22 Built-In Desk Ideas for Spaces of Any Size

A built-in desk can help take your home office, bedroom, or craft room from crowded and disorganized to stylish and functional. The best part is that when it comes to built-in desks, the options are truly endless. Whether you have a large or small space to work with, an expansive budget, or a limited one, a built-in desk can work for you.

Here are 22 smart and stylish built-in desk ideas for spaces of any size.

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Repurposed Closet Built-In

Design by Shelley Cekirge Interiors / Photo by Dean Luis

Transforming an extra closet into a sneaky built-in desk is a smart option that can work in any home. Simply remove the closet doors and build a desk to fit the width of the closet (or hire someone to help you out). A couple of shelves installed on the wall above the desk will add some functional open storage without overwhelming the space.

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Wallpapered Built-In

Price Hart Design / Photo by Vivian Johnson

Give your built-in desk some extra style points by adding wallpaper on the surrounding walls. This is particularly impactful for minimalist designs where upper cabinets aren’t present, but can work for nearly any built-in if you want it to. This small built-in desk by Price Hart Design is a perfect example of how some wallpaper and stylish task lighting can take a simple built-in to the next level.

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Built-in Desk With Storage

Kimberly Larzelere Interiors / Photo by Christopher Stark

Talk about some serious storage. Don’t be afraid to extend your built-in desk from wall to wall and floor-to-ceiling to maximize its functionality and storage capacity. Bookshelves, cabinets, drawers, and shelves are just a few ways that you can add storage to a built-in desk.

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Built-in for Three

Design by Kriste Michelini Interiors / Photo by Thomas Kuoh

If you require a built-in desk that can fit more than one individual at a time, take some inspiration from this gorgeous craft room set up by Kriste Michelini Interiors. The L-shaped desk provides plenty of seating, while built-in upper cabinets add lots of extra storage. Finally, this large built-in is painted the same color as the room’s walls, which helps to create a seamless look.

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Kids Loft Bed Built-In

Design by Kriste Michelini Interiors / Photo by Thomas Kuoh

Kids' bedrooms are all about maximizing functionality, storage, and style. Take your kids’ loft bed to the next level by adding a small built-in desk. Not only will this give your little one a dedicated space to read, do crafts, or complete homework, but it will free up extra space in the rest of the room too.

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Dark and Moody Built-In

Design by Kriste Michelini Interiors / Photo by Thomas Kuoh

Is your home in need of a little drama? Why not add a dark and moody built-in desk to your space? It can provide a pop of unexpected color and bring a calm, productive feel to your home office. Pair a dark paint color with warm wood tones, leather, and warm finishes like gold or brass to get the look.

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Built-in With a Rolling Ladder

Design by Dimitra Anderson Home / Photo by Lauren Anderson

No need for a dedicated room for your dream home library, as it turns out you can get the look with a built-in desk too. Adding bookshelves and a rolling ladder is all it takes to turn a regular built-in desk into the home library you’ve dreamed of since you were a kid.

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Large L-Shaped Built-In

Laura Fox Interior Design / Nova Soul Imagery

L-shaped desks are a great choice for several different reasons. Not only do they provide ample working space, but they can help maximize small spaces since they easily fit into corners. Going the extra step and opting for an L-shaped built-in desk will make your space look that much more professional and high-end.

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Built-in Closet Desk With Doors

Design by LP & CO / Photo by Angela Newton Roy

We love this smart hideaway built-in desk by LP & CO. Not only is it ideal for those in smaller spaces, but the sliding closet doors can help to hide any office-related mess that you don’t want permanently on display.

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Multi-Purpose Built-In

White Sands Design and Build

Why stop with just a built-in desk? This bedroom by White Sands Design and Build features a Murphy bed, built-in desk, dresser and storage combination that maximizes every inch of the space. Whether you need to combine your home office and guest room or want to repurpose your teenager’s bedroom after they leave for college, this option is one to consider.

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Small and Simple Built-In

White Sands Design and Build

Built-ins don’t always need to be complicated or large-scale to be effective. If you want to keep things subtle and minimal, then a simple built-in desk may be for you. Consider a cubicle-sized desk space with a single drawer or a couple of overhead shelves for your setup.

