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21 Not-Boring Standing Desks You’ll Want To Use In Your Home Office (Some You’d Never Believe Were Adjustable!)

There comes a moment for many of us when we’re decorating our homes, when we have to choose between form and function. Do we go with the pretty version of what we need or the one that works the best/is the most comfortable? Well, as I established in the first part of this “From Boring to Beautiful” series on recliner sofas, we increasingly have more options so we aren’t stuck with a Rosemary’s Baby-type choice.

This week, we’re tackling something I myself am possibly on the hunt for: an adjustable standing desk. Earlier this year, I established in this post that I really wanted to incorporate a compact vintage secretary desk into my bedroom in order to use a big open space in there as an occasional office when I need more quiet. But after some more thought on the matter, I wondered if I should take a different approach entirely. A standing desk is tempting to me as I try to get more movement into my life in as many organic ways as I can. A friend of mine has a walking pad under her standing desk, and I liked the idea of doing the same.

the branch four leg standing desk gets its lift from the bottom of the legs, rather than under the working surface.

While some of this is anecdotal, people I know who have a sit-to-stand desk claim the following pros:

  • More alertness
  • Better productivity and creativity
  • Improved posture

Some things *have* been studied, and if you have the patience to read through this one from the National Institute of Health, the conclusion is, at the very least, a standing desk can help with acute lower back pain, though it could aggravate lower extremity pain, such as knee pain. Guess we can’t have it all.

Keep in mind, though, that if you’re using a standing desk at home, where, say, you normally work barefoot (like me…or in slippers), it’s important to have supportive footwear. I recently bought an indoors-only pair of training sneakers for my workouts I do in my bedroom, so you may need to consider something similar unless you’re not a shoes-off household.

while most desks that go from sit to stand at the push of a button, are over $1,000, this one from fezibo is less than $300.

The promise of less back pain might just be enough for anyone who has ever suffered from it ::raises hand:: I’m sure increased blood flow from going from sitting to standing often throughout the day would also be beneficial to those of us (again, raises hand) who constantly have parts of our bodies tingling from falling asleep.

One of the biggest “cons” of a standing desk? The cost. While I did find a handful, including the one shown above, to be south of the $500 mark, most were $1,000-$2,000, or even upwards of $4,000-$5,000 for more executive styles. The mechanism to lift and lower the desks has to be slow, smooth, and adjustable for different worker heights, which equals $$$. Oh, and don’t be fooled by some of the pretty styled room photos you see on product listings. If you don’t see a power cord, they’re just not showing it to you. Adjustable standing desks need a power source, so they must be plugged in. That’s fine for anything flush to the wall, but if you have a floating desk in your home office, you’ll need to account for that.

the lincoln desk from room & board in the sitting position. it has the option to add drawers, and comes in a few different sizes and plenty of wood tones.

Curious how these look “open” and “closed”? This desk above is from Room & Board (don’t worry, I linked it below in the round-up), and below it’s engaged in its standing position. It takes just a few seconds to go from sit to stand. Most of these desks raise the working surface up via a lift mechanism, while a few lift solely from the bottom of the legs (these tend to look less high-tech).

the lincoln desk from room & board in the standing position.

While this article is “boring to beautiful” in terms of style, the main intention was to find adjustable standing desks you wouldn’t look at and immediately think of Silicon Valley offices, but I did include some more contemporary versions in case that aligns with your home’s modern style. I split up the round-ups into decorative and utilitarian, depending on what you were looking for. Let’s start with the pretty stuff.

12 Great-Looking Standing Desks

All but one of these go from sit to stand with the push of a button. These are great for anyone who wants to fit a desk into their home that looks more like a traditional desk. Yes, you’ll have the cord to deal with, but for the most part, you get something that doesn’t scream I PLUG IN!

Top row, from left:

  • Geiger Leatherwrap Sit-to-Stand Desk, from $3,995 at Design Within Reach: Fancy materials like walnut and leather often mean fancy price tags. The details on this one are likely much better in person. You can pick between three wood finishes and a multitude of leather color options (the green is so sharp). It has four concealed motors and you can choose to get it with no drawers—like shown here—one drawer, or two (you’ll see that one below).
  • Tate 50″ Walnut Wood Standing Desk with Drawers, $500 at Crate & Barrel: The only non-motorized standing desk of the bunch, so you’ll have to commit to standing here. It almost looks like just a pretty bookshelf, and would work great in a bedroom or living room as an occasional work surface.
  • Louise Mid-century Modern Electric Adjustable Standing Desk with Wireless Charging, $1,699 at Hulala Home: The more I look at this one, the more I think it kind of looks like E.T. BUT it’s also a cute E.T. It has integrated charging so you can just plug your devices into the desk, and also has a flip-top charging port in the back to hide the outlets.

