Buying guide for Best floating desks
When you’re looking for a desk to use while working at home, you might decide that a full-size model doesn’t fit with your lifestyle or décor. Perhaps you want something that occupies a minimal amount of space, a desk you can fold away when you’re done working, giving you a clear distinction between work time and personal time. A floating desk is a popular choice.
Most floating desks don’t have legs; instead, they mount to the wall (hence the “floating” name). A few larger desks have fold-out legs that help support the weight of the desk. Because they mount to the wall, the size of the work area on these desks is more limited than that on standard work desks. This means most floating desks weigh 25 pounds or less. Mounting a larger desk to the wall would be a challenge!
Key considerations
If you’re thinking about getting a floating desk because you want to conserve space in a small room, two features are most important: the desk’s ability to fold out of the way and the depth of the desk.
Foldable desks
A floating desk that folds out of the way is a popular choice for anyone who needs a desk for a very small space. When open, hinged brackets lock the desk in position, and the working surface extends 18 or more inches from the wall. When you want to close the desk, the brackets unlock, allowing you to fold the working area up so it’s perpendicular to the wall. In those floating desks with shelves, the closed work surface covers the shelving (and any clutter) and looks like a cabinet.
One disadvantage of a foldable floating desk is that it might not be as sturdy to work on as a floating desk that doesn’t fold.
Depth
If you select a floating desk that doesn’t fold away, you should pay particular attention to its depth.
Small: If you want to be able to walk around the desk easily in a small room, so you might want a desk that only extends 10 to 15 inches from the wall. However, this limits the amount of working area you have on the desk.
Medium: Average-size floating desks extend 18 to 24 inches from the wall, giving you far more working space but potentially hindering the traffic flow in the room.
Large: It’s uncommon to find a floating desk that’s more than 24 inches deep because it isn’t very stable unless it has legs that fold out for support.
Did You Know?
In addition to mounting the floating desk to the wall, you might have to assemble the desk yourself, although this should be easier than with a full-size desk.
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Features
Color and style
Because most floating desks are made of medium-density fibreboard (MDF) rather than solid wood, they are painted. Black and white are common colors for floating desks. You can find more expensive wall-mounted desks made of hardwood.
Storage
Shelves: If you need storage in your work area, look for a floating desk that has shelves built into the unit. You can find desks with shelves above, below, to the right, or to the left of the work area, and some floating desks have shelves all around the work surface.
Drawers: Some units have drawers instead of or in addition to shelves, giving you a place to store pens, paper clips, and other supplies. Some desks have a shelf for a computer keyboard that extends when it’s time to work and retracts out of the way when you’re done.
Adjustable: Some floating desks allow you to adjust the position of the shelves and drawers around the desk area to accommodate larger or smaller items.
Weight limit
If you’re concerned about whether the floating desk can support the weight of your computer monitor or other items, look for the desk’s weight limit in the description. To make sure the installed desk will support the maximum weight, you must follow the installation instructions carefully.
You might choose a smaller office chair to pair with your floating desk. Storing a full-size chair when your desk isn’t in use can be difficult.
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Accessories
Floating shelves: EWEI’S HomeWares Floating U Shelves
If you need more storage space with your floating desk, add some floating shelves. Like your desk, these floating shelves don’t take up floor space the way a bookcase does.
LED desk lamp: PHIVE CL-1 LED Architect Desk Lamp with Clamp
Your floating desk may be too small to accommodate a regular desk lamp, but you can illuminate your work space with this adjustable LED lamp that clamps to the desk and works for 50,000 hours.
Under-cabinet lighting: Brilliant Evolution LED Puck Light
Another option to light your floating desk is to secure a battery-operated puck light under a shelf over your work area. This puck light is dimmable, has a timer, and comes with a wireless remote.
Desk organizer: Mindspace Office Desk Organizer
If your floating desk has no or few shelves or drawers, you can still keep all of your office essentials organized in this steel unit that has plenty of compartments, including a drawer.
For Your Safety
Floating desks can be heavy, so enlist another person to help you lift it into place.
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Floating desk prices
Inexpensive: These floating desks cost $40 to $75 and have limited or no storage shelves. Most of these do not fold.
Mid-range: Most floating desks cost $75 to $125. Many of these desks have some shelving. Some fold flat to the wall when not in use. Most of these desks are black or white.
Expensive: If you want a floating desk made of hardwood, expect to pay $125 to $500. There are some painted desks in this price range too.
Tips
- Assemble the whole desk first. Because a floating desk can be heavy when fully assembled, you might be tempted to assemble part of it and mount that to the wall. This doesn’t work, and you can weaken the entire structure by doing this.
- Mount the floating desk to the studs. The floating desk needs to be very sturdy to support any weight, so make sure you attach it to wall studs and not just to drywall. Use a stud finder to make sure you’re mounting the desk properly.
- Consider the height of the desk. Before mounting the floating desk to the wall, choose the chair that you plan to use with it. Sit in the chair to determine the optimal height for the work area and mount it accordingly.
- Buy new hardware. While floating desks come with appropriate hardware for mounting to the wall, sometimes manufacturers save money by shipping cheap hardware. You might want to substitute more durable hardware to make sure the desk holds securely to the wall.
FAQ
Q. Are floating desks safe to use?
A. Yes, as long as you mount them to the wall properly. You want to be certain to attach the desk securely or it could collapse under the weight of your laptop or leaning on the desk. If you have concerns about installing the desk on your own, you might want to hire a professional to do it for you.
Q. Can I build my own floating desk?
A. Experienced woodworkers can certainly build their own desks. Making a rustic or industrial-style floating desk can be as simple as supporting a piece of thick wood with metal wall brackets. You can add shelves and drawers too. You’ll have to decide if you have the time to undertake this kind of project versus purchasing a ready-made desk.
Q. Should I buy a floating desk with legs on it?
A. Most floating desks that attach to the wall don’t need legs for support. However, if the work surface extends 24 inches or more from the wall, legs might be necessary to provide enough stability.
