Dining Tables That Can Double as Desks

Table Design

• Smooth, rectangular surfaces work best for a dining table that will also serve as a desk. The table height required for seated office work is different from that required for eating, however. Consider purchasing a table with tubular legs that allow you to adjust its height. You can also fashion a desk from a drop-leaf table by raising one or both of its leaves to create a work space. Yet another option is a rectangular table with hidden pull-out leaves at each end that can expand the tabletop into a dining table.

Table Surface

• Extra wear and tear is an important consideration when a dining table does double duty as a work space. The tabletop must be durable enough to withstand the weight of a computer and desk paraphernalia. Although expensive, marble is durable and has a protective coating that resists wine and coffee spills. Another option is a table with a glass top. The Double X ClassiCon glass-topped table with an X-shaped frame provides maximum support and stability. Chipping and fingerprints are a problem with glass surfaces, though. For both glass and finer wood surfaces, consider using a desk blotter.

Size

• If you have a formal dining room, you may have a larger table that not only can seat six to eight but also function as a work space, especially if the dining room is underused. Select a dining table with drawers beneath the tabletop for storing office supplies. In smaller spaces, opt for a drop-leaf table. "Apartment Therapy" offers a drop-leaf table called a "disguised desk" that can accommodate four to six people when the sides are lifted.