Decorating Ideas for Roll Top Desks

Paint

• Roll top desks are typically made from heavy woods in medium to darker finishes, but you can create a contrast between their vintage style and modern color with a coat of paint. The paint also accentuates an already interesting piece of furniture. For dramatic contrast, look for colors that sit opposite one another on the color wheel. A slate gray works well with bold yellow drawer pulls and knobs, for instance. Or add an elegant art deco touch by painting the desk a cream or light lemon and installing new black gemstone hardware. Opal and onyx also work well.

Decals

• For a playful look and a touch of contemporary graphic style, use decals or stencils on the desk over a solid paint finish. The rounded cover makes an appropriate background for a small landscape or aviary scene in silhouette. You can also use a larger decal on the side of the desk, or cut one large decal into several pieces, then extend it over the front drawers and cover for an image with negative space. Small patterns and motifs work well for an all-over pattern or to highlight the roll-top cover against the solid desk.

Photos and Art

• Open the roll top cover and use it as a display for tiny photos, postcards or artist's trading cards. Hang a small piece of twine on the inside of the desk hollow, then use binder clips or clothespins to pin up vintage postcards or black and white photos. Mix and match pictures, or use them for a tiny burst of color. Display a small blossom in a vintage teacup or sconce to create a shadowbox effect, or store small items in vintage tins or decoupaged boxes.

Knick-Knacks

• Turn your desk into a display for a cherished collection. Vintage teacups, old colored glass and vintage books all fit into the roll top desk's time-worn look. Display fresh-cut flowers in small bottles, or set a few larger houseplants on the top and in the hollow of the desk in vintage tea tins or simple porcelain planters, to contrast with the wood. You can also set a larger floral display or culture on the top of the desk, leaving it empty or closed for a simple style.