Furniture Secretary Desk

These secretary desks are incredible. When most people think secretary desk, they think something that's boxy and narrow but that is not the case here. This collection of furniture secretary desks features beautifully ornate craftsmanship and is made of top-quality materials by master furniture makers. They have an old-world style and a classic look they will enhance any space.

Embellished Secretary Desk Antique

Embellished Secretary Desk Antique

$569.99 $1017.5

Embellished Secretary Desk Antique

Bloomsbury Market

$569.99 $1017.5

Featuring a drop-down door and two drawers, this secretary desk is full of old-world charm. With eight removable letter compartments for important documents, it stands on four curved legs and is embellished with stunning carved detail.

Designer Advice:

The charm of this desk stems from its carved detail. It would look beautiful in a room with old-style wooden flooring, especially with a paraquat or other geometric design. The mid-brown color will match well with both darker and lighter stains of wood, so we recommend a mixture of both, particularly if your floor features varying shades of brown.

Modern Antique Secretary Desk

Modern Antique Secretary Desk

$299.99 $833.76

Modern Antique Secretary Desk

Beachcrest Home™

$299.99 $833.76

Available in a wide range of colors, from distressed black to unique slate teal, this secretary desk is made of solid and manufactured wood. It has been designed with vintage features but features a chic modern edge. A small hutch is also included.

Designer Advice:

This desk would be ideal for the corner of a living room or a bedroom if you work from home. For the light finish options, pair with slate gray for an elegant look that remains timeless. If you prefer brown or black finishes, we recommend sticking to white or cream, as a bright color will look out of place.

Spindle Leg Vintage Secretary Desk

Spindle Leg Vintage Secretary Desk

$659.99 $1389

Spindle Leg Vintage Secretary Desk

Lark Manor™

$659.99 $1389

This secretary desk has a warm brown finish and is crafted from solid and manufactured wood. It has a small hutch, six soft-close drawers, cable management, several varying-size cubbies, and a shelf beneath. Conveniently, the back is finished.

Designer Advice:

The spindle legs of this desk lend it a Victorian look. You can lean into this aesthetic easily by hanging velvet curtains at your window or placing a lamp with a lacy shade nearby. For a more modern look, a geometric rug placed beneath your desk and paneled-effect walls will evoke a vintage look that isn’t too old-fashioned.

Distressed Secretary Desk

Distressed Secretary Desk

Distressed Secretary Desk

Canora Grey

This secretary desk is available in burnished walnut or harvest oak. Requiring partial assembly, it is made of manufactured and solid wood. As well as eight drawer spaces, it has six mini open shelf spaces, a large shelf, and cable management. 

Designer Advice:

The distressed look of this secretary desk is ideal for vintage homes. The mini cubby holes give it an antique look harking back to the 1940s and 1950s, as do the mini drawers. We recommend pairing it with reddish-brown furniture that will accentuate the warm undertones – a dark brown or deep burgundy leather chair would complement it perfectly. 

Dark Antique Desk

Dark Antique Desk

Dark Antique Desk

Three Posts™

Elegant and refined, this desk is crafted of manufactured wood with a kiln-dried solid wood frame. It has all you need: two drawers, eight storage boxes, and a flip-down writing surface. There are also cubbies and spaces for smaller objects.

Designer Advice:

The deep walnut color of this desk would be a stunning accompaniment to a study. However, in order to prevent your study from looking too gloomy, we recommend surrounding it with light colors. Beige and taupe would pair perfectly with the walnut hue and lighten up the surrounding area. Alternatively, a tan leather chair would lend your study a retro edge.

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Furniture Secretary Desk

Buying Guide

When it comes to buying home office furniture, secretary desks come in a wide variety of styles and sizes, and their fold down desktop makes them ideal for a compact space.

Secretary desks consist of a base with integrated storage in the lower half, such as drawers or cubbies, and a bookshelf or cabinet up top, with a fold-down desktop between. This abundance of storage is perfect for a small office, as it maximizes your vertical space and ensures that it remains uncluttered.

For a compact space desk ergonomics play an important role when choosing the right secretary desk. Make sure the work surface is at the right height for your posture. You should aim to sit with your elbows at 90° so that your forearms can rest on the desk as you type on your laptop or monitor keyboard. Get a secretary desk with a worktop that’s between 27”-32” off the ground, depending on your height.

Because of how small computer monitors’ bases have become, some compact office furniture, secretary desks, and corner desks can now fit a large computer monitor. However, this largely depends on the shape of the monitor’s stand, the shape and size of the desk, and the user’s desired setup.

Secretary desks are usually at least 30” wide and 24” deep to have enough space for writing. This may be enough space for a large monitor and keyboard or laptop.

Fitting both a laptop and a large computer monitor onto the top of the desk will be a challenge unless you put the monitor on the very top shelf above the main writing surface. You may find a small desktop computer to be a better option if you can tuck it into one of the lower shelves below the desk’s writing surface.