Bottom row, from left:

  • Athena Standing Desk, $1,732 at Rove Concepts: The fluted legs on this one are beefier than a Taco Bell Chalupa, but in the right room, it’s a cool vibe. It’s also just big in general, at about 63 inches wide and 31 inches deep. The top has cable management holes to organize desktop and monitor cords, and the buttons are easy to find right up front.
  • Soan Adjustable Desk, $370 at Fezibo: Look, I’ve never heard of this brand, and I do wonder why this desk is so vastly less expensive than all the others, but the reviews were good so I’m including it for the price point. You can get it in two different sizes and choose between white and black legs.
  • Wright Natural Wood Adjustable Desk, $995 at Living Spaces: This one is a little bit of a mullet. Business at the bottom, party at the top, but I still think it’s a good option. It has a drop-down keyboard key and the drawers have lots of options for dividing into compartments.

Top row, from left:

OE1 Sit-to-Stand Table, from $1,545 at Herman Miller: It’s like a little bistro table but with sit-to-stand functionality! So clever and cute. Pick between several top and base colors; it’s even available square. I love this for a home office that’s not shut away behind a door.

Mid-Century Adjustable Desk (36″), $649 at West Elm: This mid-century design is a best-seller for West Elm, and I love to see it in an adjustable desk. It’s super compact (one of the smallest in my findings), which is perfect for fitting right next to a bed or just for general small-space living. The top comes up manually, unlike the other electric ones here, but under that work surface is storage for all your office supplies and laptop to tuck away at the end of the day.

Veritas 360-Degree Rotating Desk Electric Adjustable Standing Desk with Flip-Top Lid, $2,499 at Hulala Home: Similar to the other E.T. desk I showcased earlier, but with a side component for anyone who needs tons of tabletop space. It swivels 360 degrees to adjust to your needs, has a sedentary warning to remind you when it’s time to stand, and has a big storage cabinet for books, printers…anything you’ve got.

Bottom row, from left:

Lincoln Adjustable Standing Desk, from $4,499 at Room & Board: This is a proper, beautiful executive desk that also happens to be an adjustable standing desk. It’s THE most expensive one on the list, but Room & Board makes a very high-quality product, so if it’s in the budget and you have a need for something of this nature, I’d bet it’s a worthy investment. It was designed in collaboration with renowned architecture firm Gensler, and as someone married to an architect, I can tell you that those brains really think through the most minute of details…

Geiger Leatherwrap Sit-to-Stand Desk, from $3,995 at Design Within Reach: Here is the two-drawer version of the first leather-wrapped desk I showed you. Pricy, but very snazzy and handsome.

Lincoln Adjustable Standing Desk-No Drawers, from $3,799 at Room & Board: This is the same desk as the bottom left (I didn’t even realize when I was making the graphics) but basically, it just has no drawers. I love how sleek and modern it looks.

9 Streamlined & Modern Standing Desks

Alright, we’ve reached the less decorative section of this post, but honestly, I’d consider any of these. Maybe not for my bedroom where most would clash with my existing furniture, but certainly for a proper home office.

Top row, from left:

Branch Four Leg Standing Desk, $1,099 at West Elm: If you’re serious about a standing desk, definitely check out Branch, because they specialize in cute, cool office furniture. They also sell through West Elm, like their popular Four Leg Standing Desk. I can always appreciate a standing desk that doesn’t have those splayed feet, as it looks more like a table.

Copilot Standing Desk, $999 at Burrow: I didn’t know Burrow, the flat-pack furniture darling of the internet, had a standing desk, but alas, they do at a fairly competitive price. It’s even won a handful of awards from CNN Underscored, Business Insider, and Esquire.

Duo Standing Desk, $549 at Branch: Love the color options on this one from Branch. It’s utilitarian but happy and friendly. And at the price, it would also work great in a teen or young adult room.

Middle row, from left:

Steelcase Height-Adjustable Sutton Desk, from $1,919 at West Elm: Four sizes, three tabletop finish options, veneer or laminate (with laminate being the cheapest option). It’s contract grade and can work in a commercial office as well as a home office.

Spout Sit-to-Stand Table, from $2,300 at Herman Miller: Here’s another one with plenty of sizes to choose from, and tons of color (like this glacier blue and even a punchy red). The design feels more traditional with four legs, but the discreet cable management system is innovative. You’ll also find tons of add-on options like bag hooks, drawers, and more.

