Every writer needs a desk. Trust me, no
matter how brilliant working in bed is, sooner or later your back will politely
request that you sit at a desk on a properly-supportive chair. Happily, desks come in all shapes and
sizes; ordinary and ornate, bijou and sprawling, crustily antique and sleekly modern. You could use a piece of wood balanced across the
arms of your chair à la Roald Dahl, of course, but that wouldn't make for a very
interesting round up…
1. The Pomidou desk has a metal frame and
glass surfaces which means it will look incredibly messy if you don’t keep it
clean and tidy, but it shouldn’t look too dark and heavy or dominate a small room.
£550 from OKA.
2. This oak desk from John Lewis has
built-in storage at the back for organising your paperwork. It comes in this
brightly coloured version or plain wood and costs £225.
3. The large Beckett desk from Habitat is
£900 but this smaller version is a mere £650. It has a lightly padded leather
writing surface, leather-lined drawer, and a space along the back (with a lift-up lid) for storing your
bits and bobs. It’s also available in grey leather upholstery.
4. If shabby chic is your (vintage china) cup of tea, then
you may like the Bramley writing bureau. It has a country-style distressed cream finish and a roll top. There's a pull-out
writing shelf, and all the drawers and cubbies you could possibly need for
storing the essentials (stationery, books, chocolate). It’s currently on
offer at £770 (was £1100) from Laura Ashley.
5. This desk is perfect for bedrooms or small offices, has a clean, modern style, and shelving for storage. It comes in black or oak effect, as well as white. The Milano desk is available from Next and costs between £150 and £175, depending on the finish.