point. Closed, it is a rather lovely cabinet with decorative grain visible; open it, and it's a desk with storage, space to work and even a cork board for memos. You can also buy a mirror to transform it into a dressing table at the end of the day. An investment piece that will become a future heirloom.
Roll Desk by Ligne Roset Heal's

It’s not always about hiding your desk. (These days, much like televisions, we all know we all have them, after all.) But it's worth investing in a beautiful piece of furniture that will do the job and look good, too. This curved desk is perfect for home, with its rounded edges and space for storage. Put the lamp on the top and there’s plenty of room to work as well as a hidden port for cables.
Hideaway Wall Desk Bisley

This wall-mounted desk is perfect for kids who don’t have to do that much work (primary) or for small spaces when an hour or two will suffice. Choose from a white or wooden case, and a choice of colours for the metal back panel. It has handy holes from which you can hang various accessories, such as a task lamp, a series of mini-shelves and even headphones (perfect for the inevitable Zoom).