Sarah writes about all things shopping for Apartment Therapy, The Kitchn, and Cubby helping you find the best deals and the best products for you and your home. A Brooklyn-born Jersey Girl, she loves a good playlist, a good bagel, and her family (but not necessarily in that order).
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Sometimes even decor enthusiasts suffer from design indecision — or maybe it’s just not knowing what to do or worrying that you’ll make big decorating mistake. I, myself, blame a combination of all three for the state of the workspace next to my bedroom nightstand, which was a bad idea from the get-go, but became a necessity when my husband and I both started working from home full-time during the pandemic. The setup was essentially an afterthought, cobbled together with cast-offs we weren’t quite ready to get rid of. Embarrassed by the oversized desk, clunky but comfy chair, and old dingy rug, this was the only spot (in addition to my too-hard-to-shoot tiny bathroom) that didn’t see the light of day in my apartment tour.
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When our WFH situation showed no signs of changing, I decided it was time to make a change here to create a space to be proud of — something that would be super-functional and vibe better with the rest of the home, what I like to call an eclectic, mostly neutral mix where tonal textures, vintage objects, and the occasional pop of turquoise all come out to play.
The good news? I didn’t have to take this redo on totally solo. Stumped by the tiny dimensions of this bumped-out, windowless nook, I connected with the Crate & Barrel Design Desk, which is the home decor retailer’s (free!) design service team. Abbey Walker, digital design lead at Crate and CB2, sent me a photo and measurement guide so she could assess the nook (and how it fit into the rest of my bedroom both spatially and stylistically). Then I got to snapping and measuring, sending her everything she’d need to create a 3D model and 2D floor plan of the spot.
She also asked for inspirational images to gauge my design aesthetic, and we chatted a bit over Zoom she she could get a better sense of my needs. I was willing to give up the computer monitor since I mostly work on my laptop, and I didn’t really use the printer much, so that could go, too. I still needed some storage for important documents and typical desk items, but I was okay with relocating some of the other things elsewhere. I told Walker I wanted temporary wallpaper to set off the desk, but it also had to work with the yellow floral Tempaper Bohemia pattern I had up by my closet nearby. A tall task, I thought, but not impossible, right?
From this digital correspondence, Walker created a 3D model (pictured above) based on my style preferences: textured, bright, and modern with some vintage mixed in for good measure. I couldn’t believe how realistic the rendering was; it looked just like my room. First, I hung Tempaper’s faux grasscloth as a backdrop to define the nook and set a neutral base for the space. Then, the rest of the work was really just a matter outfitting the spot with key pieces that featured better proportions and brighter finishes. She suggested the compact 48-inch Emmer Desk, the Libby Natural Cane Desk Chair, and the Patara Handwoven Jute Rug, all of which feature woven materials — grasscloth, cane, and jute, respectively — to keep the look light and airy. (Crate & Barrel was kind enough to gift items to me).
Now, I especially love the rug. Something extremely low-pile had to go here because I didn’t want the chair wheels getting stuck when rolling and swiveling around. Moreover, I’ve learned that in my less than light-filled apartment, predominantly cream floor coverings really helped to brighten things up (and are fairly easy to keep clean with regular vacuuming in areas where you don’t eat… and if you don’t have kids or pets). This carpet really fit the bill perfectly.
Walker also suggested some accessories, from artwork to faux plants and decorative objects, to style out the desk and blank wall space. I would have never thought to add a large oval mirror to this spot, especially since I have a full-length one on the back of my bedroom door. This piece throws what little sunlight I get around the room and takes great advantage of the 9-foot ceilings, one of the apartment’s best features. Its thin black frame works well with the art shelves, too, where I’ve displayed a favorite vintage portrait and framed photo as well as a landscape print that I scooped up on a recent trip. These shelves don’t have to be used just for pictures either; they’re shallow, sure, but they’re also deep enough for candlesticks and sculptural pieces like an old brass duck head and a large, abstract-shaped H&M Home vase. I brought in a vintage marble bookend, purchased from local thrift shop Housing Works, to prop up some current reads, while a brass finish pharmacy lamp introduced task lighting and a touch of extra warmth to the desktop.
Now I can’t believe this chic spot was my desk area (I’ve since moved and am in the process of reassembling it to its WFH glory as best as I can in my new home). If you see me in front of this setup in a Zoom call though, can you blame me for immortalizing it as a background?
