Secretary Under Desk
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Secretary Under Desk
By Jennifer Kelly Geddes | Jul 16, 2018
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Jennifer Kelly Geddes creates content for Livestrong.com, the National Sleep Foundation, American Airlines Vacations, Oxo, and Mastercard.
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What is a secretary desk? This piece furniture may seem old fashioned—with its fold-down writing surface and numerous cubbies—but it's making a stealthy comeback.
"You'd think this clunky piece would be going out of style, but I'm seeing it more and more lately," says Jamie Novak , author of "Keep This Toss That." The reason? That fold-up front lets you hide the mess and keep your look streamlined, plus it offers varied storage in a single piece.
With more sleek laptops in today's home offices, and fewer towers and megaprinters, a secretary can easily house your tech and paper needs. It's pretty, to boot, sometimes made with inlays, carvings, and adorable drawers and cubbies for secret treasures.
If you're thinking of adding a secretary to your decor, here's what you need to know about its history—and where in your home it looks best.
According to Justin Riordan of Spade and Archer Design Agency, this piece looks as if a bookshelf, desk, and dresser had a baby together. "It's a very traditional style of furniture that includes shelves above, often with glass doors, a bottom with drawers, and a middle containing a dropdown slanted workspace that lays flat when opened," he says.
"This combination of a writing desk and storage or display unit was one of the first and most practical examples of multifunctional furniture," adds Beverly Solomon of the eponymous design firm. Tiny drawers in the middle, plus slatted spaces—and even secret compartments—reveal space for pens, envelopes, and other tiny supplies.
The secretary's provenance is likely to have been French, appearing in the first half of the 1800s in France as an offshoot of the plainer escritoire, or writing desk. Traditionally made from wood and often ornate, a secretary may also feature various metals, such as gilded accents, and inlays.
"Originally, these pieces were used by the actual secretary of an estate, as a place to pay the bills and handle the affairs of a large household," says Greg Jaron of Jarons Furniture in New Jersey. As the industrial revolution arrived, and work moved outside the home, older desks like these became family heirlooms. "But with today's smaller computers, people have started using them again for paperwork or doing homework."
A secretary is right at home in a bedroom, especially when painted in a soft pastel. It's also typically seen in a living room as a spot for writing notes, as well as displaying china curios in the cabinets above. Arrange books in the upper portion for a library feel, or try it in an oversized bathroom, suggests Carole Marcotte of Form & Function in Raleigh, NC.
"It can hold towels and a pharmacylike display of bath salts, oils, and bubbles behind the glass doors, and the lower drawers can conceal extra linens," she says. This piece is also an all-in-one home office or a smart addition to the kitchen for holding cookbooks, napkins, and tablecloths.
Think outside the box with a secretary, say the pros. "If you don't mind a little wear and tear, you could use this piece as a garden center in the garage, complete with seed packet storage and a flat surface for potting plants," Novak points out. It also makes a great home bar in the dining room or a crafting or gift-wrapping station in a spare bedroom. But a secretary isn't recommended in a nursery, says Jaron. "Some feel it's a creative way to make a changing table, but we don't advise it, due to tipping concerns."
Try flea markets, garage sales, and vintage shops, if you're hoping to score this timeless piece. "A secretary desk from the 1930s or '40s can be had at an estate auction for a couple of hundred bucks, but a real-deal antique will fetch quite a bit more," says Marcotte.
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Hi, everyone! Contributing writer Laurren here. Today, we’ve got a little something different for you. It’s not so much a trend discussion as much as it is an awesome-furniture-we-don’t-see-enough-people-using discussion. But before we jump in, let’s go back in time for a moment…
Every Saturday during my last year of college, my best friend and I would have brunch at this spot that served $1 mimosas. (Class!) The restaurant was attached to an antique mall, so it wasn’t uncommon for us to mosey our way over after eating. Most of the time, things ended harmlessly enough, but one day I laid eyes on a green secretary desk and, without much thought as to how I’d use it, told the dealer I’d take it. (How I managed to shove it in the back of my two-door Dodge Neon when I picked it up the next day is still a mystery to me.) It wasn’t really something I could afford at the time—and I probably wouldn’t have purchased it without that tiny bit of liquid courage—but I never regretted it. It was the first piece of furniture I bought on my own based on want rather than need, and I felt very cool and adult about it.