Since they’re smaller than most desks, furniture secretary desks may fit in your dining room if there is extra space at either end of the dining table. Secretary desks are usually not very deep, so they can easily squeeze into small areas and provide an extra surface for storage or creating a display.

Most dining rooms are rectangular, so you may need to place the desk along one of the short walls to maximize walking space behind each dining chair. Remember, the high traffic areas around doors require extra space for people to pass through, so having a desk right by the door may be a hindrance. If you intend to use the desk as a workspace in the dining room, the secretary desk chair needs to be small. Consider using a tiny stool that slides completely beneath the desk so it doesn’t obstruct walkways when not in use.

Best Ideas

Trophy bureau mmsmpcolorofthemonth miss mustard seeds milk paint

Beautiful secretary desk with a striking blend of iron grey and orange. The desk has two drawers with knobs for accessing the storage space. Above the drawers are a couple of orange themed vertical shelves. Books can be conveniently arranged on the shelves, and also on top of the desk.

Furniture secretary desk 22

This wonderfully designed secretary desk enchants with its lovely shape and ornamental patterning. Covered with magnificent antique mosaic, it will catch the attention of everyone entering the room.

Furniture secretary desk

Coastal Secretary Desks for Small Spaces

Secretary desk antique vintage

Versatile and extremely functional secretary desk featuring a large workspace and dozens of storage options. The desk is constructed from wood and finished in a beautiful brown stain. It’s also fitted with several caster wheels for easy mobility across the floor. It’s a great option for the front desk.

Furniture secretary desk 4

A chinoiserie secretary. Have wanted one of these for a long, long time. I prefer the black to the red.

Safavieh American Homes Collection Abigail Fold Down Desk, Black

This stylish fold down desk consist functionality and good looking in one practical piece of furniture. Made of solid, pine wood in black this desk featured six small drawers and one large, all finished with silver handle.

Antique wooden secretary desk

What an amazing, antique cabinet. Very rustic and primitive touch! Perfect for an elegant, traditional bedroom or a study room. Hides a plenty of drawers and a spacey compartment for storing your curios and souvenirs.

Bernards furniture pecan drop down secretary desk

Bernards Furniture Pecan Drop Down Secretary Desk

Secretary style computer desk

This secretary style will complement perfectly vintage or cottage decors. Its lovely design, full of intricate, subtle accents creates an unforgettable construction, ideal for your home office.

Furniture secretary desk 7

5 Secretary Desks for Narrow Spaces | Apartment Therapy

Furniture secretary desk 1

Multi-functional secretary intended to kitchen or living room. It is made od blanched wood. It has three drawers, cabinet with windshield (for example to storrage table setting) and take-down small desk. It is very useful and elegant.

Furniture secretary desk 13

D.D.'s Cottage and Design: Serpentine Secretary Desk

Madison Secretary Desk

Madison Secretary Desk

Furniture secretary desk 20

#DIY IKEA turned Vintage! Hemnes Secretary Desk sanded with added molding, paint and new knobs.

Regalia Secretary Desk

Regalia Secretary Desk

This stylish cabinet is a beautiful piece of furniture that is perfect for your office. Handy drawers and cabinets will store various small items. Made of wood was finished in antique walnut.

Furniture secretary desk 8

Ultra-modern secretary desk constructed from wood and offering a nice counter height to ensure you use it easily. The table also comes with a beautiful two-tone finish thanks to its light gray base and distressed pearl top. You also get dozens of drawers and open shelves too for your storage needs.

Landon Secretary Writing Desk

Landon Secretary Writing Desk

It is a beautiful white desk cabinet. It is very delicate. Entirely made of white color. Only the handles are dark. A large number of drawers allows you to organize the space. It is nice and practical.

Furniture bureau desk

A phenomenal secretary desk that features a graceful silhouette in a magnificent matte shades of blue and grey, which were created with the use of a special, chalk paint. It offers plenty of storage space in open shelves and drawers.

Red secretary desk

A VICTORIAN OAK CURVED GLASS SECRETARY BOOKCASE WITH CARVED SCROLL DECORATION c. 1900

American antique breakfront secretary desk antique furniture

American Antique Breakfront Secretary Desk Antique Furniture

Furniture secretary desk 18

Here’s some work sent to us by Clementine Coates – all painted in our lovely Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. Clementene has just started a new Furniture painting business – she has a blog, fb page and great website – it’s all very nicely done (and she

Furniture secretary desk 6

Pinning this not only because its gorgeous but also because its in a colour called 'Antibes Green'! My second home.

Furniture secretary desk 17

Mirrored secretary desk created from an IKEA Hemnes desk with the help of O’verlay decorative fretwork

Furniture secretary desk

A beautiful and elegant secretary desk painted in a matte, silver color. The unit features a nicely curved, decorative character and offers a lot of storage space in four bottom drawers and top shelves behind the glass door.