Why You Need A Secretary Desk

Glamorous gold painted fold down secretary desk

Whether you’re a student moving into a dorm, a young adult moving into their first apartment, a busy family in need of a command center or you’re just simply short on space in your home, the BEST solution is a Secretary Desk. Secretary desks are cheap, versatile, multi-functional, easily refinished, and have great resale value.

DIY blue refinished antique secretary desk

Courtesy of LilyFieldFurniture.com

One of the most famous Secretary Desks was the one in the movie Sex and the City 2 that held the tv that Big gave Carrie for their anniversary.

Modern mid century fold down secretary desk from the movie Sex and the City

Sex and the City 2 Secretary Desk courtesy of HickoryChair.com

They’re like a dresser, desk, office, nightstand, vanity, and library all in one. Add two book cases on either side and a hutch on top for the ultimate craft station like the combination below from Ikea.

Secretary Desk with hutch From Ikea. Perfect craft desk.

Ikea Hemnes Secretary Desk w Hutch and Book Cases Courtesy of Indulgy

COMPLETE BUYER’S GUIDE

Here are all of the reasons why you need one, ideas on where to put it, and tips on finding the best one for you at the right price. At the end of this post you’ll also find a gallery full of DIY inspiration.

: 37″W x 18″D x 44″H

A SECRET COMMAND CENTER

Modern Secretary desk with hutch. Cheap and Easy Clutter Proof Hidden Family Command Center for Busy Moms

Image without graphics courtesy of No29Design.com

One of the best purchases we ever made was our $40 secretary desk. We were able to fit ALL of the contents of a bulky, 5 foot long desk into a compact, efficient, versatile hidden office that doubles as a beautiful piece of furniture.

Wooden antique fold down secretary desk in bedroom

Courtesy of Lonny.com

The best thing is when we’re finished with work or have company over, we can just close the desk door and our office is safely hidden away from prying eyes or flying toys.

: Courtesy of No29Design.com

: No29Design.com

You can get one with a lock on it or have a small lock installed for security against nosy roommates, parents, visitors or kids looking to doodle.

Secretary Desk Lock and Key

There’s nice counter space on top to place nick knacks, a computer monitor, tower, modem, printer, or even food or drinks while we’re working. As a matter of fact this post is being typed on a Secretary Desk right now!

: https://homemadelovely.com//4-ways-to-create-a-stylish-home-office-in-the-living-room/

: Courtesy of https://www.decorpad.com/amp/photo.htm?photoId=140437&next

Ours has 3 drawers including a cedar lined bottom drawer that we can use to store sweaters. We haven’t done it yet, but we plan on refinishing it to a silver metallic.

The Secretary Desk is The Perfect Small Office Space Solution l Dorm Furniture l Apartment Furniture l DIY l Small Office l Home Office l Organization

Courtesy of FancyDecors.co

Blue and gold stenciled Secretary Desk perfect small office Space Solution, Dorm Furniture, Apartment Furniture, DIY, Small Office, Home Office, and Organization idea.

FIND TUTORIAL HERE BY DeliciousAndDIY.com

ARRANGEMENT IDEAS

You can place a secretary desk in any area of the home but it’s especially great for bedrooms since it can act as an office, dresser, vanity, and nightstand all in one.

Mid century fold down Secretary Desk nightstand in bedroom

Courtesy of YourNestDesign.Blogspot.com

Secretary Desks are perfect between two beds which can save a ton of room in smaller spaces like dorms.

Courtesy Pinterest.com

For an extra space saving tip, a storage bench or chaise lounge at the foot of your bed can double as your office seat when needed. Just be sure you purchase furniture sliders, available at dollar stores, for underneath the legs of your bench or lounge so you can easily slide it to the desk and back to the foot of your bed.

In a living or dining room Secretary Desks can be used as a china closet, bar, dresser, and desk or even as all in one.

Photo Credit: Black bar Courtesy of Mandy Clayton/Pinterest.com White China Cabinet Hutch Courtesy Pinterest.com

Secretary Desks can vary greatly in shape, size, design, and price so here are some tips on finding and purchasing the right one for you :

PRICE AND WHERE TO PURCHASE

Our personal favorite is buying antique or used desks from sites like Craigslist, Facebook Market Place, and apps like Letgo. You can sometimes find them for as little as $20.

For the secret to getting the best price possible on resale sites, check out our post Get The Best Deals On Craigslist Without Bargaining.

