OUR PICKS

DESKS, HOME OFFICE IDEAS, PRODUCT REVIEWS

Top 9 Ladder Desks for a Tidy Small Home Office 0 2165

August 3, 2019 19:09April 2, 2020

Ladder desks are the perfect way to save space, and not cut back productivity

In case you haven’t noticed, ladder desks are pretty hot right now. And they are for a reason. Well, plenty of reasons, to be precise. Not all of us live in huge houses with some extra room to put a complete home office.

Sure, setting up a 6-feet-long desk sounds like an idyllic scenario, but, sometimes, it simply cannot happen. So, whether you’re a working mom, a young adult, a tiny homes enthusiast, or just someone who tries to keep their rent low (like us) and you still want to make your home office look professional, this one’s for you!

Whom are Ladder Desks for?

Generally speaking, ladder desks are great for professionals who want to create a home office in a small space like a living room, an entryway, or a bedroom. But just in case you wondered, a ladder desk solution isn’t just the best option for people with a one-bedroom or a studio apartment.

Think about this scenario, for example. There might be a new family member on the way, and you might turn your great home office into an even greater nursing room now.

So, whatever the case might be, here’s a list of the best ladder desks on Amazon right now. Voila!

1. Coaster Furniture CO- Ladder Desk

Click to check price

There are many ladder desks out there. Cheap ladder desks, expensive ladder desks, made of plastic, metal, wood, and so on. But this one above is one of the most original pieces in the market right now.

First of all, ladder desks help you save space exactly because of their design. Why? Because you can lean them against the wall while they also work as bookcases, storage places, etc. This one comes with a drawer too!

Sure, there are many variations, as you will see below, but few come at a price as affordable as this does.

As a con, we would mention that you might find it hard to get used to working on a leaning desk. But that’s all.

2. Offex Home Office Ladder Desk

Click to check price

On the other hand, this is not that original. We’re not cheating — it’s still a ladder desk! But it just comes with some extra …support.

Anyway, this minimal, black-and-brown beauty is not only one of the most affordable ladder desks for a desktop computer or a laptop right now. It’s one of the most affordable, convertible ladder desks out there.

All because you can also purchase an extra shelf-set to create a whole composition of shelves, a desk, and a bookcase.

3. Itiaar Ladder Drop-Down Desk

Click to check price

Now that we’re talking about ladder desks and shelf sets, here’s another piece for you.

We know how difficult creating a home office in a small space is. If your space is already packed and setting up a home office sounds like an unrealistic scenario, we’ve got the solution.

This Itiaar ladder desk – bookcase has it all:

A foldable desk to reduce clutter
A not-so-deep working area to save space
Shelves for extra storage
A minimal design
Fair quality for the price

If you live in a condo and you still have to work from home, look no further. This cool, sturdy ladder desk is everything you need.

But (there’s always a but) since its that affordavble the materials are not quite durable. However, this means that the parts are extremely light — something that you, most probably, will love while assembling the pieces.

4. American Trails Ladder Desk

Click to check price

We like honesty. And we’re going to be honest here. This piece is out of this world. And its beauty lies in its contradictions. It’s modern and rustic. Minimal and full of storage space. Sophisticated and basic.

If you’re looking for an inspirational desk that will help you boost your productivity and not take too much space, this one’s for you.

However, you’ll spend some time before you figure out the assembly instructions. Sorry, but we told you we liked honesty.

5. Monarch Ladder Desk

Click to check price

A convertible ladder desk to help you keep your working area private right when you’ve just finished working. Its sturdy design and the folding mechanism will make assembly a little hard to figure out, but it’s definitely worth the hassle.

If you’re looking for a bookcase that also works as a hidden, ladder desk, this Monarch piece should be your one and only option. And with a rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars, you know we’re right!

6. Nathan James Theo Ladder Desk

Click to check price

The definition of a ladder desk. The ladder desk of ladder desks. Ok. Let’s cut to the chase now!

This classic design by Nathan James comes in such a modern interpretation that will feel like an integral part of your place no matter your existing furniture or decoration.

However, if you’re taller than 6 feet, your legs might not fit that comfortably under the bottom shelf. Don’t worry, though. We’ve got you covered. With this unique piece below:

7. WE Furniture Industrial Ladder Desk

Click to check price

We know you fell in love with this ladder desk the exact moment you saw the picture above. And we happen to know why:

First, it looks fantastic, high-end, and it has that “hipster-y” vibe
Second, it looks sturdy and high-quality
Third, it has a crisp, minimal, clean design
Fourth, the color of the wood makes it look expensive

And the truth is, that this desk comes with all of the qualities above. But it’s not expensive at all. Made of real wood and metal framing, this ladder desk by WE Furniture is all you need for your small home office.

