Small Roll Top Desk
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.
A small roll top desk is the best solution to have a well appointed desk area that you can close and walk away from without worry of your work being disturbed till you can get back to it. The classic beauty and charm of yesteryear, and the convenience of having a small desk wherever you may find a need for it, this collection will have you pulling up a chair.
Our Picks
Antique Secretary Desk with a Roll Top
Borrowing inspiration from the furniture designs of the 19th century, this secretary desk is made in a unique shape, distinctive to that period of time. The top of the secretary desk features a slanted surface for writing down notes and working, and it can even be lifted to reveal a hidden compartment underneath. Moreover, the beautiful curvature of the frame of the desk has been constructed out of fine mahogany wood.
Smooth Wooden Secretary Desk
With a combination of old-fashioned design and a traditional demeanor, this secretary desk features a smooth surface with a high degree of polish, which gives it a subtle contemporary characteristic. The desk is made out of solid wood, which ensures high durability and longevity of use, and is finished in cherry. The secretary desk also not only includes a main compartment under the surface but also a handful of smaller drawers.
Modern Secretary Desk with a Traditional Touch
Being a perfect mixture of classic design and elegance with more modern trends in furniture making, this secretary desk is a great all-around piece, the universal construction of which is sure to fit in most interior arrangements. The desk sports a sturdy frame crafted out of fine solid walnut wood and provides an ample amount of storage to smaller rooms, where every inch of space is extremely valuable.
Old-fashioned Antique Secretary Desk with Birch Veneers
If you are striving for an antique, old-fashioned look in your living room, take a look at this sophisticated secretary desk with a lot of storage capacity. The secretary desk is sure to provide a handy workplace, giving you a useful surface for reading a book, writing or even working with a laptop. The frame of the desk resembles traditional pieces of furniture, finished with a wonderful, decorative silhouette and decorative carvings.
Compact Wooden Secretary Desk
A small and convenient workstation that is a great fit any room, like an old-fashioned library or maybe an office room to create some additional workspace. The secretary desk is made in a classic style and is crafted out of premium materials to ensure years of use and pleasurable using experience. The wooden frame is fitted with a glossy brown finish, and the ample amount of storage compartments makes the desk handy in any situation.
Victorian eastlake 1870 cylinder roll top secretary desk bookcase top
Old-fashioned, antique roll top secretary desk with a closable top and a gorgeous, spacious bookshelf above it, which makes it a great addition to a traditional living room or a classical library, bound to match other vintage furniture.
The Captain's Davenport Roll Top Desk
This beautifully made roll top desk this extraordinary piece of furniture in a traditional style. Beautifully carved details make it look very stylish, yet very functional. Made of hardwood it is strong and solid.
Cottage chic roll top desk and chair
Secretary desk in vintage style. It is made of wood and fitted with metal handles. Includes 2 drawers for storing documents and others personal items. Excellent solution for work organization at home.
Fine french 40s maple roll top secretary
Original French secretary with roll top and lockable drawer equipped with two knobs. Slender legs and maple wood finish add to elegance. The item was manufactured in 1940s, which makes it a boon for antiques afficionados.
Small roll top desk and stool
Old-styled desk with a practical roll-top and stool for comfort. This small element saves plenty of space indoors. Wooden construction includes a top with some shelves and two small storage drawers in the lower part.
Buying Guide
A small roll top desk, sometimes called a secretary, is the perfect way to keep papers and even current work protected from casual disturbance. Invented in a time when record keeping was done by hand, and when letter writing was an art form, these small desks provided a place for keeping accounts, writing letters and more. They are often equipped with pigeon holes where bills, letters, and writing supplies can be kept.
What are the uses of a roll top desk?
A small roll top desk is a handy way to protect papers, a laptop or other small computer, your bills, receipts and other work. It can even be used to protect small artwork projects or to keep pets or children from disturbing a puzzle. While the roll top is old technology, new needs have brought some changes to these fine pieces of office furniture. They are just as useful as they ever were for the business of concealing and controlling generalized workspaces.
What are some of the best designs of roll top desks?
The Harvard Secretary
The Harvard Secretary has all the details needed by anyone who does a lot of record keeping or letter writing by hand. The inner organizer includes pigeon holes for envelopes, bills, and letters. There are drawers for stationery and stamps, and a space for keeping an inkwell and pens. This space could easily be adapted for a tablet or small laptop if desired. The rolltop pulls down over this section. Above the kneehole is a long, narrow drawer with a lock, and two deeper drawers – one deep enough for files – are located. If your home or office is equipped with a networked printer, this one desk will get you through most processes.
The Caravan Model
The caravan model is a little different from the Harvard desk. It has a series of small drawers on top, above the roll top. These could be used for cards, stamps or similar small items. This one is a little more streamlined, having only the storage areas provided at the back of the rolltop section, no file drawers or other drawers are included below.
Pennsylvania Secretary/Computer Desk
If you need technology to get your work done, but prefer not to decorate with it, this sleek little roll-top desk will do the job. The roll top not only conceals pigeon holes and drawers for stationery, it also is set up to house a CRT computer screen, but could also accommodate a more modern flat screen. A pullout desk unit on the left conceals a computer tower, while the keyboard rests on a pullout drawer unit. To the right of the knee hole is a file drawer and two smaller sorter drawers. It combines the best of both the older secretaries and the newer computer desks.