Over the years, as I moved from apartment to apartment and city to city, that impulse buy became a lot of things—bathroom storage, a bar when I wanted a bar cart but couldn’t afford one, a makeshift jewelry cabinet, a desk-shaped junk drawer, lol, and even an actual workspace for actual work. It’s still the most versatile piece of furniture I’ve ever owned, and though I don’t regret finally getting rid of it a few years ago (my style took a more minimal turn), I’ve thought of it a lot since then.
With secret compartments and drawers that can be hidden away by a drop-down or roll-down panel, secretaries fall somewhere between a dresser, hutch, and desk. (Remember when you were young and cleaned your room by shoving everything under your bed? Adulthood is cramming your stuff into a secretary desk.) And these days, with so many styles on the market—from sleek and modern from big box stores to traditional vintage or antique pieces from places like Chairish —there’s really an option for every space. (See the roundup at the end.) All of this is to say we think it’s high time these multi-tasking workhorses (design darkhorses?) get the recognition they deserve. Here’s some inspiration for how you can work one into (almost) every room of your home.
Entryways are a space known for collecting clutter—let a secretary desk remedy that for you! The interior cubbies were practically made for corralling mail and other things you want to forget about.
Thanks to its stealthy design, a secretary desk is an obvious choice for a living room that needs to double as an office. (There’s nothing relaxing about looking at a traditional desk from your couch!) If you have the space, opt for a taller piece with a hutch. Not only does it provide tons of storage, but it also draws the eyes up and brings height to the room. As with anything design related, it’s all about balance. Here, a more traditional style in a rich wood finish ( remember when we said brown furniture is back ?) is a refined counter to the room’s modern mushroom-y lamp and printed sofa.
An antique secretary desk corrals a collection of books (and hats).
A paint job can be all you need to breathe new life into a tired piece. Here, a pinky-coral is a wild color choice made palatable by the desk’s more traditional shape. It could all be a little much in a smaller space, but it works here thanks to the room’s tall ceilings and otherwise neutral color palette.
Not all secretary desks are tall and stately, though! A shorty like the one pictured above is a great option for smaller spaces.
In the dining room, a secretary desk with a glass hutch is a lovely way free up space in your kitchen and display special occasion items. (Because let’s be honest: if you can’t see it you won’t use it.) Utilize the drop-down table as extra serving space when you need it or style it up as a bar cart, as seen here.
No linen closet, no problem! Here, an antique Swedish secretary adds storage in a bathroom. (Pull up a chair—and a mirror—and you’ve got yourself a vanity, too!)
A honey-colored piece warms up this, large cool-toned master bathroom and also serves as a dressing table.
A petite secretary desk, like the one seen here, can go a long way in keeping countertops clear when space and storage is limited. (They’re a great option in a bathroom with a pedestal sink if you can squeeze it in.)
Plopped next to a bed, a shorter secretary desk with drawers (something larger could overwhelm a small room) is triple-threat piece, acting as a nightstand, desk and dresser in one.
In a kid’s room short on space, a small secretary desk in lieu of a traditional nightstand carves out a place to do homework.
This piece, with its cream and mint color combo, brass details and mirrored interior is a glam take on the traditional wood secretary desk.
Now that you’re thoroughly convinced to bring back the secretary desk (are you?), here’s a roundup of 39 of our favorites, including some pretty special vintage and antique finds.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this post. Unexpected and great. Love to see the different uses and suggestions. It really is a workhorse.
So nice to see antiques in the mix of these contemporary rooms. That keeps a home from looking like a catalog. I have an antique cabinet and a “ladies desk” in my home and they balance out all the newly manufactured and more modern stuff quite nicely. I’m actually thinking of removing the china and glassware from my turn-of-the-century china cabinet and turning it into a book case. It’s fun to play with the purpose of these pieces.
i was thinking too as i looked thru the pictures. it was nice to see those traditional/antiquey pieces used in modern spaces. i see so many of those on craigslist for super cheap. i think people figure they are outdated, but really, they just don’t know how to use them as a part of a mix of styles.
also, this post reminded me of a post that i wrote for my own blog (which i haven’t written in a long time) about the versatility/workhorseability of credenzas and how they work in every room.
Loveley: You mentioned Craigslist, so I stumbled over there again. Turns out the “Antiques” section has much more interesting furniture than the “Furniture” section! (At least in my neck of the woods in Philadelphia.)
Yeah, I got a lot of my furniture decades ago from The Antique Guild here in L.A. The owner would go to the UK and would get container loads of “old” brown furniture for super cheap and sell them for super cheap. You can’t get that quality anymore unless you spend BIG bucks. The few pieces I bought new are long gone because they mostly fell apart.
