The Difference Between a Table & Desk

Functionality

• The biggest difference between a table and a desk is in the functionality of the furniture. The primary purpose of a desk is for work, whatever type of desk it is. The function of a table, however, is usually either domestic or leisure and very often involves the making, serving or consuming of food. In a few cases, such as arts and crafts, tables are used for work. In some industries such as carpentry, a sturdy worktable is referred to as a "bench."

Characteristics

• A desk is usually only used by one person at time, while two or more people often use a table together. A table is generally flat-topped and has no accessories. A desk usually has one or more drawers, and possibly a bookshelf or credenza, which is a type of cupboard that forms part of the structure.

Kitchen Tables

• The traditional table design of four legs and a flat-topped surface has been adapted to a multitude of purposes over the centuries. Kitchen tables come in all shapes and sizes and have a time-honored place in the homes of Americans. This is where breakfasts are eaten, dinners are prepared, homework is done, and friends linger over milk and cookies.

Living and Dining Room Tables

• In the living room, tables are everywhere -- coffee tables with books on display, occasional tables for guests to rest their drinks, and side tables where ornaments stand on display. In the dining room the focal point of the room is the dinner table, which may be a magnificent affair carved from precious wood and accessorized with chairs sporting luxurious upholstery.

Office Desks

• Desks have been used for centuries for writing, and antique writing desks are fitted with a variety of intriguing "nooks and crannies" in which to store paper, envelopes, pens and stamps. Modern desks are a little less elaborate, and the basic school desk is one all schoolchildren know well. Reception desks in office environments are often quite complex to accommodate the needs of the administrative staff.

Computer Desks

• The most familiar modern desk is the computer desk, with its numerous work surfaces, each of which is intended for a different purpose. Computer desks commonly have several work surfaces to accommodate the computer's central processing unit, the monitor, keyboard and mouse, and a printer or scanner.