Desk Bench and 20 Genius Ideas for Working or Studying at Home

The remote work format is becoming increasingly popular each year, meaning more and more people prefer working from home. What should you consider when organizing a workspace? What details should you think about in advance? What will help you focus on productive work and stay effective while working from home?

How to Organize a Workspace

Designate a separate area where you will only work. Many make the mistake of writing reports at the dining table and making calls from the bed, but these areas are meant for other purposes. It's crucial to separate life spheres. Otherwise, you'll be distracted during important tasks and think about work during your free time.

✓ Look at your apartment with fresh eyes and find free niches or corners. Sometimes a narrow table and chair can fit there.

✓ If you have a bay window in the bedroom or living room, you can also set up a comfortable and bright workspace with natural lighting. Simply place a table in the center, a chair, and a couple of drawers for storing documents or stationery.

✓ If you don't want to buy a desk or have limited space, expand the windowsill. This will create a bright workspace with a view of the city.

How to Make a Workspace on a Windowsill

Anastasia Vishnevskaya — Designer, Architect, Artist. Designs white interiors in the country, loft, and Scandinavian minimalism styles

Keep the Old Windowsill

To work facing the window, you can leave the windowsill as is. Buy a table of the same color and height and push it forward. It will look like an extension of the windowsill. You can move the table however you want, and in winter, there won't be issues with fogged windows because there is access to the window and no need to create additional gaps for air circulation.

Make a Tabletop

✓ Place wood on the windowsill (pleasant to touch and eco-friendly, but not very reliable) or MDF (more stable and long-lasting, but it needs to be painted with water-resistant paint or enamel to prevent moisture damage).

✓ When purchasing, consider the material's height to avoid problems opening the window.

Expand the Working Surface

✓ When expanding the windowsill with a tabletop, ensure that the overhanging part is no more than half the depth of the windowsill. Otherwise, the glue and screws won't withstand strong pressure if you lean on the table with your elbows. The material of the overhanging part must be sturdy to support heavy items.

✓ Choose a strong material so that the side or overhanging part of the windowsill can bear weight when leaning on it or placing heavy items on the surface.

✓ To create a large overhang, use console brackets mounted vertically to the wall under the window or floor supports. If there's no space near the window due to a radiator, mount the console on the sides.

✓ If the countertop extends beyond the window, use a suspended mounting system. The shelf can be made of any material that suits your interior: wooden, MDF, plastic, artificial or natural stone.

To avoid fogging windows, there should be gaps or holes in the windowsill. Warm air from the radiator will heat the window area through these.

Replace the Windowsill

Replace the windowsill. If the new surface protrudes significantly, consider additional supports or brackets. Coat damp materials with varnish, paint, or enamel.

When Space Is Limited

To save space, look into fold-down windowsills. You can buy them at IKEA or other furniture stores. Installation is simple: attach hinges or a foldable bracket to the windowsill. When you lift the table, the bracket turns 90 degrees and holds it in place. Ensure the structure is securely fastened to the windowsill material.

Plan the Details

✓ To avoid distractions, consider using a screen or shelf to separate your workspace. This is what designers Alexander Malinin and Anastasia Sheveleva did in one of their projects.

✓ Make sure there are power outlets near your desk. If not, you can incorporate visible cables into the design by matching their color or creating contrast. You can paint them in a thematic pattern and highlight them in the space or create a whole composition using the cables, complemented with a wall mural.

✓ To avoid distractions during conversations with family members, use headphones. Listen to white noise or neutral music that doesn't distract you.

Plan Storage

If you work from home, you likely have documents, contracts, and important notes piling up. If a child works at the desk, they need space for notebooks, journals, and notes. Organize not only the surface of the desk but also the surrounding area so that your workspace is always tidy.

Design: Maria Bezuglova

What You'll Need?

✓ Drawers or, if the space is decorated in a Scandinavian style, woven baskets.

✓ Wall shelves. If you don’t want to drill into the walls, hang them on the side of the drawers.

✓ Wall-mounted folders and narrow metal baskets. The more compartments, the easier it is to keep things organized. Label the folders with stickers or labels so you don't get confused and can quickly find what you need.

✓ Tablets with clips. Use leftover wallpaper or gift wrapping paper for decoration.

✓ Pocket envelope. This pocket can be placed on the side and made thematic. It is attached using a railing. A railing is a pipe-like structure with hooks and hangers for storing items. An excellent option if there's little space but many small items that are frequently used.

Life hacks to Prevent Small Items from Being Annoying:

✓ Store granular items like buttons, staples, erasers, paper clips, and USB drives in ice cube trays, pill bottles, cookie baking molds, or metal tea tins.

✓ For long items like pens, markers, and pencils, use food container dividers.

✓ Magnetic tape can help prevent losing metal items like compasses, scissors, and paper clips. Place it in a visible spot above the desk or hide it from view on the back of the cabinet.

✓ To create a mood or store light items, mount a metal mesh above the desk and hang scissors, glasses, headphones on it.

✓ On a perforated metal panel, you can easily clip lists. Make loops between two holes and hang items or place a compact shelf on top of it. The panel can be painted in any color to fit well into the interior.

✓ In minimalist and Scandinavian interiors, a wooden panel with pegs looks great. Items are mounted differently on this panel: pegs are inserted into holes that can serve as hooks or supports for shelves.

✓ Don’t forget the railing — a tubular or metal bar on which shelves or individual items are hung using hooks. The hooks on the railing can be moved, creating a functional structure.

✓ Light items can be attached to a rope stretched above the desk using clips or clamps. This is a great way to create atmosphere at your workspace. It's interesting and beautiful but not very functional.

✓ A marker or chalkboard magnetic board is perfect for planning.

✓ The well-known cork board — a cheap, practical, and eco-friendly option.

Create the Atmosphere

Design: Olesya Berezovskaya

Make your workspace inspiring and pleasant. Place photos of loved ones, a statue from a trip, or a postcard on the desk. These small touches can lift your mood during work breaks. But don’t overdo it, as the workspace should remain organized.