Office Space: Vintage desks for a home office you'll love
The classic Mid Century Danish wall unit makes the home office blend into a New York City living room. Design: Time & Place Interiors
You might have spent the better part of the last few years working from some space in your apartment. Even if you’re part of the “return to office” wave that’s hitting corporate America, I’ll bet that a work-from-home spot is still likely a reality for you.
Since the home “office” — or carved out work space — is now among our most highly used areas, it justifies being designed with intention. The reasons to plan your work area thoughtfully are not superficial; there’s a wellness benefit involved, too. As a certified WELL AP designer, I know that the positive physiological response experienced by inhabiting a well designed space lowers our cortisol levels. This, in turn, nurtures personal feelings of calm, inner strength, independence, and creativity — emotions that allow us to be our best selves on the job. In other words, good design is good for you!
If you love character of older pieces, consider a stylish vintage desk that makes you excited every time you glance toward your work space. That’s even more important if your desk area is in your living room. You could even use a beautiful antique table, with a nice file cabinet or wall shelves as supplemental storage.
Like any space, the home office invites an opportunity to mix and match styles from different eras. Vintage tables pair nicely with modern office chairs: I recommend the ergonomic and stylish Eames “Aluminum” group model. Light up the work area with an attractive desk lamp. And don’t forget a tabletop accessory or two: a nice marble paperweight, a leather catchall, or a hand thrown ceramic pencil cup.
For your inspiration, enjoy this assembly of vintage and antique desks in stylish home office designs. A space like this will make you feel better while working, I promise.
Everything you need in a home office / guest bedroom combo. A Charlotte Perriand vintage table is paired with a Thonet bentwood reupholstered chair. Notice the subtle repetition of curves in the lighting and the furniture’s lines. Design: C. S. Valentin / Photo: Alexa Holtz
Here’s an industrial inspiration, in a Tribeca loft where a vintage desk and an old filing cabinet make for a sleek work-from-home space. Design: Lauren Waters / Photo: Olivia Pierce
Small spaces can take a big dose of style, even in a little nook. A Pierre Jeanneret desk is mixed in with a Verner Panton chair, vintage lamp, and a leather waste basket in a Chelsea, New York studio apartment. Design: Charlie Ferrer / Photo: Stephen Kent Johnson
Modernism looking sleek in a Greenwich Village home office, with a Hans Wegner desk, a Bauhaus-style lamp, and a Danish chair, plus contemporary shelving above. Design: Grisoro Studio / Photo: David Mitchell
This is an illustration of juxtaposed style: a leather-topped antique desk is more impactful with a modern desk lamp and accompanying industrial side table in this New York City home office. Design: Patrick McGrath
High-low can be the way to go: A vintage Mid Century vintage desk and chair are paired with an Urban Outfitters lamp in this Soho home office. Design: Nicholas Obeid / Photo: Tim Lenz
Here’s a great example of a work space carved out of a bedroom. Original paneled walls get refreshed with Mid Century teak furniture. Design: Gabriella Horn / Photo: Christian Harder
Against stunning original ceilings in a Soho loft, a modern style vintage desk setup looks extra posh. Design: Nina Garbiras / Photo: Gieves Anderson
Pairing an modern shelving with an antique desk is a great way to achieve more home office storage and juxtapose interesting styles, like in this Brooklyn Brownstone’s home office design, with CB2 wall shelves around the designer’s grandfather’s heirloom desk. Design: Mariah Rich / Photo: Erin Little
If you only have a tiny bit of space and need a writing nook, consider a floating desk like this Danish Modern piece, utilizing the small landing. Design: Rachael Gowdridge / Photo: Christopher Horwood
Let’s get to work on your home office
Time & Place Interiors founder Ksenya Malina’s training in the human health implications of work spaces, combined with her passion for vintage, can help you design your best work-from-home space that you’ll enjoy during office hours and after hours. Use the link below schedule a free 20-minute information call to talk about your design needs and how we can bring them to life:
