14 MINIMALIST DESK SETUP IDEAS THAT WILL MAKE YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO WORK
Become your most productive self thanks to these 14 brilliant minimalist desk setup ideas!
We live in a world where distractions are everywhere, making it hard for us to focus and be productive on a daily basis.
For those of us who work at a desk, our workspaces can easily become messy and filled with clutter and all kinds of distractions if we’re not careful.
This can truly hinder the quality of our work and how efficient we are while working.
That’s why I love practicing minimalism in my home office as well!
I want it to support the work I’m doing and not prevent me from doing a great job.
If you want to have a minimal, clutter-free workspace too, here are 14 brilliant minimalist desk setup ideas that will make you actually want to work!
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What is a minimalist desk setup?
A minimalist desk setup is a desk where you only keep what you truly need and use regularly to work, study, or whatever you like to do on your desk.
What you might need on your desk might be different from what I keep on it.
And what you used to need on your desk in the past might not be the same as what you need today.
But no matter what we choose to have on our minimalist desks, these items are essential and help us be more efficient at whatever we’re trying to do.
These minimalist desk setup ideas also feature a minimalist design so that you can recreate a minimalist aesthetic for your workspace too.
But know that you can choose another aesthetic and still have a minimalist desk.
Why we all need a minimalist desk setup
Whether you work from home or are a student trying to embrace minimalism in college, having a minimalist desk setup can greatly benefit your life.
Above all, it can make you a more productive person.
When you only have the essentials on your desk while studying or working, you are a lot less likely to be distracted.
There aren’t many knick-knacks and items calling for your attention all the time.
As a result, you have more headspace and can focus more easily on your work and important projects or assignments.
A minimalist desk setup is also highly functional, so you don’t waste your time and energy trying to find your pen or your laptop charger.
You can see everything you need at a glance, making it effortless to work.
Another important point is that a minimalist desk setup is very aesthetically pleasing.
It looks clean, airy, functional, and elegant.
Working in such a lovely environment helps us be in a better mood and promotes calm and productivity.
Read more:
14 minimalist desk setup ideas that will make you actually want to work
1. Floating desk
Opt for a wall-mounted floating desk so that it takes up less room in your space.
Not only will it help your home office look more minimal, but it will also make cleaning it much easier!
If you don’t already have a desk you can mount on the wall, check this one out.
Made of wood and glass, it has a simple, modern design and features a built-in pen holder and a large drawer for your desk essentials.
Another great one is this floating desk that comes with a practical storage shelf.
Very versatile, you can hang it with the shelf above the desk, or upside down with the shelf underneath.
2. Wall-mounted, foldable desk
If you want something even more minimal, choose a floating desk that folds down to save even more space in your room.
As you can fold it down when not in use, it will look a lot less bulky than a regular desk.
I love this one made of natural pine wood.
It’s beautiful and has a wide range of uses, from home office desk to small kitchen table.
3. Japanese-inspired minimalist desk
This minimalist desk setup might not be for everyone, but it’s a great option if you like Japanese-inspired design!
Consider giving this Japanese floor desk a try!
It’s a small foldable table made of bamboo that you can use for working on your computer wherever you want in your home and then fold down and put away when you’re done.
It can also double as a coffee table and even a dining table if you don’t mind eating on cushions on the floor.
You can work at this desk while sitting on comfy floor cushions.
If you want something more supportive, you’ll love this padded floor chair!
It comes with a comfy, adjustable backrest, and the best part is that it can be folded into half or lie completely flat to save space when not in use.
4. Minimalist desk with clean lines & a simple design
If you prefer a regular desk with legs, buy one with a simple, minimalist design to make your home office look minimal.
Avoid bulky desks with lots of details, shelves, and drawers.
Instead, choose a desk with clean lines and a simple design.
Here are a few minimalist desks that I highly recommend:
- Daily Desk by Branch Furniture: this compact desk is available in a wide range of colors and comes with different optional accessories like a hidden drawer or cable organizer.
- Hank Monitor Desk by Medley: this gorgeous wooden desk features a handy shelf where you can store your desk essentials. It’s beautifully handcrafted in the USA with FSC-certified wood.
- Mid-Century Modern Desk by Avocado: this sophisticated mid-century design desk is made in the brand’s FSC-certified woodshop in Los Angeles from solid walnut or maple wood. It’s available in two- or three-drawer options.
5. Transparent glass desk
One of the best minimalist desk setup ideas is to choose a transparent glass desk.
It will make your home office look bright and airy!
This one is very compact and light and has a sleek, modern design, so it’s perfect for a minimalist home office.
It’s made with a powder-coated steel frame and a tempered glass top and includes a practical sliding keyboard tray.
6. Comfy, ergonomic minimalist desk chair
A comfortable, ergonomic desk chair is a must-have if you want to feel good while sitting for hours in front of the computer.
