The best desks for a stylish home office

Want to know a secret? This very sentence you’re reading right now was written at this desk. And it’s a great one, heavy-duty but without looking so, and those A-frame legs give you a lot of extra undervalued storage space for books or speakers or even a desktop computer. GQ has it in the oak veneer finish with the dark legs, as pictured, but you can also get your hands on the trestle table with white legs (the veneer is the same) if you want a little more brightness in your workplace. Whichever one you go for, you’ll be well set up to spread your office detritus over the tabletop to your heart’s content. £110. At habitat.co.uk

A no-nonsense office desk, Habitat’s Harlene is spacious, with five drawers in which to squirrel away your papers and other work paraphernalia (the middle one is ideal for a keyboard), while still maintaining a handsome exterior in oak effect veneer. Straight, confident lines are most obvious in those crossed legs, but they characterise the whole design, one of the great things about which is that you can stretch your legs out underneath it. Bear in mind that there’s no obvious access for cables in this desk, but for a laptop and a wireless keyboard and/or mouse that shouldn’t be a problem, and will keep things looking a lot simpler and cleaner. £380. At habitat.co.uk

Broadly, any collaboration that Swoon puts its name to is going to be achingly beautiful, and anything John Lewis puts its name to is going to be practical, straightforward and pleasingly good value. So guess what happens when the two brands work together? The Franklin desk is a graceful thing, with stunning geometric marquetry and elegant, tapering spindle legs. Two drawers offer ample storage space, and slide open courtesy of handles on the bottom in brass hardware that is used again in the lip surrounding the desktop. It’s a proper upright desk which sits perfectly in between formal and lightweight. £499. At johnlewis.com

The Brunel is a quaint beast, created by designer Rob Scarlett to be all light wood veneer on top, and then spindly but industrial legs beneath – a desk of two halves, if you will. Scandi stylings make it a heartthrob for those of us unable to shake off our modernist phases, and it’s practical, too: just look at that back shelf and imagine it bedecked with books, stationery, a framed photo, even a second screen… whatever you need to keep your workday ticking along at the right pace. Two wide drawers with unobtrusive black handles are the proverbial cherries on top. £699. At heals.com

A genuinely graceful and fluid piece of furniture, the Roll Desk was designed in walnut veneer by Mario Ferrarini for French furniture mavens Ligne Roset. The veneer is varnished and then set atop a satin black-laquered steel base, but it’s not quite as old-world as it looks: there’s also a concealed port for cables to make life easier for those of us who work on laptops (i.e. nearly everyone). With relatively modest dimensions, the desk can also double as a chic hallway console. £937. At heals.com

Giving regal vibes, Soho Home’s Railton is exactly the piece if you want to turn your home office into something that gives off a powerful, world-leader-type vibe. Taking inspiration from Soho House Rome – because where else would you find a desk worthy of an emperor – it takes the form of a ‘wraparound pedestal’, looking bold and opulent, with a marble top that nicely contrasts with the relaxed nature of the oak to really bring the piece to life. You’ll have two drawers, two doors and two shelves to help keep you clutter-free, while also being able to just enjoy the feeling of power that comes whenever you sit at it. This is definitely the kind of place that’ll help you feel inspired. From £3,495. At sohohome.com

Taking the sedentary aspect out of desk working, Flexispot’s standing desk is the working-from-home essential that’s here to give your posture, back and mood a bit of lift with its adjustable height. Fully customisable in colour and design, the desk is a stylish addition to your home office that comes complete with an integrated motor drive system, allowing you to adjust the height to suit your individual needs. From £219.99 £129.99. At flexispot.co.uk

It was the gently concave curve of the Balabac’s side cupboard doors that first caught our eye while scrolling through Oka’s marvellous selection of desks (which you should absolutely take time to survey yourself, if you have the time). A self-described lighter, prettified partner desk (i.e. a pedestal desk with a set of drawers at each end), it manages this thanks to its delicate ring handles and rattan detailing. At 54cm deep, and 134cm wide, and with three drawers and two cupboards, it’s still more than large enough to suit most people’s working needs, too. £1,550. At oka.com

This oak and metal bookcase desk is as simplistic in its design as its name suggests, but that’s not a bad thing. Minimal and airy, it serves up a generous amount of work/storage space, without being clunky and overbearing. With shelves for anything from printers and tablets, to ornaments, plants, and more, you can mix and match your office paraphernalia however you see fit. £550 £330. At laredoute.co.uk

Herman Miller is really the best of the best for office chairs, but this isn’t where the fun stops. In fact, the brand actually also has some of the best ergonomic desks on the market. A premium standing desk, the Herman Miller Jarvis has a simple bamboo desktop, sustainably sourced and nice and bright to help liven up your workday. Easily manoeuverable between a seated and standing position (all you need to do is touch a button to move it between the two), it’s also a game changer for your physical health throughout the day, preventing your work life from being too sedentary and helping break up the long hours. £799. At johnlewis.com

Sleek and simple, Barker & Stonehouse’s Modi desk is the perfect solution if your home office is also integrated into your living room, dining room or kitchen. It’s the kind of piece that goes with both contemporary and more traditional designs, keeping everything stripped back and subtle with the chic combination of darker black legs with a contrasting rustic wooden tabletop. It falls more on the industrial side of design, and while it doesn’t incorporate any storage or drawers, there’s plenty of room to spread out your notes, screens and naturally your graveyard of coffee cups. £275. At barkerandstonehouse.co.uk

A great addition to your home if you’re looking for a gaming desk, Borough Wharf’s Thielsen takes an L-shaped form, meaning you can move between multiple screens, multiple devices, or just really take advantage of a corner space to move between views and break up your day a bit. Nice and affordable at £148, the Thielsen comes in seven different colour options, made from manufactured wood and taking a bit of an industrial form pairing it with a metal frame. And whether you’re a gamer or just looking to work from home in style, the design leaves room for a console to be tucked away on the side, with plenty of room for cables and any other items you might need. Keep in mind that you will have to assemble it yourself, but this shouldn’t be too much of a task as long as you can read an instruction manual. £135.99. At wayfair.co.uk

The conical legs on this Celine desk add a refreshingly traditional, yet somehow still contemporary, feel to your home office space that says nothing if not refinement. It truly strikes the perfect balance between having enough space for your computer and notes, yet still being suitable for anyone who might be tighter on space. The slim hidden drawer is also useful for storing a laptop or keyboard in overnight, for a bit of added convenience. £715. At johnlewis.com

The delightfully curvy Wallace desk provides a playful, organic twist on the classic office desk design. Made from captivating book-matched mappa burl it’s a tactile and visual delight, adding a touch of glamour to any space it happens to occupy. As long as you don’t leave your coffee too close to the curved edge, you’re golden. £1,495. At sohohome.com

Designed by Franco Albini, this stunning desk is a timeless piece of furniture that combines glass, steel, and wood, with striking clarity and balance. Celebrating the beauty of its materials with pared-back elegance, its robust tempered glass surface resists scratches and damage, making it as durable as it is elegant. Its floating two-drawer unit adds an extra dash of functionality and design flair too, making it an elevating presence in any office space. £3,084. At heals.com

This gorgeous desk stands out from most, thanks to its curved design, rattan finish, and handle tassels — and that’s all without mentioning its eye-catching teal desktop finish. Ideal for blending into bedrooms for those who don’t have a dedicated office, it blends form and function into a seamless, fun design. It won’t be to everyone’s taste, of course, but if this is your style, then you won’t want to miss out on such a unique bit of furniture. £645. At oliverbonas.com