Desk/console/secretary with chair in corner of living room

portersquarefamily · 2025-01-30T06:30:03+00:00

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For various reasons, we need to have a work station (desk, secretary, etc.) in an area of our living room. You can see in the photo (left upper corner) that we just have a random small desk and chair but are looking to have it coordinate and blend better with the rest of the living room. It does need to be functional—-it doesn't have to be a full size desk but we need to be able to work from a laptop/etc. I'd live your specific ideas for the desk/chair/any shelving above/small rug based on what you see in the pic. Thanks!

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Comments

InspiredCFSUK

For this space, a sleek and minimal desk in a light wood or matte black finish would complement the existing modern and cozy aesthetic. A compact writing desk with clean lines would work well without overwhelming the space.

For the chair, a stylish upholstered accent chair or a modern swivel chair in a neutral tone like beige, grey, or soft brown would blend seamlessly with the rest of the décor. A boucle or fabric chair with subtle curves would add both comfort and elegance while maintaining the room's inviting atmosphere.

If you're looking for functionality, consider a desk with a few drawers for storage and pair it with a chair that offers both style and ergonomic support!

leegee4768

It would be helpful to see the desk and chair you currently have plus measurements and maybe another angle on the room if you want specific recommendations.
Generally I would recommend you use the same color palette and style of furnishings you currently have in the rest of the room to help that corner to blend in and not draw the eye.

Zephy

I think lots of things could work well here, so it's mostly up to your personal taste. Since it's your living room, a more furniture-like piece (wood) would probably fit in better than an office-like piece (metal or plastic), in wood tones, black, gray, or off-white. A secretary-desk with a drop leaf surface might be nice because theoretically you could close it up and hide office-type stuff when company comes over or you just want to "close down" for the day. Or a laptop can fit in a desk drawer. But will you actually go to the trouble of closing the desk or putting away the laptop? I think I'd end up leaving it out all the time. Closed storage is better than shelves for hiding non-living-room-type clutter, so drawers or cabinets in the desk would be important (or neutral file boxes could go alongside or underneath). I've seen all kinds of surprising chairs used with desks — upholstered ones, antique wood ones, modern metal ones — so I think you have quite a bit of leeway in terms of style. I actually like the plain wooden one you have now (can't see it very well, but I like the wood color). It's important that the chair and desk surface be at a good height for using a keyboard comfortably. Hope this helps!

MirandaPriestly

The operative question here is: Do you need a place for occasional computing, or do you need a more permanent workstation for real work?

Because that's going to define how you go about this.

If it is the first scenario, get a tiny, cute secretary desk.

But, if you're going to do real work there, get a real desk, a comfortable chair, and at least one big screen. Trust me, you will thank me in the end.

Good luck!