8. Finch Bedford Free Standing Ladder Desk

Click to check price

Here, at The Home Officer, we have a mission: Deliver the best home office ideas, and help you create a place you’re going to love. So, for this list, we went through each review for each product we’re featuring — we can’t know each desk first-hand, after all.

But this Finch free standing ladder desk, with zero ratings, puzzled us. So, we turned to our dear friends who’re also passionate about home offices and asked whether any of them had purchased it.

And as it turned out, two of them had. Here are their reviews:

This is the perfect ladder desk for a small space. Every day, I get to work on this desk and, so far, I have experienced no problem. It’s stable, and it took me about an hour to assemble. – Kirsten Shaw, Freelance Writer

It’s good! Not perfect. But given the price, I didn’t expect anything more. It’s not wobbly, and it feels high quality. – Dominik Broad, Hobbyist

So, there you have it! If you have a small apartment or a studio and you still need a large working surface, this is the right fit for your needs. Then again, if you need something more advanced, high-end, and trendy, keep reading for the pure diamond on this list.

9. Crosley Furniture Landon Ladder Desk

Click to check price

There’s a reason why we put this ladder desk last. And, since we always want to be transparent and honest, let’s spill the beans right away: It’s kiiiind of expensive. But, again, to be honest with you, it’s also worth it.

This high-end piece by Crosley Furniture will travel you back in the Mad Men era and increase your productivity as well as decorate your space with its amazing colors and simple, minimal, almost Scandinavian lines.

What’s more, if you own a small apartment or living space (why would you look for a ladder desk if this wasn’t the case), these two drawers and cabinets can help you avoid clutter and have a tidy, neat working area.

Assembly instructions are included. Are they easy to follow? No. Is it worth the hassle? Hell yeah!

Conclusion: Are Ladder Desks Worth It?

We know how it goes. Sometimes, in an attempt to save money, people who live in small apartments tend to work from their couch, eating table, chair, floor, etc. But this is not going to work out for the long run.

Sooner or later, you’re going to need a place to store your paperwork, your office supplies, notebooks, everything. And in order to evolve and make it as a professional, you need to have a specified working area.

This is where ladder desks come in to save the day, and help you succeed while working from home. Yes, even if you live in a tiny place.

Previous ArticleComplete Guide: How to Set Up a Home Office in a Small SpaceNext ArticleThis Really Cheap Desk from Amazon is Actually Amazing

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

How to Make Your Home Office Look Professional and Inviting 0 901

April 1, 2020 02:44April 1, 2020

We’re walking into a different era. A series of weird and unfortunate events have changed the way we live, interact with each other, and do work. People today spend more time in their home office than ever, and so do you — or at least you want to. So, if you’re looking for the best ways to make your home office look professional, cozy, and inviting, you’ve come to the right place.

Together, we’re taking a look at how to make your home office look professional and at the same time a cool place to hang out.

1. Create a home office floor plan

It might seem too professional for a beginner, but the truth is that it’s much simpler than it sounds. To begin your home office design, you need to know the arrangement and where each piece of furniture is going to go.

And the good news is that you don’t have to break the bank to do so. Free online tools like Floorplanner can help you design your home office space and find out how to make it look more professional before you even start looking what to put in your home office.

2. Start with the desk

Everything starts with the right desk. Period. So, if you’re on a tight budget and you’re trying to find out how to make your home office look more professional, just getting the right desk (yeah, like this one below) is the best way to go.

Click to check this desk’s price

A desk is like the central piece of your working area. It can make your home office look inviting, comfortable, professional, but also cold and amateur. Here’s a list of tips when choosing the best desk for your home office:

Go with a desk with drawers. This way, you will hide clutter, and also store everything you need for a productive day — this is a great example.
Get a desk made of solid wood (link). It’s more durable as a material and it also looks more high-end.
Find a big desk. The bigger, the more professional your home office is going to look.
A desk with a back panel always looks cooler. They always look sturdier, and luxurious.
If your home office is not big enough, choose a ladder desk. They look cool and they’re extremely hot right now. Here’s a list of the best ladder desks in 2020.

3. To make your home office look professional, you need more than one chair

First of all, the wrong office chair can make a cozy, inviting home office, look like a complete mess. Think of your working space as a fashion look. The chair is the coat — the piece that hugs the rest of the elements together.

With that being said, you need an office chair made of fabric. Of course, leather is the best way to go, but we don’t want you to spend a fortune. Not yet.

Click to check this chair’s price

Chairs made of fabric make your home office warm, welcoming, and professional at the same time. Make sure you choose one in neutral colors (such as grey) and with silver details because fake gold tends to look cheap.

Related: Best Budget Office Chairs That Look Extremely Lavish

Oh, and one small detail. To make your home office look even more professional, you need to have a couple of chairs for your guests as well. Again, you need to follow the same pattern. Fabric is the answer. These great guest chairs can definitely do the job.

4. Pro-tip on how to make your home office look professional: “meeting tables”

Ok ok. We know that many of you might not be able to fit a meeting table in your home office. But if you happen to have some extra space, this simple trick will transform your work area from a home office to a home business.

However, you don’t want to overdo it. It’s a home office, not a corporate office space, so we would recommend a simple round table like this one. It looks like a dining table, but it’s pretty and can serve the purpose:

Click to check this table’s price

5. Decoration: To make your home office inviting

We have to be honest here. Decorating a home office is a tricky task. Why? Well, there’s a fine line between a professional home office and a basic office at home.

Think of a workspace and your brain will most likely shape a completely different picture from what it would create if we told you to think of a home. A home office stands right there. Between your home and your office.

A smart lamp can make your home office both more professional and productive

Click to check this best-selling lamp’s price

To make your home office look professional and cozy at the same time, you need to invest in some decoration. Again. SOME. And since this is a place where you need to focus, you need to keep it simple.

Here are some tips:

Invest in plants. They make the place look cozy and Pinterest-y. Plus, they’re a cheap solution. Caution: find minimal plant pots like these ones to give a luxurious feeling.
Wall art is important. Your walls shouldn’t be empty but at the same time, they shouldn’t be too much. Find minimal wall art like quotes online, print them, and use a plain black frame to hang them. It’s that simple.
Rugs for even more coziness. The rule says that your rug should be the same color as your chair — or a completely contrasting shade. However, to make your home office look professional, we’d suggest a light grey. But, to be honest, this is just a matter of personal taste so go ahead and experiment.
Your lights matter. Lights play an essential part. First of all, you need to see what type of lamp suits you best. Generally speaking, desk lamps with different brightness levels, tend to improve productivity. If you’re looking for one, this is the best deal.

[Note: We’re publishing an article on the best desk lamps soon — click here to follow us on Instagram and get notified when it’s out]

6. You know what? Get a coffeemaker.

Yes, you read that one right. A coffeemaker. In your professional home office. Yes. YES.

First of all, you won’t have to go to the kitchen every once in a while to pour yourself a cup of coffee. Second, if you raise your game and eventually hold meetings in your home office, you will be able to make your guests feel comfortable without even leaving your office.

Remember in Mad Men where Don Draper had a bottle of whiskey on a console in his office? Think of your coffeemaker as a special bottle of Jack Daniels. Of course, without the alcohol, the bottle, or the fanciness.

However, you need to make sure that it’s an elegant coffee maker. There’s a plethora out there — something like this could definitely work.

7. Get a printer and feel professional

Click to check our favorite home office printer’s price

You won’t believe how much difference a printer can make in your home office. Like it or not, eco-friendly or not, at some point you’re going to need to print something. The idea of having your own in your home office makes the whole concept of working at home more professional.

Luckily, there are unlimited choices in the market at many different price ranges, so you won’t have any trouble finding the one that best suits your needs. However, here’s a list of top five printers for your home office:

Model	Category	Link
Canon Pixma TS9120	All-in-one inkjet printer	Check price here
Epson EcoTank ET-2720	All-in-one ecotank printer	Check price here
Brother MFC-L2750DW	All-in-one B&W laser printer	Check price here
Samsung Xpress M2020	Laser printer	Check price here
Xerox Phaser 6510	Laser printer	Check price here

How to make your home office look professional – A complete shopping list!

Now that we’ve established how to make your home office look and feel inviting and professional, we need to establish what exactly you need to put in your home office.

Keep scrolling for a list of eight products based on the tips we provided above. Create a professional, fully-equipped home office for under $800 and boost your productivity today!

Best Budget Office Chairs That Look Extremely Lavish 0 519

January 5, 2020 06:38April 8, 2020

Best Budget Office Chairs That Look Extremely Lavish

You love listicles. Just like you loved our list with the best ladder desks in the market right now. But now, you’re looking for the best budget office chairs in 2020, right? And you’re afraid that they might be frail or fragile, huh?

Luckily, we’ve got some good news.

The years when there were two separate categories of office chairs are long gone. Now, you don’t just have to choose between a costly luxurious and an affordable IKEA office chair. Today, the power is right in your fingertips — like, literally, if you think that you use your fingers to buy online.

Here are the top value-for-money office chairs that look way more expensive and you can get from Amazon for less than $150 (at least at the time of writing this article).

Best Budget Office Chairs for 2020

Allow us to take a moment and clarify what we mean by this “best-budget” adjective. Of course, there are budget desk chairs from IKEA and Wallmart that can cost less than $100. And, to be completely honest, they’re fine. But that’s all.