The link for #4 in the $1500&up category doesn’t match the image 🙂
I have my grandfathers secretary. Looks just like the coral one above. The drawers still smell like they did when I got my crayons out of them as a kid. Not painting it pink. No way. No how 🙂
My grandmother has one of these and I was always enchanted by it as a kid. I think they bring so much character to a room!
Agreed! And diaper storage/changing table too. I’ve had my grandmother’s secretary for almost 20 years and have used it as nightstand/dresser, desk, bar, hall decor, diaper storage/changing table, and nnow back to dresser. This is great inspo for another repurpose!
I found a mahogany secretary at a popup shop that I had to have. But how would I transport it home in my Camry? Serendipity! A neighbor I barely knew from a few blocks down our street appears and offers to take it in her Volvo! We formed a friendship that day and I scored my desk.
I love my secretary’s desk (although I call it a bureau – maybe that’s a British thing?). It used to belong to my great-grandmother (born in 1880) and still has a 10p stamp half stuck to the inside lid (it’s the current queen’s young head so not Victorian!) as well as black ink stains.
It now has my modem and cordless phone perched on the side, as well as house plants and antique books. It’s were I keep all those important documents and occasionally I will still use it to write out a cheque.
When my son sits in front of its perfectly proportion height and size, I wonder about the five generations of my family who have used this item.
Loving this post – and still loving my bureau.
I love the stamp anecdote! Definitely sounds like a very special piece.
I bought the small West Elm secretary (#6 in the under $500 section) to use as a makeup table/vanity when we moved into our new house. Do to an interesting window/built-in-closet situation, I have a little alcove that is JUST wide enough for this piece. I hung a small-ish mirror above it, pulled up an antique bentwood chair, placed my pretty stuff on top like perfume bottles and a necklace holder, and I can close it to hide all of my makeup mess!
I got a secretary last year for my entrway. Living in 800 sq ft means maximizing storage so I love the amount of stuff I can cram inside this guy, yet it still looks nice and clean on the outside. Here;s the entryway: https://flic.kr/p/2ghfuDr
Beautiful! I love the wallpaper too!
Oh my gosh I LOVE THIS! I have a vintage secretary desk from my great grandmother and I’ve been so worried about how to use it in my new house because we don’t have an “entry” (where it’s always lived). I never would have thought of all these uses but now it seems so obvious! Thank you for the inspiration!!
Love this!! A few months ago, I drove 5 hours (one way!) to pick up a 100 year old secretary for my 13 year old daughter’s room refresh. It’s been the perfect addition to her space for so many reasons- storage, pretties and a place to do homework!
Before I even opened my eyes this morning I was thinking about utilizing my space more efficiently -by using a secretary desk! Wild… Great post -thank you : )
This made me go to 1stdibs and chairish and seriously consider buying a similar type piece for a particular spot in my home.
I was the stylist on that shot of Darryl Carter’s bathroom and it’s so fun to see my work on here!
How fun! I’ve been such a fan of Darryl’s work for years and years. He’s so dang talented (and the styling here by you is SO good!).
I love this post! So nice to see antiques mixed with more modern rooms and rooms with color! As much as I love to look at the California neutral style, I just can’t decorate my house like that. I find it almost impossible to not put color everywhere and I love to mix up more ornate antiques with some modern pieces. This was right up my alley.
Thanks for showing the use of secretary desks in a number of scenarios. I love love love secretary desks and have been wanting one for my home for a while. It is definitely on the list of things to be done by my furniture guy – I live outside of the US and with the exchange rate, shipping and duties, the cost of these online beauties would more quadruple.
So I have a vintage secretary in my living room AND I used Brady’s hide-the-tv-in-a-cabinet tutorial to outfit it to hide all the electronic things. https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/bradys-bedroom-makeover-parachute
My Emily Henderson worlds are officially colliding!
Great post Lauren. What I love about these pieces is that you can really show your style…color, finish, wild mouldings…because they are small and don’t overwhelm the room! Roundup is great!!
OMG, it’s like you read my mind! I’ve been searching for an affordable, good looking secretary desk on and off for the last couple of weeks. These are such great options!
Wow! I kind of wish now I’d tried to find a secretary for my small room instead of a desk — not that I don’t like my desk; it would have just saved room. These are beautiful! Also, side issue — I am binge watching “Secrets From a Stylist” on the HGTV app (thanks Orlando! I’d been wondering where to find them!) and am wondering if you still have your diagnostic test online somewhere? I know what I like, but if I could classify it as a cohesive theme I think that would help me with my design challenges. Super bummed the show was cancelled, by the way. I love it!