: https://www.artsychicksrule.com/secretary-desk-makeover-w-duck-egg-blue-3-colored-waxes-chalk-paint-by-annie-sloan/

Antiques are a fraction of the price, come with their own unique characteristics, can be repainted, and are usually made of real wood in a variety of finishes (Mahogany, Walnut, Maple, etc).

: Courtesy Incolorwords.com

You can also purchase secretary desks new from stores like Pottery Barn, IKEA, and even Home Depot for anywhere from $140- $1,400.

: Ikea Hemnes Secretary Desk

: Pottery Barn Graham Secretary Desk & Hutch

: Via Pinterest.com

TOP COMPARTMENT

When deciding which Secretary Desk to purchase you’re going to want to think about what you’re going to use it for and pay attention to the compartment at the top that pulls out converting it into a desk.

Empty top compartment

Some secretary desks are completely empty inside the top compartment but many come with shelves and drawers that can be great for smaller items but limit the inside space for storing bigger electronics.

Be sure to see pictures of inside the desk (when the desk is open) especially if you plan on storing a computer or laptop in it to make sure the shelving inside the top compartment leaves enough clearance at the bottom to slide in a closed laptop.

Enough room to slide in a closed laptop, and a hole drilled in the back for wires.

The depth size is going to give you a good idea of whether or not it can fit your laptop or computer when it’s closed.

18 inch deep Secretary Desk

The shelves in some secretary desks are removeable so be sure to ask the seller if that’s the case.

Removeable shelving unit

TO HUTCH OR NOT TO HUTCH

Some Secretary desks come with a tall cabinet on top known as a “Hutch”. Think of a hutch as a bookcase or glass cabinet on top of your desk.

Courtesy of Pitsinauhaa Blogspot

Some hutches are detachable from the desk and some aren’t. A hutch can be useful in adding additional storage if needed.

Courtesy of Julie-InspiredByYou

You can also make a DIY hutch with a small bookcase as seen below or hang shelves above the desk.

Courtesy of Hometalk

We chose not to purchase a desk with a hutch because it was going under a window.

Courtesy of LynnSteward.com

SIZING

Secretary Desks come in different sizes spanning anywhere from 29 – 42 inches wide, 14 – 20 inches deep, and 37 – 72 inches high. Whether purchasing new or used, be sure to ask what the measurements are for the width, depth, and height of the desk. Don’t forget to also ask what the span or depth of the desk is when open so you know how big your work space will be.

: 33″W x 19″D x 41″H

: 36.5″W x 20″D x 41″H

Below is an idea of the best uses for each desk size range.

28-30 INCH WIDE SECRETARY DESK

Best suited for a kids room/super small dorm or space, this size desk is great for light office work, paying bills, writing letters, kids craft storage, china cabinet, as a bar or dresser.

Courtesy of @poppyseedcreativeliving on Instagram

Since they usually come with a depth of only 14-15 inches, most medium to large sized laptops cannot be stored inside of a 28 inch wide desk unless the top compartment is completely empty or sparse.

Sapphire Blue Secretary Desk courtesy of LilyfieldLife.com

Larger laptops or a desk top computer can however be placed on top of the desk. You can also store a closed laptop in the drawers.

28″W x 14″D x 39″H

If you purchase one with a hutch you might even be able to store a desk top monitor and tower inside of it along with books. Many classic antique Secretary desks that include a hutch are this size.

Courtesy of TouchTheWood.Co.uk

31-42 INCH WIDE SECRETARY DESK

If you want the best replacement for a full sized desk, this size range is probably your better option.

Courtesy of Connie Baker via Pinterest

They can vary from 16-20 inches deep allowing more room for storage inside of the top compartment of the desk.

37W x 19D x 42H

Our desk is 31/32 inches wide, and 17 inches deep allowing us to store three 14 to 15 inch closed laptops within the top compartment. The desk is 40.5 inches tall meaning the drawers are deep allowing for a whole lot of storage.

We are two petite women and we can both sit next to eachother at the desk comfortably.

Courtesy of 551 East Design Blogspot

THE BEST TIME TO BUY

Courtesy of @AddictionDecor on Facebook

Don’t be discouraged if you can’t find the one you want right away especially when seeking used. It took us 7 months to find one that we liked and we ended up finding a second one shortly after. You’ll have the best luck between July to December when people are moving or cleaning out their home for the holiday season. You might also have some luck during the spring cleaning season.