The most important element in an office is the desk. This applies to pretty much any office space, whether it’s part of a cozy home or a large company headquarters. The desk is something personal, it’s basically where all the work gets done.

So it has to include a series of specific elements meant to increase efficiency and productivity which, in a modern environment, can be quite innovative and ingenious. We’ll be exploring a few interesting design ideas worthy of being appreciated on a modern desk.

How to Choose a Modern Desk for You

Choosing a proper desk for your needs depends on a bunch of features that you need to look into in order to end up spending your money wisely. These include:

Size

Having a wrong-sized desk can be a real bummer and can lead to a series of frustrating problems, such as not having enough space to work on or forcing you to sit in front of the desk with a wrong posture because it’s too tall/short. It also could lead to you not having sufficient space to install the desk in the first place. Measure the space that you have available, if you already have a chair that you plan on using, measure the height you’d be comfortable working at, and write down an estimate of the width, depth, and height that your desk should have.

Shape

The shape of the desk is also important for a number of different reasons. Having a desk that has a suitable shape for you will ensure that you can benefit from all the space you have available. Rectangular desks are a common choice because they are very easy to find and are available in a wide variety of sizes. They are also fairly easy to place, since they can go in the middle of the room, against a wall, or even in the corner. A wave or corner desks are a great alternative for hobby enthusiasts or for people that work with multiple monitors.

Storage

Whenever we work behind the desk, we often find that we need some stuff and have to get up and search for it. That stuff could be anything from documents to a pair of scissors, and having a desk with storage space can help us keep everything that we need close by. Storage also helps declutter the desk faster and organize it without too much of a hassle. Desks are now available with plenty of different drawers and storage shelves. Some people choose to buy a simple desk and place some filing cabinets next to them.

Related: Adorable Ideas for a Kid’s Writing Desk and Chair

As we mentioned earlier in this section, you need a chair that matches your desk (or vice-versa), so let’s talk a little bit about chairs. People that work sitting down will often find themselves worn about because of an incorrect posture, and while it’s up to each of us to correct that sitting posture, the chair we sit on plays an important part in that comfort.

It’s always best to choose office chairs for desk work because they are equipped with customizable and comfortable features because they are designed particularly for people who spend at least 4 hours per day behind the desk. It is always best if you opt for chairs that have an adjustable height and, this way, you won’t have to worry about the height of the desk anymore because you can easily adjust your position. If you can get a chair with neck and lumbar support, that would be even better.

24 Modern office desk ideas

Aliyah Solid Wood Desk

Our first suggestion is a modern pine desk that measures 30” H x 35.75” W x 20” D and features a drawer measuring 2.25” H x 32.25” W x 15.25” D. The drawer extends the entire length of the desk, making it super easy to store papers and documents, but also a bunch of writing tools and craft supplies that could be properly stored here using drawer organizers. The pine rectangular desk has a gorgeous brown finish but is also available in a white version.

Scotty Solid Wood Desk

Another desk with modern lines and beautiful details is the Scotty. Made with a metal frame and legs, and acacia wood surface and drawers, this desk is designed for contemporary homes and offices that value minimal wooden furniture. The desk measures 29.5” H x 47.5” W x 24” D overall and comes with two drawers located on the right side. The rectangular design combines black, gold, and brown colors, offering a modern approach to what would otherwise be a traditional wooden desk.

Jason Desk

The Jason desk is a perfect example of how modern furniture doesn’t always fail to bring a drop of elegance into our homes. It comes with multiple finishes and color combinations, such as this gorgeous espresso wooden surface with silver metal legs. It measures 30” H x 47” W x 24” D and comes with two drawers opened from the front side, right underneath the table top. The drawers can be opened using roller glides and have a soft closing mechanism.

Hive Desk

The Hive desk is a winner for people who love furniture made entirely out of wood, but with a modern twist that makes it look less rustic. Made from solid sheesham wood, this desk measures 30” H x 53.5” W x 20” D and includes a drawer and a larger cabinet on the right side, and an additional storage shelf located right underneath the top surface. The natural variations of the wood and the hexagonal pattern found on the door of the larger drawer make the design of the Hive desk very exquisite.

Camron L-Shape Executive Desk

If you’re ready to take things up a notch and are ready to spend more money on a luxurious desk, you have to take a look at what the Camron has to offer. Measuring 30” H x 63” W x 28” D overall, this is an L-shaped desk with a gorgeous design and a white finish that makes it suitable for a really fancy office. Being made out of MDF, you’re probably wondering what justifies this rather expensive piece of furniture. Well, the design of the desk makes it suitable as a replacement for different kinds of furniture thanks to its carefully thought-of compartments. You have shelves and cubbies, fancy glide-out drawers with sliding doors, and a weight capacity of 100 pounds.

