9 Best Minimalist, Simple Desks Of 2023 (Avoid These 2)

If your desk is as old and busy as this one, it’s time for a change.

All you want is a simple, minimalist desk.

But even a simple wish can get complicated. How do you know if a desk will hold up to use? What if the options you’re finding just look cool, then break? Beyond that, why does the search feature keep suggesting four-tiered desks or desks with LED lights? What part of “minimalist” does it not understand?

If you’re tired of the unnecessary complication and just want to get a desk that lets you focus, we can help.

This buyer’s guide will give you nine minimalist desks that will work for you right away, plus two to stay away from. Skip the grueling search and use the table below to find the simple desk you need.

Table of Contents

Winners By Category | Losers (2 To Avoid) | Winning Desk Reviews | Honorable Mention | FAQs

 

The Best Minimalist Desk For Every Need

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See Also: Best Home Office Desks | Home Office Storage Guide | Desk Organization Ideas | Best Desks With Shelves | Bookshelf Desks | Best L-Shaped Standing Desks | Best Long Desks

 

The Worst Ones (Don’t Buy These 2)

While there are tons of desks online with a tempting minimalist look, some desks are of less-than-stellar quality and could leave you frustrated down the road. We’d recommend avoiding these two altogether.

 

If you really don’t believe us, here is why we recommend avoiding these two minimalist desks:

• Ameriwood Home Parsons Desk with Drawer: While this minimalist desk by Ameriwood looks boxy and modern, it gets bad reviews in the way of durability and quality. You may be tempted by the extensive color options, but reviewers say the hollow legs and thin desktop make this desk not worth the money.
• JJS Home Office Desk with Drawers: This minimalist desk looks sharp and has drawer options for storage, but the number of one-star reviews is concerning (nine percent!). Reviewers say it’s difficult to put together and the wood top feels cheap. We’d recommend steering clear of this one.

 

The Nine Best Minimalist Desks By Type

These nine minimalist desks won us over with their clean design, affordability, and solid customer reviews. We’ve found a winner for each category below.

Best Overall Minimalist Desk: Modern Industrial Home Office Desk By HSH

• View today’s price, normally $160
• Star Rating: 4.7
• Color Options: Black Oak, Dark Gray Oak, Rustic Brown, Rustic Oak, Rustic Oak with White Frame
• Dimensions:
  • Width: 55.1 inches
  • Height: 29.5 inches
  • Depth: 23.6 inches
  • Weight: 38.1 pounds
• Pros:
  • Iconic minimalist design
  • Plenty of color options
  • Sturdy for the price
  • Easy to set up
  • 30-day return window
• Cons: 
  • Desktop can chip
  • Some reviewers said their desks arrived damaged

Sleek, modern, and designed with cool angles, this desk is exactly what comes to mind when you think “minimalist desk.” Reviewers love this desk for its clean aesthetic and sturdiness. We love that it comes in multiple colors and sizes.

Check price & buy here.

 

Highest Quality Simple Desk: Industrial Home Office Desk By BON AUGURE

• View today’s price, normally $220
• Star Rating: 4.8
• Color Options: Vintage Oak with Black Frame, Gray Oak with Black Frame
• Dimensions:
  • Width: 60 inches
  • Height: 30.1 inches
  • Depth: 23.6 inches
  • Weight: 47.2 pounds
• Pros:
  • Sturdy design thanks to the steel frame and mesh back
  • Wobble-free
  • Adjustable legs to get desk balanced
  • Attractive wood finish
  • Easy to set up
• Cons: 
  • Desktop is made from high-grade MDF, not solid wood, so it’s not super substantial
  • Desktop can scratch or chip

With over eight hundred five-star reviews and ratings, this desk by BON AUGURE caught our eye as a high-quality minimalist desk that won’t break the bank. 

BON AUGURE also offers an industrial bookshelf to match (a winner in our home office storage guide).

Check price & buy here.

 

Best Bang For Your Buck: Computer Desk By Mr IRONSTONE

• View today’s price, normally $129
• Star Rating: 4.7
• Color Options: Black, Rustic Brown, Vintage, White Marble
• Dimensions:
  • Width: 47.2 inches
  • Height: 29.5 inches
  • Depth: 23.6 inches
  • Weight: 26.7 pounds
• Pros:
  • Multiple sizes and finishes to choose from
  • Lightweight in case you need to move it
  • Comes with a headphone hook and a side bag for extra desk storage
  • Good value for the money
  • Easy to put together
• Cons: 
  • Reviewers say it can wobble
  • Desk sometimes arrives with damaged corners or missing parts

This simple desk has an attractive wood finish look and gets an impressive number of five-star reviews for the price. We think it’s a great option for people looking for a dependable minimalist desk on a budget.

