Workspaces and Desks for Kitchens that Add Function and Design

Complement Your Kitchen

Use cabinets that match or complement what's in the kitchen with any desk for kitchen use so the space blends in seamlessly. Search home centers and kitchen stores for semi-custom cabinets that allow you to pack more into the typically petite workspace. This kitchen, for example, features storage-savvy bamboo cabinets that match the rest of the space's mid-century modern feel.

• How to Build a Midcentury Modular Desk

Custom Command Center

A custom-built desk area anchors one end of this farmhouse kitchen. Graceful table legs make the desk feel like a piece of furniture rather than a bank of cabinets. Bountiful storage space easily accommodates filing, schoolwork, and other needs. A mounted cabinet unit blends the corner office with the rest of the kitchen.

Pretty and Petite

Crisp white cabinetry and colorful accents connect this workstation with the rest of the kitchen. The space next to the block of cabinets was considered unusable, but a desk for kitchen use served as a perfect, practical addition. It's a handy spot for handling messages, mail, and bills.

Handsome Home Office

This bright home office sits right off the kitchen in a little nook. A blue desk offers a bold contrast to the space's pretty floral wallpaper pattern, and a wall-mounted sconce provides the perfect amount of light for after-hours studying.

• More Small-Space Home Offices

Gorgeous in Blue

This office blends seamlessly into unused space by using the same materials as the rest of the kitchen. Generous storage makes it easy to stash mail, homework, cookbooks, and essential documents. Trendy pendant lights keep the space well-lit on dreary days.

Mighty Message Center

This corner message center combines practical storage with attractive display space. Cabinets keep drawers and bins out of view, while a chalkboard wall displays postcards, reminders, and family photographs. Create a similar design in your own kitchen with chalkboard paint.

Perfect Fit

This tiny desk for kitchen use, nestled between a cabinet and the wine cooler, offers just enough room to look up recipes and plan menus. It blends effortlessly with the rest of the kitchen because it's built with the same elements as the cabinets. A drop-down partition tucks the center out of sight when it's not in use.

Fun for the Whole Family

Here, a compact kitchen office tucks into a corner, with just enough space to pull up a chair. Open storage works for sorting bills, while file drawers are useful for organizing paperwork. Large, deep cabinets above reach the ceiling, providing even more storage space.

• Our Best Home Office Decorating Ideas

Space Saver

An awkward space became a mini office in this kitchen. The office continues the clean white found throughout the rest of the kitchen. The floating shelves add a modern touch and provide space for accents and accessories.

Comfort in the Kitchen

In this cozy kitchen office, built-in cabinets provide plenty of storage and conceal outlets for charging phones and other electronics. The large desk area allows the homeowner to work comfortably in her kitchen. Windows above provide a cheerful dose of extra light in the workspace.

Beautiful Built-Ins

In this kitchen, a tiny nook contains a charming message center with ample vertical storage space. The desk area is just large enough to hold a tablet, cookbook, and other tools. White built-ins with nickel bin pulls, and a collection of mason jars reinforce the kitchen's vintage style.

Fit for a Family

Here, a convenient spot next to the dining area is the message center for a busy family. It's the perfect place to leave keys, mail, or grocery bags, and it also works as a snack bar or homework haven where mom can easily monitor her kids as she cooks. The sleek design keeps the desk area looking relaxed, not cluttered.

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Fuse Flair and Function

Built-in storage around this kitchen desk provides space for hanging files, office supplies, and electronics. White wall cabinets contrast the dark but colorful wallpaper and provide ample storage space. A fabric-covered corkboard adds function and style to the office area.

Tiny but Practical

A corner message center in this kitchen works well for the homeowners without much space. Perfect for apartments and tiny homes, this unit places a basic desk next to the fridge. File cabinets and stackable boxes provide storage space.

• More Tiny Kitchen Tips

Deluxe Desk

Here, a built-in desk boasts a long granite countertop for spreading paperwork (or additional prep space) and traditional-style cabinetry incorporating drawers and roll-out shelves. Large windows bring in sunlight and give the office area great backyard views.

Contemporary Design

This work area is situated on a spare wall just off the kitchen, making it a convenient and effective use of space. The window above the desk keeps the room light and airy. Built-in cabinets connect the office with the kitchen design.

Easy Elegance

Here, traditional cabinetry combined with a desk with the same material as the countertop gives the homeowners an elegant space to stay organized. Create a similar design in your kitchen by integrating a desk area into a run of built-in cabinets. Step down 4-6 inches from standard counter height to table height, and bump in the desk area 3 or 4 inches to allow space for a chair.

Think Vertically

Shelves mounted on wall brackets and an adjacent cabinet squeeze this petite kitchen workstation into an easily overlooked transitional spot. The shelves reach almost to the ceiling, adding plenty of vertical storage for office supplies. Banks of cabinets on either side offer additional storage.

Small Space Office

Here, a tiny desk area is squeezed into the space behind the back door. Wall-mounted cabinets hold office supplies, while files are stashed in drawers on either side. There's plenty of desk space for pens, pencils, sticky notes, and other supplies.