Aedric Electric Adjustable Standing Desk with Drawers, $1,899 at Room & Board: Very similar in design to the Burrow one, but with all the size and finish options you’re used to from Room & Board.

Bottom row, from left:

Motia Sit-to-Stand Desk, from $1,035 at Herman Miller: Super compact and streamlined, but with some cute colors to choose from. It’s from Herman Miller, so you know it’s made to take the beating of working life (it comes with a limited lifetime warranty).

Heidelberg Adjustable Desk, $250 at Fezibo: I couldn’t decide whether to put this one in the decorative category or here, but I had a hole in the grid, so here it went. I love the brass knobs and the slate color, though keep in mind it has to be assembled, and the top is laminate, not wood or veneer.

Tenon Smart Adjustable Desk, $2,899 at beflo: This one looks simple, but I think it has more than meets the eye. At least according to its description: “Meet the Tenon luxury desk: The first-ever modular, sit-stand smart desk for your home office. We’re talking a touch screen, companion app, power and USB outlets, all standard with the desk, plus add-on accessories to maximize your productivity and minimize your clutter.” Any wood-look desktop is a scratch-proof, water-proof hardwood veneer with a beveled edge (it’s better for your wrists and forearms). Pricey, but top of the line.

Welp, this whole exercise certainly made me want an adjustable standing desk, especially with the added benefit of there being so many great-looking versions on the market (not to mention being able to put a walking pad under it).

Stick around because I have some more in this “Boring to Beautiful” series. If you have any requests, be sure to pop them into the comments below because I’m open to doing the work for you all where you need it!

Until next time…

Opening Image Credits: Design by Emily Henderson and Julie Rose | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Mountain House Reveal: How I Transformed an Awkward Space Into My Dream Work Loft

Fin
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Katie k
1 month ago

Quick question- when you do these posts are these just options you found based on web pictures? Or things you have tried and checked out in person? I have found the quality to vary soooo much on standing desks (and other furniture), that while I’m in the market for a new desk, I really need a good review where someone has checked out the quality and can make sure it’s going to hold up before I spend that much. Since searching by image is so easy now, finding a bunch of options like this isn’t hard for the average person, what would be super helpful on these gross to good posts would be if you guys ordered like 3 of the best ones and actually tested them out and let us know which you decided to use and why!

JenPNW
1 month ago
Reply to  Katie k

I will not buy any furniture from West Elm (or Pottery Barn, for that matter) since they inexplicably still do not post reviews on their site. There is a store not too far from me where I can see/touch/sit in person but even then, I often can’t tell if the piece will have longevity and stay durable and look good over time. And having to return large items like a desk is such a hassle.

KT
1 month ago
Reply to  Katie k

I have used the IKEA trotten desk for years and it’s always worked great! Not sure why it’s not listed here under the streamline section. It comes in different color ways, is affordable and readily available.

I love the concept of the series, but not necessarily the word gross. Maybe a synonym for a bland or basic that starts with a G?

Lexa
1 month ago

So many of these are so pretty! I will say that I would test out how you like working standing up before committing – I have both lower back pain and an adjustable desk (at my office) so it seems like I should be using it all the time, but I never move into standing because for some reason I just can’t concentrate that way. I have friends and coworkers who love them, so clearly it’s just my brain…but test how your brain works maybe with some sturdy boxes on top of a counter before you invest!

Jen
1 month ago

“Beefier than a Taco Bell Chalupa” . Rove should consider this line in the product description! : )
Leaning just out of the Gross to Gotta Have It lane, might be a post on end of bed blankets that are actually long enough to fully drape…. not a throw size.
Keep the series, and the food to furniture visuals coming.

Susan
1 month ago

Not the point of this post but after 2 years of fidgeting and going nuts and tanking mental health working at a desk in an office, i finally had to admit it just wasn’t a fit for me to EVER have a desk job and i started my painting business. I honestly don’t know how y’all do it and I have mad respect for those who can.

Karen
1 month ago
Reply to  Susan

I have this! Still working the desk job because I can’t decide what comes next but the low mental health and weight gain are not great.

Susan
1 month ago
Reply to  Karen

Anything is better than fading mental and physical health. I hope you find a way to jump!