Check price & buy here.

 

Best Wooden Simple Desk: Parker Home Office Desk By Nathan James

• View today’s price, normally $260
• Star Rating: 4.5
• Color Options: Walnut, Black with Gold Frame, White, White with Wood Frame, White with Gold Frame
• Dimensions:
  • Width: 41.9 inches
  • Height: 30 inches
  • Depth: 24 inches
  • Weight: 51 pounds
• Pros:
  • Beautiful Scandinavian design that embraces the minimalist feel
  • Fast and easy setup
  • Shelf and drawer underneath desktop introduce hidden storage
  • Finished back panel in case you want to angle the desk out into the room
  • Solid wood legs
• Cons: 
  • Desktop is not solid wood
  • Finish can be uneven or a little rough

This simple wood-finish desk manages to introduce some storage space while staying modern (we love the angled legs). While the desktop is made of MDF like most desks, the legs are solid rubberwood. We chose this desk for its lovely walnut finish. 

Nathan James also has winning desks in our desks with bookshelves guide and best small desks guide.

Check price & buy here.

 

Minimalist With Drawers: Modern Computer Desk with Drawers By ITUSUT

• View today’s price, normally $105
• Star Rating: 4.8
• Color Options: White with Wood
• Dimensions:
  • Width: 39.4 inches
  • Height: 30.3 inches
  • Depth: 19.7 inches
  • Weight: 41 pounds
• Pros:
  • Two good-sized drawers
  • Modern, minimalist look thanks to the wood and white color contrast
  • L-shaped legs to provide support
  • Fits in small spaces
  • Gets great ratings for sturdiness
• Cons: 
  • Some reviewers say it’s difficult to put together
  • Drawers do not have sliders

The ITUSUT desk is also a winner in our “best desks under $100″ category. This desk has two U-shaped drawers for extra storage. Even with the drawers, it still looks modern and edgy thanks to the clean white paint and natural wood finish on the legs. 

Check price & buy here.

 

Modern Minimalist Desk: Modern Desk By BON AUGURE

• View today’s price, normally $160
• Star Rating: 4.7
• Color Options: Rustic Oak/Black Frame, Dark Gray Oak/Black Frame
• Dimensions:
  • Width: 55.1 inches
  • Height: 29.9 inches
  • Depth: 23.6 inches
  • Weight: 34.7 pounds
• Pros:
  • Modern angled frame and legs
  • Black frame looks great against the wood finish options
  • Sturdy, good-quality desk
  • Good value for the price
  • Not too heavy to move if you need to
• Cons: 
  • Desktop is scratchable
  • Some reviewers dislike the rustic lines on the desktop

We chose this BON AUGURE desk as the best modern choice because we love how edgy it looks. The angles of the legs and frame look so great with the wood finish. It is simple and classy, and it screams modern design.

Check price & buy here.

 

Simple Black Desk: Computer Desk By Teraves

• View today’s price, normally $85
• Star Rating: 4.7
• Color Options: Black, Black/Brown, Black/Oak
• Dimensions:
  • Width: 39.4 inches
  • Height: 29.5 inches
  • Depth: 23.6 inches
  • Weight: 31.4 pounds
• Pros:
  • Super simple design (no bells and whistles that could go wrong)
  • Glossy black finish
  • Good quality for the price
  • Sturdy and functional
  • Light enough that you can move it
• Cons: 
  • Some reviewers say a couple of the screw holes are not lined up, making setup difficult
  • Underside of desk is curved, so clamps or microphone arms may not fit

This simple black desk gets great reviews for being sturdy and well-made for the price. Its ultra-clean design looks sharp with the black color choice.

Check price & buy here.

 

Minimalist White Desk: Linnmon / Adils By Ikea

• View today’s price, normally $55
• Star Rating: 4.3
• Color Options: Black/Brown, Black/Brown with White Legs, White, White with Black Legs
• Dimensions:
  • Width: 39.4 inches
  • Height: 29.1 inches
  • Depth: 23.6 inches
  • Weight: 16.2 pounds
• Pros:
  • Sleek, simple design
  • Multiple black or white color combinations
  • Easy-to-access assembly instructions online
  • Lightweight but sturdy for the materials
  • Adjustable feet
  • Fantastic price
• Cons: 
  • Can be a little wobbly
  • Desk can get chipped

This was Henry’s first desk as an adult. It’s simple, easy to assemble (there’s not much to it), and provides a clean, minimalist vibe for your bedroom or home office. It’s made by Ikea, so it’s pretty inexpensive and will get the job done for years.