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
When home becomes the office and when that home is already on the small side, you have to find furniture that works harder for you. In the kitchen, that means finding a table that works just as well as a desk as it does for dining. It should be suited for small spaces, yet roomy (and stylish) enough to take those Zoom meetings while also serving as the perfect spot for mealtimes with friends and family. Finding said table, however, is easier said than done — that’s where we come in. We’re constantly on the hunt for the ultimate small-space solutions so below, we rounded up some of the best small-space dining tables out there that are perfect for working and eating. Check out our favorites, and get to making your home super multifunctional today.
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Do you have a small-space dining table you love? Let us know in the comments below!
Sarah M. Vazquez also contributed to reporting.
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
In essence, coffee tables are mostly meant for decoration. They function as the centerpoint for your living room seating. They’re a good place to put some nice tomes, plants, and maybe a candle or two. And they’re a convenient spot for your remote and your feet when you want to kick back. But beyond that? You technically could dine and work from your coffee table, but chances are its height makes doing so uncomfortable. And unless the table has an extra shelf under its surface, it probably can’t hold very many things. Here at AT, we appreciate beautiful furniture, including coffee tables that fit a range of aesthetics and elevate the space they occupy. But we also look for pieces that add more value than just being nice to look at. So maybe it’s time to stop and ask yourself, what does your coffee table do for you?
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If your answer is, not a whole lot, it’s time for an upgrade. And we’ve found just the item to make your living room a more effective office, dining area, and place for relaxation. The WLIVE lift top coffee table from Amazon looks like any ordinary coffee table upon first glance, but there’s more here than meets the eye.
Firstly, this piece is stylish, and at under $200, it’s an affordable price compared to the more expensive dupes you can find at high-end retailers. But the kicker is that this table has a top that partially lifts up to make your experience way more comfortable. You’ve likely had to hunch over a low surface to see your laptop monitor better or to avoid dropping food onto yourself. But this feature completely eliminates that problem, and Amazon customers couldn’t be more delighted. “The height of the table top is spectacular!” one reviewer noted. “Most lift-up tables are all in my face, and I’m 6′ tall. This is the perfect height for my laptop and coffee in the morning, or a quick meal after a long day.”
So you might be thinking, cool, the coffee table has a lift-away top; end of story. But you’d be wrong because under that top is a whole compartment for storage space, plus a smaller compartment that can be divided into two thanks to a removable shelf. You can fit a number of things in them, including dining trays, reading materials, gaming equipment, and more. Despite all these features, customers seem to agree that the coffee table is not difficult to set up. “I found this exact table on another site for $100 more, so I bought through Amazon,” one reviewer shared. “I thought it was going to be overwhelming to put together, but it really wasn’t. … I am very surprised at how much the storage area holds!” A pleasant surprise, no doubt.
So it’s settled — there’s no reason why you should have to compromise looks for the sake of storage. This coffee table proves that you can, indeed, have it all.
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
When the pandemic hit, I put everything in my New York City apartment into storage and moved back to Arizona to be with my family. While there, I commandeered a massive desk that my parents already had and set up my first-ever home office. When I returned to NYC two years later, unfortunately that beautiful desk stayed out west. I did, however, have a sleek table tucked away in storage that I couldn’t wait to use again. It’s not exactly the most functional or posture-friendly table to sit at all day, but it’s so darn pretty that I couldn’t part with it — so instead of buying an actual desk, I decided to get creative. I found this genius under-desk keyboard tray, and it quickly and simply transformed my beloved table into a legitimate desk that I can work at all day. It’s so brilliant that I’m telling all my friends about it — and now you! The cherry on top? There’s no drilling or tools required to attach it to a table. Now, that’s my love language.
I’m not going to lie — when I unboxed the VIVO Height Adjustable Under-Desk Keyboard Tray, I was a little overwhelmed with the instructions. But once I digested all the steps, I had the chic WFH desk of my dreams set up in mere minutes. While some assembly is required (you’ll need a screwdriver to put the keyboard tray together), you won’t need any tools to attach it to your table. So how in the world does it stay put? The tray is flanked by two super-sturdy adjustable C-clamps that ensure the tray fits snugly on your table.
The tray holds up to 11 pounds, so it’ll not only house your keyboard but also your mouse and gel wrist pads. It fits a table up to 1.75″ thick and the length from clamp to clamp is 33″, so make sure to measure your table before you add it to your cart. There are also five different height options, so you can customize it to the size of your desk. With three styles to choose from, you can coordinate with your desk color.
Compared to some other keyboard tray options out there, this one racks up the most style points. Yes, the clamps are visible on top of my table, but it could be a lot worse. And at $70, it was certainly much easier on my wallet than buying a brand new desk.