We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more >
We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more >
When you're looking to furnish a child's room, there are some basic pieces of furniture you know you'll have to buy: a bed, a dresser, a chair. If you have extra room, why not create a dedicated place for education, inspiration, and creativity? Do look into the wide selection of kids desks.
Regardless of how old the child is, they'll need a place to keep projects and work quietly from time to time. At a desk, you can help a kid build lifelong habits that will help them as an adult! But first, you need a desk - a desk they'll want to use.
In this handy guide, we'll help you navigate the main decisions you'll have to make as you choose the best desk for your home!
Table of Contents Hide
For the most part, kid's desks have many similar features and options as those of adult desks. However, it'll just be in miniature or potentially bright and fun colors! Here are the different types of kid's desks, as well as the type of features you should carefully consider while you're completing your search.
Assembled: Not interested in assembling the desk yourself? You're in luck: many desks arrive assembled or with the option to request expert assembly assistance at home. This is a good idea if you don't believe that assembling a desk is for you.
Ergonomic: It's never too early to think about good posture or protecting your back! Give your child a head starts with an ergonomic desk to support their back and set them up with good habits for years to come. This is a good choice if you're looking for a desk that can follow your child through adolescence, not necessarily just for childhood.
Your kid's desk needs to accomplish two things: It needs to be the right size for your child, and it also needs to fit the room that it's going to be in! Your child will be growing, however, and the room will not; so, for starters, it's a good idea to get a one-size-fits-all kids desk - or at least one that's a little bigger than you think will likely be necessary, just so that your child's able to use it for a longer period of time.
As a general rule of thumb, you can follow the following age guide to gauge the width of the desk you should get:
2-4 Years: For tender tots who are using desks at this early age, you only need a small desk that's about 3-4 feet wide.
5-7 Years: When your child's a little older, they'll be best suited to a desk that's up to about 5 feet wide.
8-12 Years: When 8-12 years old, five feet is still a good length, but you might want to consider going for a deeper desk - or one with accessories such as drawers and a hutch.
12+ Years: At this point, it's likely cost-effective to simply purchase an adult-sized desk.
To make sure that the desk fits the room, you'll want to start by measuring the place that the desk will go. Keep this measurement in an easy-to-access place, and then reference it whenever you're looking at desks. Be careful to use search criteria to ensure that you're not looking at desks that simply won't fit!
Wood is far and away the most popular material when it comes to desks for people of any age. It's beautiful, it can be painted as you please, it can come in different shades to match different styles, and it's timeless. However, if you're going for more of an industrial vibe, a metal desk can also work; for particularly young kids, plastic desks offer a sense of security and durability.
Plastic is a good idea if you're looking into a desk that could be outdoors, or if you think that your child will be relatively messy with their desk work - as plastic is often easier to clean. For this reason, plastic might be a good idea for desks for very young children.
Otherwise, wood is likely the best choice, for its longevity and ultimate versatility.