Amy
1 month ago

Not the most stylish option but also not hideous: I put a Husky brand adjustable-height work bench in my office. It raises and lowers with a crank and the white powder coated metal and real wood top are actually pretty good-looking! Plus it’s on high quality casters so easy to move around when needed.

emily jane
1 month ago
Reply to  Amy

oh, i am digging that work bench! with drawers and on casters -nice! ty

Frankie
1 month ago

For anyone needing another narrow width option, I recommend the brand “Work From Home Desks” (literally):
It’s not automatic, so to switch from sit to stand you’ll have to reassmble the desk but it flat packs and is modular which is great for those who move a lot, or who only need a desk sometimes. You can get the bare bones model or extra accessories like laptop wing and foot rest. They online price is $$$ but I got mine off of FB Marketplace for much cheaper!

Claire
1 month ago

I’ll add if you’re getting a fixed standing desk (or even the electronic ones), stand and hold your arms bent, then measure from the floor to the bottom of your elbow. I’m pretty tall and the 50″ desk isn’t tall enough for me. So knowing your dimensions is important.

Molly
1 month ago
Reply to  Claire

I agree. I have something from Amazon (bought prior to my divorce from them) that sits on my regular desk at work that has a lift mechanism to it. I’m either hurting my neck by looking down at my monitor or I’m headed toward carpal tunnel when it’s at the sitting position because my laptop keyboard sits too high. All day long I’m playing my own version of “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean” game (IYKYK)

1 month ago

After 5 years of WFH, I recently decided to invest in a sit/stand desk and proper ergonomic chair. Like you, I’ve been trying to get more steps into my daily routine and my work bought me a walking pad, so I needed the desk to go with. The set up has been great and I’m so happy I did it, but it took me A VERY LONG time to settle on a desk because I could not, for the life of me, find a desk that checked my aesthetic box but also provided functionality that I valued. I really wanted it to be *pretty*, have storage (i.e. drawers), and also be sturdy enough not to rock and be able to support my very heavy monitor setup, but nothing really existed out there for this purpose that also had good reviews. I thought about a few of the options you shared that have a thicker top with 3 drawers across (almost bought the R&B Aedric), but ultimately decided against this because the deep rabbit hole I went down on the topic said, over and over, that this wasn’t a good ergonomic choice. I didn’t want to invest in something pricey that… Read more »

CWS
1 month ago

I have a standing desk thing that sits on top of my regular desk, and it is hydraulic (like how office chairs adjust) so no plug. It’s not the most beautiful but the mechanism is very easy to use — I’d guess there might be a similar mechanism in some nice looking desks, which would let you avoid the cord issue. Though a computer setup requires cords anyway so maybe it’s a moot point…

quickscan
1 month ago
Reply to  CWS

that’s a great idea and would looks much better

kiki
1 month ago

Has anyone ever ordered from Hulala?? It almost looks too good to be true, like those Instagram clothes that show up a total joke. Wondering if anyone has experience with the brand!

Addi
1 month ago

Great series. I wonder about a rebrand? Uneasy about calling someone’s stuff “gross” even in jest. Maybe something like:

  • Glaring to Gleaming?
  • Gauche to Glistening?

Any wordsmiths have a catchier title?

Lori
1 month ago

Another option, far more cost-effective: create a fixed standing-height desk, and have a comfy bar-height stool handy. I stand MUCH more when I don’t have to stop and adjust. It’s just standing, sit or perch on the bar stool for a break, then stand some more (and I’m on the computer a ton). But as noted, supportive footwear is definitely important.

T.
1 month ago

I bought a standing desk 10 years ago, and made the mistake of not getting the motorized one. So I keep it in the standing position, and I got an adjustable height office chair that could boost up to meet it when I want to sit. I think a walking pad under my desk would make me crazy, but I do like the ability to both sit and stand.

SL
1 month ago

I would love to see a similar post on sofa beds. It should be queen size, fantastic to sit and to sleep on, while still looking… nice… and not like an old-fashioned, bulky, horrible thing… I guess a girl can dream :-). After buying a Joybird sofa that I thought would fit the above description, but which is so horribly uncomfortable, I would love to see your suggestions. Thank you so much for considering, and for the community your site provides.

emily jane
1 month ago

Thanks Arlyn! Just out of curiosity I wandered over to the Fezibo site and the reviews were so great on even their basic sit/stand desk AND it was on sale! I’ll check back in next week or so after delivery and set-up with a proper user review for Katie k and anyone else who might be interested. : )

Becky
1 month ago

While I generally dislike roundups, I would really LOVE to see a roundup of aesthetically pleasing digital alarm clocks, particularly ones that do not light up unless you press the light button. I don’t sleep with my phone by my bed, so I need an alarm clock that isn’t just functional, but nice to look at too.

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