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

The remote work format is becoming more popular each year, which means an increasing number of people prefer working from home. What should you consider when organizing a workspace? What nuances should you think about in advance? What will help you get into a productive mindset and be effective at home?

How to Organize a Workspace

Designate a separate area where you will only work. Many people make the mistake of writing reports at the dining table and taking calls from the bed, but these places are meant for other purposes. It's very important to separate life spheres. Otherwise, you will 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 your bedroom or living room, you can also set up a comfortable and bright workspace with natural lighting. Just place a table, chair, and a couple of drawers for storing documents or stationery.

✓ If you don't want to buy a desk or there's very little space, extend your windowsill. You'll get a bright workspace with a view of the city.

How to Make a Workspace on the Windowsill

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

Leave the Old Windowsill Alone

To work facing the window, you don't need to do anything with the windowsill. Buy a table of the same color and height and move it closer. It will look like an extension of the windowsill. You can move the table however you want, and in winter, there won't be any problems with fogging windows because there is access to the window and no need to make additional gaps for air.

Make a Tabletop

✓ Place wood on the windowsill (pleasant to touch and eco-friendly, but not very reliable) or MDF (more stable and durable, but you'll have to paint it with water-resistant paint or enamel to prevent moisture damage).

✓ When purchasing, consider the material's height; otherwise, there is a risk of not being able to open the window.

Increasing Working Surface

✓ When extending the windowsill with a countertop, make sure that the overhanging part is no more than half the depth of the windowsill. Otherwise, glue and screws may not withstand strong pressure if you lean on the table with your elbows. The material of the overhanging part should be strong enough to support heavy items.

✓ Choose a sturdy material so that the side or overhanging part of the windowsill can bear weight when you lean on it or place heavy items on the surface.

✓ To make a large overhang, use consoles mounted vertically to the wall under the window or supports on the floor. If there is no space under the window due to a radiator, the consoles can be placed on the sides.

✓ If the countertop is wider than the window, install a suspended mounting system. The shelf can be made from any material that fits 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 up the area around the window through these.

Replace the Windowsill

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

If There Is Limited Space

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

Consider Details

✓ To avoid distractions, consider using a screen or shelf to separate your workspace. Designers Alexander Malinin and Anastasia Sheveleva used this approach in one of their projects.

✓ Make sure there are power outlets near your workspace. If they're not available, you can incorporate visible cables into the stylistic concept—match their color or contrast them. You can paint the electrical wires thematically with prints and highlight them in space or compose a whole design using them, complemented by a wall painting.

✓ To avoid distractions from family interactions, use headphones. Listen to white noise or neutral music if it doesn't distract you.

Plan Storage

If you work from home, you likely have piles of documents, contracts, and important notes. If a child works at the table, they need space for notebooks, notepads, and sticky notes. Organize the area not only on the table but also around it. This way, your workspace will always be tidy.

Design: Maria Bezuglova

What You'll Need

✓ Drawers or, if the space is styled in Scandinavian design, woven baskets.

✓ Wall shelves. If you don't want to drill into the walls, hang them on the side edges of 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 paper for decoration.

✓ Pocket envelope. Such a pocket can be placed on the side and themed. It is mounted using a rail. The rail is a pipe-like structure with hooks and hangers on which items are stored. A great option if there's little space but you have a lot of small items that you use constantly.

Life Hacks to Avoid Being Annoyed by Small Things:

✓ Loose items like buttons, staples for staplers, erasers, paper clips, and USB drives can be stored in ice cube trays, pill bottles, cookie baking molds, or iron tea tins.

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

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

✓ For creating atmosphere or storing light items, mount a metal mesh above the table and hang scissors, glasses, and headphones on it.

✓ On a perforated metal panel, it's easy to clip lists. Make loops between two holes and hang items or place a compact shelf above it. The panel can be painted in any color to blend well with the interior.

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

✓ Don't forget about the rail—this is a tubular or metal bar on which shelves or individual items are hung using hooks. The hooks can be moved along the rail, making it a functional structure.

✓ Light items can be attached to a rope stretched above the table using clips or clamps. A good option for creating atmosphere at your workspace. It's interesting and beautiful but not very functional.

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

✓ The well-known cork board—affordable, practical, and eco-friendly.

Create 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 table. These small touches can lift your mood during work breaks. But don't overdo it, as the workspace should remain organized.