When we’re talking about affordable home office desk chairs, we’re talking about high-quality chairs that will stay with you for the long run and won’t let you down with their cheap materials and clunky design.

With that being said, this is not a post about 50-dollar desk chairs. It’s about the best budget office chairs for your home office that still are an investment.

1. AmazonBasics Executive Swivel Office Chair

Click to check price

The best-seller has to go first!

Offered by AmazonBasics, this executive budget desk chair is the best value-for-money piece you can find for almost $100. Sure, the price is low, but the feeling the moment you sit in and start working is as luxurious as it can get.

Installation won’t take you longer than 10 minutes, and it’s suitable for people who work long hours from home and want to see their productivity boosting.

Why? Because it’s comfortable, beautiful, and ideal for everyone, no matter their height or weight.

2. Flash Furniture White Leather Swivel Chair

Click to check price

Look at the picture above. Now click here to look at the price. Now, back to us. Can you actually believe that this chair is so cheap?

Dressed in white faux leather and with rose gold details that make it look like it has jumped out of a Pinterest board, the chair number 2 on our “best budget office chairs” is all you ever wanted.

Especially if you’ve been looking for an item that not only looks high-end but also comes with comfortable sitting and allows your back to feel great even after a 10-hour-long shift.

Oh, and it’s ridiculously easy to assemble. What else do you need?

3. Porthos Home Lennon Office Chair

Click to check price
(Updated link – Read more below)

We get how chairs (especially budget desk chairs) with a slim design can sometimes feel puny. But good materials make a huge difference. This is precisely the case with the ~~Home Lennon chair~~ Home Lilian chair, whose elegant design makes it a perfect solution for a home office in a small space.

As soon as you assemble the chair (a procedure which will take just a few minutes), you will have a strong piece before you, ready to assist you through your toughest on-the-job tasks.

Get ready for hours and hours of comfortable work while resting your arms on these smooth wooden arms. The memory foam will quickly adapt to the contours of your body, and, as an extra, the seat can lean nicely back.

The only drawback? The arms are not adjustable

Update: The Home Lennon chair is currently out of stock. Here is the Porthos Home Lilian chair which look a lot like it.

4. Porthos Home Designer Office Chair

Click to check price

If you’re a fan of those fluffy home office desk chairs that you’ve seen in a bunch of movies, this one is for you. But we have to be honest: We’ve seen better.

The Porthos home designer office chair is the most affordable item on our list of the best budget office chairs. As a result, it’s the one that excites us the least, mostly because it’s quite …basic. And, of course, it comes with all the problems basic chair do — if, for example, you push back to far, you’ll notice a little crunching noise that most chairs under $100 have.

However, the seat is wide, the material is comfortable, and it feels really sturdy.

5. Poly and Bark Office Chair

Click to check price

There’s literally nothing to hate on this chair. Assembly is a piece of cake, instructions are clear as the sky in July, and the piece itself is a faithful companion patiently waiting at your home office desk to assist you.

This top-notch desk chair is also ideal for tall home workers because it can rise remarkably high. And don’t be fooled by how thin the seat’s foam looks; it’s actually really soft, and the artificial leather feels high-quality.

How do we know that you’re going to keep this chair in the long run? Because our editor did.

6. Porthos Black PU Leather Office Chair

Click to check price

It’s high time we talked about elegance.

And usually, when people think about elegant desk chairs, they think about uncomfortable, thin, minimal, kind of futuristic pieces.

But this Porthos desk chair (a company that we’ve seen a lot on this best budget desk chairs list) redefines the idea of elegance in furniture by launching this masterpiece that features a truly slim design that also comes with thick padded seating.

So, if elegance, luxury, and top comfort are all you need from your desk chair, this Porthos, with a 360-degree swivel and gas-lift height adjustment, is all you need.

7. Serta Style Leighton Home Office Chair

Click to check price

This chair is everything.

It might not be a designer’s item, nor the most modern chair that you’ve ever seen. But it’s classic, and it suits all places no matter the surrounding furniture, decoration, or vibe.

Hands down, this is the best home office chair on a budget.

Even though it looks like a really hard chair to assemble (because of its sturdiness), the instructions paper consists of only five steps.

What’s more, the chair swivels, has an excellent adjustable height range and leans back well. No wonder it scores 4 stars with almost 300 ratings.

Our advice: Get it now!

Conclusion: Best Budget Office Chairs — Are They Worth It?

A lot of you might think that the more costly the chair, the more comfortable it will be. And, in many cases, this is absolutely right. But not for the desk chairs we mentioned above.

All of them come from big companies that have been tested throughout the years. They all look expensive, feel high-quality, and their online reviews prove that people who have used them are happy with their purchase.

And you can be one of them.