Tobias Desk

Another astonishing example of a modern desk is the Tobias. Coming in strong at 28.5” H x 75” W x 37.5” D, this desk offers a generous table top surface to work on even for people that need a desk for crafts or use multiple screens when working. It is designed with MDF and comes with solid metal legs that have a beautiful and shiny silver finish. There are two small drawers located on the front extremities of the desk, each of them with a weight capacity of 5 pounds.

Salvaggio Desk

Measuring 34.85” H x 47.25” W x 23.63” D and constructed from manufactured wood, the Salvaggio desk deserves to be a part of today’s list because of its visual appeal and practical design. The tabletop is divided into the actual working surface and some of the space is allocated to the 6 exterior shelves that are great for storing paper and other supplies that don’t need that much height. The walnut veneer offers an incredibly sexy brown color, while the natural wood grain color variations give this modern desk a traditional appeal.

Tinley Desk

If you fancy a modern desk that combines brown wooden legs with a white tabletop and storage space, you’re going to love the aesthetics of the Tinley. This is a desk that measures 29” H x 42” W x 20” D and offers a front-positioned drawer with an extra 4.2” H x 20.5” W x 12.8” D of storage space. Made from pine, this desk offers a Scandinavian touch to the room it’s placed in, thanks to the two-tone look that’s simply astonishing and almost inviting.

Clarke Height Adjustable Standing Desk

This desk might not be adjustable height that allows you to freely switch your working posture whenever you’re switching to a new chair or just feel the need to stand up. It works for those who are into crafts that don’t require a lot of tabletop space, and it’s available in a black and white finish. The height of the desk can be adjusted from 29.5″ to 47″, and you can lock it in place as well. It comes with a cable management system and comes with built-in USB ports and outlets for your electronics. It’s designed with a metal base and a glass top, and measures 47.25” W x 25.63” D.

Metis Compact Wood Desk

The Metis is the type of desk you’d expect to see in a modern and elegant work environment. It’s compact and made of solid oak and it’s designed to offer simple and practical storage solutions for anything from paper clips and documents to cables and electronic devices. Use it as a computer desk and take advantage of its functional design which lets you neatly hide all the cables and wires, keeping the work surface clean and organized.

Yves desk with leather surface

Of course, not everything can be done using a computer. Some things still require the good old-fashioned pen and paper. That’s what writing desks like Yves are made for. This one has a simple, elegant and vintage design with an inlaid leather writing surface. Its design also incorporates two drawers and a covered cable hole for those times when electronic devices are needed.

Related: Cool Desks That Make You Love Your Job

Sleek Tom Desk

Tom is also a writing desk but its design is quite far from the classical one. The desk is made of ash wood and has a metal base with a brushed brass finish. The top features a flap which can be opened to reveal a mirrored interior. Two main drawers and two smaller ones offer plenty of storage for things like papers, pens and everything else needed.

Clean Slate Desk

The desks from the office collection were designed with simplicity and functionality in mind. Designs such as the Clean Slate Desk allow you to keep your work surface clean and organized using Invisibins (storage containers which are embedded into the work surface without taking up valuable space). The desk has elegant slender legs and is made of eco-friendly bamboo. The storage bins have powder-coated steel lids but can also be customized to match everything else.

Eye-catching geometry

This is one of the gorgeous furniture pieces presented at Design Miami/2015. It’s a chic and elegant desk with an interesting and eye-catching geometry that plays with sleek angles and smooth lines meant to give it a sophisticated allure. The desk would look exquisite in any office settings, be it a home office or a company space.

Scriptor Executive Desk by Giorgetti

Another desk with a very interesting geometry and a striking design is the Scriptor. Designer Leon Krier and manufacturer Giorgetti created this series of executive writing desks for modern spaces that need a touch of luxury and elegance. The desks are available in a combination of maple wood and leather, ebony Macassar and leather or in all wood. The cylindrical element has five drawers with a base made of extruded aluminum with a satin finish.

Writing desk for the people

With My Small Writing Desk you don’t ever have to worry about things falling down or sitting too close to the edge The desk has a special storage area that wraps around its sides and back. It may be small but this doesn’t make it any less practical than a large computer desk. The high curved shell allow the user to simply push items to the side, clearing the work surface and not having to worry about a thing.

