The best folding desks to invest in if you're set to WFH indefinitely (but you're not #blessed with space)
Though many of us are returning to the office a couple of days each week, working from home is set to remain – in some capacity – for the majority. Whether you're part of the full-time #WFH brigade or you're doing so on a few set days, ensuring a practical yet stylish WFH set-up is paramount. That said, many of us aren't blessed with space like those pesky influencers with dedicated home offices. Y'know, the type whose spaces don't also double up as a kitchen/bedroom/dressing table. Ugh.
Enter: folding desks. Fold away desks are an actual LIFE SAVER for the space poor among us: slimline, functional and packed away within seconds when the clock strikes 5pm on a Friday. Gone are the days of killing your back by working from your sofa, or making do with a bed and lap desk combo. Folding office desks sit neatly in the corner of your room and can be stashed away in your wardrobe/under your dining table/down the side of your fridge when they're not in use. It's time for your home to feel like home again.
Folding desks fall into two main categories: bog-standard folding computer desks and their fancier counterparts – wall mounted folding desks. The former look as you'd expect. They have worktops spacious enough for your books/dried flowers/scented candles set on - most often - iron frames. They can easily be folded flat to allow for easy storage when not in use, allowing you to make the most of your space and set up a workspace anywhere in your home. The Evelyn concrete folding desk from Dunelm comes in at £39 and certainly doesn't compromise on Instagram-appeal.
Alternatively, wall desks - or floating desks, as they're sometimes otherwise referred to - are mounted to the wall to provide a compact and unobtrusive work space. When you’re done for the day, you simply lift up the drop-down door up to show the attractive, fluted front held by a magnetic close. No space lost.
What we're saying is this: whether you live in a house share or have a one-bedroom flat to yourself, a lack of space shouldn't mean a lack of space to get your job done. We've hunted down the very best folding desks to turn even the tiniest corners of your home into a photogenic AF office from the likes of Amazon, Wayfair and Dunelm. Most of them come in under £100, and most are available with speedy delivery. You. Are. Welcome.
Looking for more ways to elevate your WFH set-up? We've got floating desks and desks for small spaces, ergonomic office chairs and small space dining tables.
For more from Glamour UK Commerce Writer Sophie Cockett, follow her on Instagram @sophiecockettx.
Scroll for our full edit of the best fold away desks to shop today.
Folding desk UK
Evelyn Concrete Effect Folding Desk, £39, Dunelm
Why we love it: Elegant and stylish, this folding desk is the perfect option for apartment living, house shares or small homes. It features a spacious, concrete-effect worktop set on a black metal frame for a contemporary finish. This convenient desk can easily be folded flat to allow for easy storage when not in use, allowing you to make the most of your space and set up a workspace anywhere in your home.
Save when you shop for fold away desks with these Dunelm discount codes.
Fold away desks
BELIWIN Folding Computer Desk, £45.99, Amazon
Why we love it: Believe it or not, Amazon is a treasure trove of affordable folding desks. Coming in at under £50, this one is available in lots of different finishes including black and dark wash wood and it has two tiers to provide plenty of storage space. When you're done with work for the day, you can fold it flat and store it against the wall or in your utility space.
Foldable space saving desk
VASAGLE Folding Computer Desk, £39.04, Amazon
Why we love it: This fold away desk oozes style credentials - and though it looks far too sturdy to be foldable, it does collapse into something altogether more compact when you've finished work for the day. It also has eight hooks hanging on the grids on either side of the folding writing desk, to hang your cables, headphones, jewellery... anything!
Folding computer desk
Why we love it: Available in black and white or light-wash wood and white, this folding desk has sturdy metal legs and provides two levels of storage for all your WFH essentials.
Best folding desk for small spaces
Sighwaldi 90Cm Rectangular Folding Table, £128.99, Wayfair
Why we love it: Sleek and stylish, this is the perfect folding table for those with a need for lots of storage. Or owners of lots of indoor plants. It boasts a plethora of storage space with a maximum of 13 (!) different compartments. As such, it can double up as a kitchen table with integrated spice rack.
Save when you shop for fold away desks with these Wayfair discount codes.
Best small folding desk
24" Fluted Wall Mount Desk, £203.99, Wayfair
Why we love it: Inspired by Scandi style, this wall mounted folding desk has a smooth laminated surface and powder coated iron frame. It attaches to the wall really easily, and means work can be out of sight and out of mind come 5pm.
Save when you shop for fold away desks with these Wayfair discount codes.
Best compact folding desk
Foldable Office Desk, £89.99, Wayfair
Why we love it: Oozing rustic charm, this fold away desk can be packed into the corner to save space when you're not beavering away, but it's also convenient to carry when going out for a picnic
Save when you shop for fold away desks with these Wayfair discount codes.
Best portable folding desk
Why we love it: From Wayfair wildly popular Hashtag Home line is the Tyonna folding desk which stands on a simple metal frame and has a desk top made from laminated manufactured wood for plenty of space for a laptop and other work essentials.
Save when you shop for fold away desks with these Wayfair discount codes.
Folding desk Amazon
CHARMDI Laptop Bed Table, £15.99, Amazon
Why we love it: Okay, we know we said no bed desks allowed... but for those days when you had a little too much wine the night before and don't fancy sitting at an office chair? This cute folding desk is a fabulous option. Plus, it doubles up as the perfect breakfast-in-bed tray for lazy Saturdays.
Best wall mounted folding desk
24" Fluted Wall Mount Desk, £203.99, Wayfair
Why we love it: Designed with Scandinavian influence in mind, this wall mounted fold away desk has a smooth laminated surface with plenty of space for your essential oil diffuser and diary. Plus, the powder coated iron frame is super durable.
Save when you shop for fold away desks with these Wayfair discount codes.
Best folding writing desk
Butler Style Writing Desk with Foldable Legs, £198, Fy!
Why we love it: Totally portable and foldable, this compact writing desk is made from 100% solid mango wood in an oak finish and features practical foldable legs. It's a bit like a butler tray, but with more space to get your job done.
Wall mounted folding desk
Fläpps Secretary White Folding Desk, £384, Fy!
Why we love it: Coming in slightly more expensive is the Fläpps wall mounted folding desk from Fy! - a site packed full of gorgeous interiors from independent sellers. It folds away at the end of your day, blending in with its surroundings, so you can no longer see your work. But it's not just a folding wall desk - it can be used as a breakfast table for four, a reading nook or as a space-saving workbench when you're hosting dinner parties. So. Good.
Best work from home folding desk
Bisley Hideaway Desk, £329, Ikon1
Why we love it: Available in white and oak, this fold away desk can be finished with a coloured steel back of your choice to suit your existing interiors.