Very mixed feelings about this post. It is awesome and exactly my style mix in most of these photos, and I love it all! But also, no, don’t tell people that brown furniture is back and show them these great examples until AFTER I’ve purchased the furniture I want for our new house!!! Sigh. You try to believe you are above the trends and the algorithms, but you really aren’t.
#2 on $1500 and up is not from ETSY but CHARISH and not $845 but $1967.
Love this post!!!
My Mom has my Nanny’s mahogany secretary desk. There are still reminders of my Nanny left in a couple drawers and a tiny yellow dachshund figurine with a pink bow that my Nanny taped onto the front of one of the drawers. As a child I was allowed to sit and open the drawers to see what was hidden in them. Such great memories!
Thank you for letting me share ?
My teenage daughter never did homework on her desk because it was always covered with stuff. After endless and fruitless “clean-up!” arguments, we replaced her desk with a secretary desk. Lots of drawers to put her stuff and always a clear surface to do her homework. It’s her favourite piece of furniture (yet she still does her homework on the floor!)
I also used to have a Dodge Neon and I felt like the car loved me and would always come through in amazing ways! I also have a love of secretary desks, and if you plan to use it every day you need to find one with room underneath for your feet and legs, or else your body is not positioned correctly and you end up with mysterious pains. I just had to put mine in storage for a time when I have a bigger house, and then buy a more practical work from home desk. Luckily, I found a pretty desk with some nice curves, so it made the loss a little more bearable.
I have an idea! Since you have expanded your team so much at the top of each post there could be a picture of who wrote it next to their name? That way we could put faces with names? Also love these pieces! ?
My mom inherited a very old mahogany secretary from her grandmother. I grew up with it in my childhood home, and after college my mom gave it to me. Now it’s in the house my daughter is growing up in! It’s gigantic and weighs one billion lbs and has been hard to lug from place to place, but it’s so sturdy. The mahogany has a flame in it so it ripples in the sunlight. I can’t remember a time without it. It’s like a sibling to me! I’ve literally never read or heard anyone talk about a secretary in the furniture sense before, so this was such a nice surprise!
I’m so thrilled to see this post! My sister lives in a small apartment and has no room for a traditional desk and just last night I was telling her to check out a small secretary desk. I can’t wait to show her this write up.
Yes! Lucked out and found one for $30 (talked them down from $50!) at a garage sale up the road after watching Craig’s list for weeks. It needs some work, but the more I live with it the more I love the dings, scratches and missing part from the leg. I would love to add some tiny knobs to the drawers. An EH link up of those would be great! 😉
Oh my gosh, I was literally just thinking about how cool it would be if these would come back in style in a more modern day version !! Well not exactly become a trendy thing but bc they’re so useful! ?
You’ve got the first piece of furniture I ever bought, my Egon Ostergaard desk (a name I’ve learned from your article). Mine’s in rosewood. I’ve had it for 40 years and it’s the last piece of furniture I’d ever part with. I bought it from a store called The Contemporary House in Dallas, and told them I wanted the one on the floor because I loved the pattern in the wood. My mother told me to wait two months for the sales, but I wanted that one, and so glad that was the one I got.
You made some good points there. I looked on the internet for the subject matter and found most individuals will approve with your site.
Love this post! Hurray for secretary’s!
I totally agree that these are little workhorses. I have a small one in my small guest room. I have a mirror over it so it can be used as either a spot for makeup, etc. or a place for my guests’ laptops. I bought it on impulse, too, at a sweet consignment shop called Bella Galleria in Edina, Minnesota…one of my favorite places to find treasures in the Twin Cities.
A big yes to everything you said. Thanks
I love this post but I REALLY want to see a picture of your secretary desk!
LOVE this article!! Thank you for the reminder of what a useful, beautiful and practical item can do for the home. Paper “stuff” is a pet peeve and this would be a wonderful solution that I totally forgot about. LOVE the bathroom idea as a vanity and the photo examples are perfect.
Great article and lovely pictures. Now about Fridays post which seems to have disappeared thank you. I couldn’t get past the first few sentences so maybe it was a nice article. It just made me uncomfortable from the beginning. I know you don’t exist to make me comfortable but something felt weird about it Let’s encourage more volunteering and family time not analyzing whatever that article was about. Will be back tomorrow and thanks for taking it down. Love all the design stuff!
I love this! I have a vintage secretary that is closed up and kind of ignored. I’m inspired to style it up and put it in a more prominent place. Your examples are great. Question: why would anyone buy new when there are such cute vintage secretaries out there, sometimes for less money? Just
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