Related: Get Some Serious Work Done With A Glamorous Glass Office Desk

Beautiful and stylish for kids

Even though the Rubens desk was designed for kids, it’s such a beautiful and stylish piece of furniture that it’s hard to resist it even as an adult. This is a desk designed by Jean-Francois Bellemere, made of durable wood, which features a very simple but also very versatile construction.

The desk is available with an optional mountain and car track addition for the top which lets one have fun and which makes this a chic piece of furniture for the kids.

Around.U desk

Given how simple and elegant the design of the Around.U desk is, it’s easy to imagine this beautiful piece of furniture in a variety of spaces including a home office, living room or even a bedroom. This is a modern writing desk designed by Cristiana Macedo for Two Six, one which is meant to look timeless and classic.

Related:The Best Gaming Desks Will Let You Get More Work And Play Done

Its simple and clean lines give it elegance. Even though the design is so graphical and open, this doesn’t take away any of the desk’s functionality. The design may be simple but it still offers plenty of storage in the form of open compartments or closed drawers with eye-catching yellow interiors.

Branca desk

Another design that has a simple and timeless look is that of the Noga desk manufactured by Branca. This sleek writing desk is made of wood and has a very chic and elegant construction which makes it very versatile and able to look exquisite in a variety of settings and contexts. You can get it in either oak wood or walnut, both versions featuring a natural finish.

Related:20 DIY Desks That Really Work For Your Home Office

Standing desk

Obviously, there are plenty of stylish designer desks to choose from but this doesn’t mean you can’t choose to make your own. In fact, such a project can be very simple, offering lots of room for customization.

You could use two small bookshelves from Ikea and use them as supports for the desk. Place a wood board on top and this could be it. You can choose make to make a standing desk which will allow you to work while standing in case you enjoy the idea.

Modern Standing Desk 01

Actually, if you like the idea of working while standing, you should also check out Standing Desk 01 by Artifox. It’s a solid walnut piece with lots of features meant to increase its functionality and to let you turn your workspace into a more enjoyable area.

The design of the desk is height-adjustable and includes special grooves for hiding and storing all the cables in order to keep a clean and organized work surface. Moreover, it can also include a writing board.

All in one Edge Desk System

Portability has become an important aspect for a lot of people with a modern lifestyle. When you’re constantly on the go or when you have to switch offices often, it can be handy to have a portable desk which you can take with you everywhere you go.

Related: The 10 Best Drafting Table Options For Modern-Day Users

Such a concept is offered by the Edge Desk System, an all-in-one desk which can be easily folded flat and transported to the desired location. It has a kneeling seat which was designed to improve posture and to reduce neck, back and shoulder pain.

Origami desk

It’s easy to see where the inspiration for the Origami Victory Wood desk came from. Designed by Darko Mesek for Fireart, this is actually a very simple table. It has a sculptural base formed of two origami-inspired steel elements and it can also be used as a desk. Although it doesn’t offer any storage options, the table would make a stylish addition to a home office. It comes in a variety of colors and with different textures.

Buros desk

Each desk deals with the user’s storage and functional needs in its own way. The Buros desk, for example, has a multi-layer structure which allows the user to pull out the inner section in order to obtain more work space whenever needed. The desk was designed by Valerie Windeck for Malherbe Edition and it’s meant to be space-saving, simple, modern and practical.

FAQ

How do I know it’s a modern desk?

To identify a modern desk, one must simply consider what the elements of modern furniture are. Generally speaking, modern furniture is made from natural materials, such as linen, leather, or wood. Modern desks are usually made from wood, metal, or plastic, or combinations of these materials. They have sleek lines with a minimalistic design and without the intricate ornaments that you often see in vintage massive wooden desks.

What colors work best with modern styles?

2021 brought new styles in interior decoration, which means that world designers have updated the list of colors that’s trending for this year’s home revamping. In terms of neutral tones, 2021’s furniture comes in warm gray, gray-green, hazelnut, mint, and French vanilla.

What other style mixes well with modern?

Modern furniture can easily be mixed with traditional pieces if you follow a few simple rules. These rules are different depending on what room you’re looking to furnish, so let’s look at some examples. For the dining room, you can combine a modern table with traditional dining chairs and a classic chandelier. For the bedroom, you can choose furniture with modern lines and features, and combine them with traditional décor elements, like mirrors with large and intricate frames.