How to set up a desk area in your bedroom

Yes, it is possible to create a functional desk area that doesn’t detract from the cosy feel – even if your room is on the small side. It’s all about smart storage, seamless organisation and a smart choice of furniture.

Whether you want a desk that’s out of sight when not in use, one that stylishly integrates into the look of your room, or a zoned area for extra focus, here are 7 ideas that cover all this and more. So you get the best of both worlds in comfort.

A pine GLAMBERGET extendable bed with storage in a bright bedroom with a BENGTA block out curtain between it and a desk area.

1. The ‘now you see it, now you don’t’ desk

For a good desk/sleep separation, hide your desk area behind a curtain or even a wardrobe door! It’s an effortless way to transform your space into a tranquil haven. Simply run a curtain rail or sliding doors in front of the area you want out of sight. If the curtain covers the windows too, it’s a bonus.

Covering the desk area helps to maintain a decluttered feel in the rest of the room. A mix of open and closed storage beside and around the desk area will help keep the space behind the curtain organised and tidy.

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A black FYRESDAL day-bed in front of open SKYTTA/HOKKSUND sliding doors, revealing different types of clothes storage.

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2. Make your storage hide away too

The key to keeping the rest of your bedroom as calm as possible is to put a good chunk of your storage behind the curtain too. Mix it up so all your things have suitable homes. Start with the big stuff that will be happy on open or closed shelving units, then focus on smaller solutions for those fiddly little essentials that go in drawers, boxes and containers.

Make sure the storage looks good when the curtain is open so you enjoy being at the desk. You also don’t want the calm side of the bedroom to be disrupted by its disordered other half!

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A beige white HATTEFJÄLL office chair with armrests in a bedroom in front of an ALEX/LAGKAPTEN desk and beside a whiteboard.

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A white ELVARLI drawer unit, shelving and posts in a bright bedroom holding books and decorative items and by a pegboard.

A dark grey ALEX drawer unit with neatly organised supplies, a plant, and a coffee cup on a desk.

3. The desk that blends into your room style

If you’d rather your desk didn’t do a disappearing act behind a curtain, why not welcome it into the atmosphere of your bedroom by choosing one that harmonises with your existing furniture. It creates a more fluid and relaxed feel for your desk area – and means you’ve always got a free space when you need to write down an idea or get something done. Combine with coordinated storage to up the functionality without compromising on style. It’s also a great option if you want a desk that also doubles up as a vanity station.

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An EKBY/ALEX shelf with drawers in an alcove with an ODGER swivel chair in front of it and shelves on the wall above.

A white stain/light brown HEMNES desk with two drawers and a desk lamp on top is placed against a wall with a mirror.

A bright workspace with a white LAGKAPTEN desk in front of a window with sheer curtains. A BJÖRKBERGET chair is by the desk.

A grey HAUGA desk in the corner of a green room with a beige BJÖRKBERGET swivel chair in front and a FORSÅ work lamp on top.

An off-white TONSTAD desk with various items on top by a PAX/TONSTAD wardrobe and with a dark beige KRYLBO chair in front.

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4. Declutter around your desk so it always looks good

When your desk is on full display in your bedroom, it’s not just the top surface that needs to be tidy – make sure the area around it is too! It really is the only path to calm. Choose desk accessories that work with the look of your desk and bedroom, to harmonise the overall look. Small organisers and files in neutral hues can make for a peaceful desk that’s a joy to sit at.

Around the desk, there’s no need for wild cables. Our desks have cable management integrated into the design, and we also have lots of stylish and thoughtfully-designed accessories like extension leads, cable management boxes and trays cable clips to help you get cables under control.

A corner of the FRYSKÅS rattan desk with two HARVMATTA boxes with lid on top, one in anthracite and one in dark grey-beige.

A white FÖRSÄSONG cable tray holds a white KOPPLA socket with plugs in it. Wires are all contained in a RABALDER cable tidy.

A zinc-plated KROKFJORDEN shower hanger on a green wood panelled wall holding books, spectacles and various other items.