Check price & buy here.

 

Simple Standing Desk: Kana Bamboo Standing Desk By FlexiSpot

• View today’s price, normally $270
• Star Rating: 4.9
• Color Options: Bamboo Top with Black, White, or Gray Frame
• Dimensions:
  • Width: 33.5 inches to 50.8 inches
  • Height: 28 inches to 47.6 inches
  • Depth: 39.3 inches to 63 inches
  • Weight: 42.5 pounds
• Pros:
  • Modern, sleek profile
  • Dual motor to change the height
  • Sustainable, durable bamboo top that looks great
  • Height, size, and frame customizations
  • Sturdy and excellent quality
• Cons: 
  • Some reviewers say it is hard to set up and the instructions are confusing
  • A bit of an investment

This standing desk has an electric raising and lowering feature that makes transitioning from sitting to standing effortless. Plus, FlexiSpot lets you customize many of the features to get a desk that fits your needs. We love the modern, minimalist design and bamboo top.

Check price & buy here.

 

Honorable Mention Simple Desks

These desks didn’t make it into our top nine, but they were so close to squeaking in we had to give them an honorable mention. If you didn’t find what you were looking for in the desks listed above, check out these two options.

Modern Simple Style Computer Desk By Tribesigns

• View today’s price, normally $120
• Star Rating: 4.7
• Color Options: Black, Rustic Brown, Teak with Black Frame, Walnut with Black Frame, Walnut with White Frame, White, White with Black Frame, White with Gold Frame, Rustic Black, Vintage Black, Gray Oak, White and Black
• Dimensions:
  • Width: 47.2 inches
  • Height: 29.1 inches
  • Depth: 23.6 inches
  • Weight: 46.1 pounds
• Pros:
  • Comes in tons of color combinations
  • Sturdy and durable
  • Adjustable leg pads
  • Simple, clean design that works well for minimalist working
• Cons: 
  • Some reviewers say their desk came dented or chipped

This desk is sturdy and comes in so many color options, we had to add it to this article. The 47-inch white desk gets the highest ratings for being a good, solid desk that will last for a long time.

Check price & buy here.

See Also: The Best Two-Person Desks

 

Large Computer Office Desk By TOPSKY

• View today’s price, normally $190
• Star Rating: 4.7
• Color Options: Espresso Gray, Rustic Brown, White Marble Texture
• Dimensions:
  • Width: 59 inches
  • Height: 30 inches
  • Depth: 23.6 inches
  • Weight: 64.9 pounds
• Pros:
  • Attractive, minimalist design
  • Spacious desktop and good legroom
  • Adjustable feet
  • Great quality for the price
  • Sturdy and durable
• Cons: 
  • Some reviewers mentioned the desktop looked a little cheap
  • Pretty heavy – may need two people to set up

With a thick, substantial desktop and solid steel legs, this desk got our attention with its rustic minimalist feel.

Check price & buy here.

 

What is minimalism?

Minimalism is all about removing unnecessary options to free up space – whether that’s headspace or space in a room. In the context of work, this translates to removing distractions, which can improve focus.

A minimalist desk can help you create a space with only the essentials for working, so you can keep your mind on the task at hand.

 

What is a minimalist or simple desk?

A minimalist desk focuses on simplicity This means fewer embellishments, fewer cabinets and drawers, and fewer bells and whistles. Minimalist desks are often modern in design, with clean angles that reaffirm the emphasis on the “less is more” mentality.

 

What should I look for in a minimalist desk?

When you’re deciding on which minimalist desk to buy, look for a desk that meets your needs with the fewest extra features.

You only need enough space for your essential work items, so bigger isn’t always better. Get the size that will fit your computer and any monitors you need, but don’t worry about getting something with extra shelves or lots of drawers.

A sleek, simple desk profile will inspire you to stay focused.

As a final thought, we usually recommend that you steer away from desks that have wheels or complicated storage structures, as these features tend to break quickly. Focus on getting something that is simple and sturdy, and you’ll be happier in the long run.

 

Recommend a minimalist desk.

After 10+ years of remote work, I’ve tried a lot of home office desks, and the winners above represent the features I think most remote workers will find appealing in a minimalist desk. Still, I might have missed some good options. Let me know if I did – I’ll be happy to check out your recommendation.

(We hope you find this article useful. Just so you know, Buildremote may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page to help keep this site running.)

Header image thanks to Ray Shrewsberry from Pixabay.

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