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Built-in Corner Desk

AnaVera Design / Photo by Lara Kimmerer

If you have an awkwardly shaped corner in your home, it may just be the perfect opportunity to fill an otherwise space with a small built-in desk. This sweet and simple design by AnaVera Design features a few custom-cut shelves for a functional and space-saving solution that we love.

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Craft Room Built-In

Whittney Parkinson Design

Do you have avid crafters in your home? If so, maybe a built-in craft room desk is just what your household needs. Take some inspiration from this gorgeous and expansive built-in desk by Whittney Parkinson Design which features plenty of seating, storage, and surface space.

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Stacked Shelves Built-In

Whittney Parkinson Design

A simple way to DIY a built-in desk is by using several sets of shelves in a small nook or niche of your home. Better yet, combining a shelf and some drawers for the primary workspace will give you plenty of room for storage. Then, simply add a couple of floating shelves on the wall above the desk and you’ve got yourself a super simple and affordable DIY built-in desk.

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Corporate-Style Built-In

Whittney Parkinson Design

Looking to create a professional-looking home office with tons of desk space? Take inspiration from this corporate-style built-in by Whittney Parkinson Design. Wall-to-wall cabinetry and desk space in dark wood are complemented by a large L-shaped desk for a built-in that is just as professional and as it is expansive.

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Single Bookshelf and Desk Combo

Design by Tina Ramchandani Creative / Photo by Jacob Snavely

Combine a built-in desk with a bookshelf for a simple yet functional combination. This built-in desk setup could be easily DIY if you’re handy, or you can bring the professionals in to complete the look for you. Either way, you’ll be left with a functional and stylish space that’s not short on storage.

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Minimalist Built-In

Tina Ramchandani Creative

If you’re looking for a super simple built-in desk option, look no further than this minimalist built-in desk by Tina Ramchandani Creative. A singular floating-shelf-style desk space is mounted on the wall with a pretty desk chair to match. This is ideal for small spaces or those who simply need a surface to set their laptop on to get some work done.

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Double Bookcase Built-In

Stephanie Hoey Interiors

Bookcases are another great way to build a built-in desk. Simply add a large shelf or desktop to the center of two bookcases and you’ve got a built-in desk with tons of storage and configuration options. Add doors to your bookshelf for a closed storage option or leave it open to display your book collection in style.

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Clever Alcove Built-In

Rebecca Rollins Interiors

If you have an alcove or niche in your wall that you don’t know what to do with, a built-in desk is the perfect way to fill the area and make it functional. A built-in desk will allow you to customize the space for your unique needs along with the dimensions you have to work with.

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Built-In Desk With Cabinets

Rebecca Rollins Interiors

A few cabinets and a long countertop are a great way to create a built-in desk with some serious hidden storage. Plus, this is a great option if you need to add a built-in desk to your kitchen or dining room area. We love this wall-to-wall built-in featuring white cabinets and a sleek wooden countertop by Rebecca Rollins Interiors.

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Boho-Inspired Beachy Built-In

Michelle Boudreau Design

This stunning, beachy built-in desk is made using two wardrobes and a floating shelf—something that can be easily DIYed even if you’re not a handy person. We love the rattan doors and punchy tropical wallpaper that adds some serious personality to the space.

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Wall-to-Wall Shelf Built-In

Michelle Berwick Design

Another great shelf-style option, this functional yet minimalist built-in desk by Michelle Berwick Design features a large floating shelf and some overhead storage shelves. Notice the bookshelf-style wall shelves strategically tucked into the corner to make the most of every inch.

FAQ

What is the use of a built-in desk?

Built-in desks can have many different functions, but one of the primary benefits of a built-in desk is its space-saving capabilities. Additionally, built-in desks often have lots of storage which can keep any space looking organized and clutter-free.
How can I make my desk look better?

A few pieces of decor can take your desk from bland and boring to attractive and personalized. Consider adding plants, framed photos, bookends for holding files and books, a stylish desk lamp, and more.
How big should a built-in desk be?

The great thing about built-in desks is that they can be totally customized to suit your space and your needs. That being said, ensure that your built-in desk is at least wide enough to accommodate a standard desk chair comfortably.