A blue HELMER drawer unit on castors in front of a table with technical drawings on it, by a TOSSBERG/MALSKÄR swivel chair.

A green SKOTAT extension cord in the corner of a desk and fitted into the corner of a room with a USB cable connected to it.

A horizontally placed tablet in a VIVALLA bamboo veneer tablet stand on a desk by a wall with a pegboard attached to it.

A person putting a USB cable in a white KOPPLA 4-way socket with 2 USB ports that is on top of a MITTZON sit/stand desk.

A white NÄVLINGE LED work lamp on a grey table top, beside an ELLOVEN monitor stand with a drawer that’s open.

5. The desk that’s ready when you just want to concentrate

You know those tasks – the ones that need planning, involve a spreadsheet or two, or are just a bit boring. While we can’t get them done for you, we can help make doing it a whole lot more comfortable. This is where a desk that’s zoned with some form of screen can help get you into the right mindset.

Zoning can be as simple as placing a freestanding screen on your desk, or choosing one with a built-in screen. Another option is to mark out the zone by placing your desk in a corner or against a wall – putting any distractions behind you. Choose a good work lamp so you can see everything properly and store essentials within easy reach. Now there are no more excuses for putting things off!

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A grey ÖVNING desk divider with compartments on top of a dark grey/wood effect LAGKAPTEN table top with a cup on top.

A workspace placed in a corner with dark beige walls, wooden floors, a white TROTTEN desk and a beige FLINTAN office chair.

A LÖPARBANA gaming chair is in front of a black UTVISNING gaming desk with shelf in a corner with wall storage above it.

A rattan FRYKSÅS desk in a bright room with a rattan FRYKSÅS storage unit on castors beside it and a work chair in front.

A black stained ash veneer FJÄLLBERGET conference chair with a grey seat at a rattan desk littered with craft materials.

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6. Get your desk comfort sorted with these essentials

How comfortable you are at your desk is down to two main things. The position you’re in and the lighting. So, are you sitting or standing comfortably? With a GLADHÖJDEN sit/stand desk you can choose with the touch of a handle. It enables you to move your body while you’re at your desk, helping improve mobility and focus. When you want to sit, you’ll find lots of comfortable chairs in our range that match your bedroom look and feel like you’re sitting on a cloud.

Use a table or task lamp to give you all the light you need while you’re at your desk – and set the room’s atmosphere the rest of the time. Extra lighting like a LÅNESPELARE ring light with phone holder adds the final touch to your face for video calls and social media posts.

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A workspace with a TROTTEN sit/stand desk with a VATTENKAR laptop/monitor stand supporting a laptop on top of it.

A Bomstad white MATCHSPEL gaming chair standing on a wooden floor with green-blue HANNALENA room darkening curtains behind.

A workspace in a bright, colourful room with a GLADHÖJDEN sit-stand desk placed by a graphic-patterned wall.

The seat and backrest of a black FLINTAN office chair, with a picture frame on the green wall behind it.

A LÅNESPELARE ring light with phone holder on a desk beside a monitor and keyboard and a pair of headphones on a stand.

An office workspace with an IKEA 365+ clear-glass mug and a NYMÅNE work lamp on a desktop by a window full of leafy plants.

A MITTZON frame with castors, whiteboard and shelf in a corner of a room with a FÖRNUFTIG air purifer on the wall beside it.

A pine RAST chest with 3 drawers in front of a window with a white UPPÅTVIND air purifier and a plant on top of it.

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7. It’s the finishing touches that make it you

Whether it’s your favourite throw, calming sounds or a plant, little extras make all the difference. Here’s how to make sure your desk area is as snug as the rest of your room:

Draping a supersoft rug or throw on your chair can level up the cosy feel around the desk and add a boost of colour and texture – making it somewhere you are drawn to other than the bed. Thanks, sheepskin rug!
Try a SYMFONISK WiFi bookshelf speaker and a lush green plant to add your favourite sounds and the calm of nature – both useful whether you’re sitting at your desk, or winding down before bed.