I love this one by the brand FlexiSpot!
It provides lower back support and various positions to ensure support and comfort all day long.
Its self-adaptive design detects subtle changes in your posture and automatically adjusts itself as you move around.
It’s made to reduce spinal and sciatic pressure on your back, hips, and waist and prevent fatigue during long hours of sitting.
7. Standing desk
For a minimalist home office, consider skipping the desk chair altogether and opt for a standing desk!
Not only will not having a bulky desk chair make your office look bigger, but a standing desk will also be a lot better for your health.
Standing instead of sitting while working helps us lower our risk of weight gain and may reduce our blood sugar levels.
It’s also believed to reduce back pain, lower our risk of heart disease, and even boost our energy levels and productivity!
If I’ve convinced you and you now want to switch to a standing desk, here are two options you won’t regret getting:
8. Monochromatic minimalist desk setup
One of my favorite minimalist desk setup ideas is to opt for a monochromatic design.
Try to get a desk and all your desk accessories in the same color.
Whether you go for all-black, all-white, all-wood, or something else, using a monochrome palette will give your workspace a more cohesive and clean look.
If you think it’s too extreme for you, a great variation of that would be to use only two colors, for instance, a black and white minimalist desk setup.
9. Neutral color palette with gold accents
If you want your workspace to look elegant and chic, consider choosing a neutral color palette and adding a few golden accent pieces.
You could add gold accents by adding a few decor pieces or minimalist desk accessories made of golden metal.
For example, a golden picture frame or golden desk organizers could be great additions to your desk!
10. Clear surfaces
Keep your desk surfaces as clear and free of clutter as possible, and keep only the absolute essentials for your work on your desk.
Some of us may decide to only have a laptop on the desk and put it away after work to keep the desk completely empty.
Others may want to add a few other essentials such as a journal, a pen, and a lamp.
You get to decide the right amount of things for your lifestyle!
However, I recommend that you declutter or hide somewhere else anything that you do not use daily on your desk.
Having a clutter-free, minimalist desk will help you stay away from distractions, focus, and be more productive.
The simpler our desk is, the better!
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11. Keep your desk accessories easily accessible
For an optimal minimalist desk setup, keep your desk essentials and accessories easily accessible and contained.
To do so, use organizers to keep your workspace tidy and organized at all times.
For instance, you could use a practical desk organizer with different compartments and drawers if you have lots of stationery supplies.
If you have drawers built into your desk, store each category of items in drawer organizers like these beautiful bamboo ones.
Read more: 12 minimalist home organization ideas for an organized space
12. Keep your desk decor minimal
If you like decor and don’t want your desk to be completely bare, you might want to add a few decor pieces.
However, don’t go overboard with adding too much stuff.
Only choose a few meaningful decorations that you absolutely love.
I also recommend that you decorate with functional items like a lovely minimalist desk lamp, a minimalist desk clock, or even a plant.
Read more:
- 20 brilliant minimalist bedroom decor ideas you’ll adore
- 18 minimalist bathroom decor ideas for a functional yet beautiful space
13. Hide your cords and cables
If you have a laptop or desktop computer, you probably have lots of cords and cables around your desk.
And the thing is, those can make the space look cluttered and create visual clutter.
Even worse, they can make working at our desk frustrating when they get tangled!
My favorite way to solve this issue is to use a cable management box like this one.
This sleek, modern box, which comes with a bamboo lid, is incredibly useful for keeping our cables organized and out of sight.
It blends seamlessly into any minimalist desk setup and makes our workspace more beautiful and clutter-free.
Another great solution is to use cable-concealing channels like these.
You simply need to hide your cables inside of them and fix the channels onto the wall.
14. Go wireless
It’s great to hide your cords and cables, but what’s even better is to reduce their number in the first place.
Of course, we cannot eliminate all of them if we work on a computer.
However, we can make simple switches like opting for a wireless keyboard and mouse.
Having fewer cords on our desks will make them look much tidier and minimal!
Choosing to work on a laptop versus a desktop computer with a screen, a separate keyboard, and a mouse should also minimize how many cables you have.
Read more: 9 digital minimalism tips to simplify your digital life
Final thoughts on minimalist desk setup ideas
I hope you found this article helpful and that you could create a minimalist desk setup that works for you.
Having a minimal, clutter-free workspace should help you focus and be more productive while working from home.
If you liked this post, you might love the following ones as well:
- How to declutter paperwork at home in 8 easy steps
- 15 minimalist dorm room ideas to copy for your college dorm
- 8 minimalist bedroom furniture ideas for a peaceful room
- 5 minimalist bedroom storage ideas to keep your room tidy
What are your favorite minimalist desk setup ideas?
Please share your ideas in the comments!
Don’t forget to share this blog post with your friends so they can have a minimal, clutter-free workspace too.
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