Imagine that money was no object. Imagine that you, as a freelancer or just a person who works from home, could have the desk of your dreams. Wouldn't that be amazing?
Yes, that desk from IKEA works great, we all own one, but some desks out there are cool beyond imagination. The first step is to get to know them. The second step is to set your sights on one. And who knows? If you work towards it, one of these awesome desks could be yours one day. I, for one, will keep dreaming.
StudioDesk by Bluelounge
Working towards a clutter-free world, Bluelounge's products are all about hiding cables, and the StudioDesk is their top of the line. While the desk itself looks pretty ordinary, it hides a leather covered storage compartment for all the things you don't want to see. The lid slides out when you need access to your wires, but other than that, the only cable you'll see is the one plugged to your wall.
This desk is designed for laptop users, as desktop users will not be able to hide everything in the compartment.
Price: $600 from Bluelounge or Amazon
Mantis Desk by Samuel Wilkinson
https://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/7251228/type/dlg/sid/UUmuoUeUpU57535/https://vimeo.com/31734221
The Mantis Desk looks like an ordinary desk, which is part of what makes it so cool. The design is clean and simple, but the desk hides some neat features which aren't obvious at first.
The first one is the drawer where you can store your laptop or other office supplies; then there's the cable compartment in which you can hide your cables; the bookend is a great place to put your books, files, or papers, if you have any; and the privacy screen can shield you from prying eyes or double as a note board.
This is a designer desk made by an award-winning designer, so don't expect a sane price.
Price: $1,095
WorkFit-D by Ergotron
Ergotron has a whole line of ergonomic solutions for desk workers, and the WorkFit-D is an awesome yet affordable one. Looking like an ordinary desk, this one hides a secret: it turns into a standing desk. It's been known for a while that sitting all day can have some pretty severe health consequences, but having two separate desks can prove inconvenient. Even if just for the fact that you're not very likely to get up and switch in the middle of the day.
The WorkFit-D requires no switch. All you have to do is stand up, pull the desk up after you, and continue where you left off.
If you want to go all out, try looking a the WorkFit-C — a height adjustable portable workstation with version for both desktops and laptops.
Price: $699 on Ergotron or $695 [Broken URL Removed] from eBay.
Focal Upright Workstation
Oh man. Did you ever look at a desk and wanted to cry? It's going to happen now.
The Focal Desk and Focal Chair are (unfortunately) sold separately, but together they form a true desk-bound person's dream. The workstation is made for working in a position somewhere between standing and sitting, with the chair sporting an impressive range of movement. This allows you to stay relatively active while working, but ensures you stay somewhat supported.
Everything about the desk and chair is adjustable, making it easy to fit to different people and work styles. Focal also sells additional accessories for the desk, such as a cable management system. Unfortunately, the workstation is insanely expensive, and will probably stay a dream for most of us.
Price: $1,290 for the desk, $690 for the chair.
MILK Desk [No Longer Available]
Did anyone say dream? The MILK desk is so dreamy, I couldn't even find a price for it. I can only imagine how much it costs. This desk not only has its own built-in cable compartment and charging drawer, it also has a built-in paper basket, compartments for various office supplies, and it's height-adjustable. It comes in several different sizes, including a mini and a large one fit for four people.
Be sure not to miss the MILK's 360-degrees animation. It makes any desk looks like a cheap piece of wood.
If you're really interested in buying one, you'll have to find a dealer in your country, and call or email for details. Yes, it's that mysterious. Good luck!
Price: Unknown
La Boite LD 120 [No Longer Available]
https://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/7251228/type/dlg/sid/UUmuoUeUpU57535/https://vimeo.com/16844566
Some people care about ergonomics, some care about looks, and others care about sound. It's those people La Boite had in mind when designing their desks, and the results look impressive. Yes, it's a meager excuse for a desk, but by the looks of it, you'll get sound like never before while working. And when you have good music, who cares about comfort?
The LD 120 comes with 120 Watts speakers, but 130 and 100 versions are available as well. Setup is supposed to be a breeze, and the desk should be able to play music off any device, not just your laptop.
Similar to the MILK, prices are a bit hard to find, but dig through the available retailers to find more information.
Price: Somewhere around €1,000 / $1,600
Bonus: Envol, Portable Desk
This portable desk/briefcase is unfortunately just a concept, but one I'm sure many a travelling freelancer would go for. The briefcase stores your laptop and other accessories, and opens into a small desk you can use from anywhere, instead of propping up the laptop in your lap.
Hopefully, this concept will become reality one day. Until then, we'll continue using those laptop cushions from IKEA.
Too Expensive?
We hear you. While these desks are truly amazing, most of us won't be able to afford them. Don't give up, if you want a really cool desk, how about building your own?
Check out some ideas on how to build your own simple standing desk, or how to design your very own workstation.
Have you seen some really cool desks out there? Did you build your own and want to share? Hit the comments below and let us know.
Image credit: Duane Hess