Western Living Magazine
7 More Fireplaces That Have Got Us Fired Up
A Whistler Cabin Designed for Real Mountain Life
This Light-Filled Victoria Kitchen Used to Be a Bedroom
Protected: The Art of Apéro: How to Host a Holiday Party with the Best Wine Pairings
3 B.C. Wines to Pour This Holiday Season
6 Soup Recipes to Make on Repeat This Fall
Basking in Banff: Inside the Reimagined Rimrock Hotel
3 B.C. Getaways for Skiers, Slow Travellers and Food Lovers
Sun Peaks Winter Getaway Guide: Ski, Après, Stay and Explore
Elevate Your Sleep with an Upholstered Bed Frame
7 Stylish Nursery Pieces You’ll Love for the 2026 Holiday Season
The Homebody Holiday Gift Guide: 29 Stylish Finds for Every Room
PHOTOS: Party Pics from the Western Living Design 25 Finalists Reveal Party at Vilnora
Vote Now in the 2027 WL Design 25 People’s Choice Awards
Announcing the Finalists for the 2027 WL Design 25
Smartly designed desks to help you build a home office without sacrificing space.
Moving is supposed to be one of the most stressful experiences in a person’s life, but as I count down the days until I get access to my new space (one month to go!), I’m focusing less on the hassles of booking movers and sourcing boxes and figuring out how exactly to sneak out of the apartment without paying strata the move-out fee, and more on the opportunity that awaits to redecorate.Specifically, I’m daydreaming about a fresh home office setup. A new floor plan means my current desk—a long, slim table that fits perfectly under our bedroom window now—just won’t work with the wall angles and closet-placement of the new place…so I’ve got a perfect excuse to shop for an alternative. On the hunt for a compact desk that can work tucked into a living room nook, I’ve uncovered some serious gems. Now, my biggest stress is actually figuring out which one to choose.
The Sergio desk ($299) from Structube features angled mid-century-modern-inspired legs, a single drawer and a fresh white tabletop that’s deep enough to accommodate a keyboard but shallow enough (less than 24 inches) to leave some breathing room. structube.com
In a small space, visual flow is everything—which is why acrylic and glass pieces are great additions, adding function without any visual weight. This Peekaboo acrylic console from Cb2 ($899) would create an unobtrusive workspace with a contemporary edge. cb2.com
The Stockholm desk (because there are so many customization options, price is available on request only) from Resource Furniture mounts directly onto the wall. Float on. resourcefurniture.com
The vibrant orange finish isn’t for everyone, but if you don’t mind a hit of colour, Ikea’s PS 2014 Secretary desk ($249) is a dream; when you’re done with your emails for the day, just fold up the door to tuck your computer out of sight. ikea.ca
The marble top and teak finish make the West Elm Penelope Mini desk ($420) both on-trend and timeless, but it’s the compact shape (which still manages to fit a deep drawer) that makes this one a perfect fit for the modern condo. westelm.com
Stacey is a senior editor at Western Living magazine, as well as editor-in-chief of sister publication Vancouver magazine. She loves window shopping on the job: send your home accessories and furniture recommendations over to [email protected]
Are you over 18 years of age?
Get the latest headlines delivered to your inbox 3 times a week.