Furniture Secretary Desk

Eliza Bush Interior Design Expert

Eliza is a creative interior designer who swears by the power of sleek interiors and quality furniture to transform daily personal and professional life. With a B.Sc. in interior design from Philadelphia University and a well trained eye for craftsmanship, she offers unparalleled advice on how to arrange your space to make it sophisticated, comfortable, and functional, whether it’s the office or bedroom.

Updated 22/03/2021

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.

Buying Guide

Is a secretary desk suitable for a compact space?

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.

Will secretary desks fit a large computer monitor?

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.

Will a secretary desk fit in a dining room?

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.