Working from home has become a desirable option, and our home office ideas had to keep up. This is where the sofa desk comes into its own.
“Clients have rethought how they can work better,” says Emily Monroe. (Opens in a new tab) Monroe Studio. Many people enjoy typing or scrolling on an upholstered sofa more than a classic office chair.
Some call for separate social spaces within the office to communicate in a more approachable way than the traditional layout of cross-desk conversations.
“We also have clients who love the couch to nap or meditate during the day as part of a renewed commitment to work-life balance.”
The designer-approved “couch desks” that will change your life at WFH….
Not sure where to start? Discover a handful of designers championing the sofa desk for blending comfort, style, and practicality in the WFH space below.
1. Choose a sofa with “armrest tables”
(Image credit: Studio Munroe/Thomas Kuoh)
When it comes to an office sofa, also known as a sofa desk, practicality is a key consideration because this piece must do double duty: it must be reasonably comfortable while also being supportive enough to work from.
Any additional ideas for supporting work from it, like super armrest tables, are a welcome bonus.
“Office sofas tend to be more structured and sculptural than your standard family room sofa to maintain a professional presence and support conversation over TV,” says Emilie Munroe.
This sofa style includes a wine table integrated with a wooden armrest, which is especially useful in a work environment where food and drinks are likely to be shared.
“Not only is it comfortable, but it also helps protect your upholstery from wear and stains.”
2. Choose a small sofa
(Image credit: Live with Lolo / Life Created)
A small sofa provides the perfect place to change your work position without cocooning so large that it becomes unproductive.
Brad Ramsey points out that “most people’s home desks aren’t that big.” (Opens in a new tab), lead designer and founder of Brad Ramsey Interiors. A small home office is often a converted spare room or small den space, so a compact sofa works best.
“We’re looking for comfort, but not something big or deep that overwhelms the room.”
3. Add a sofa seat to a multifunctional space
(Image credit: AMMOR Architecture)
The sofa desk is a studio apartment idea for space optimization, and works well in a multifunctional room.
The studio above, by AMMOR Architecture, shows how smart furniture can enhance your space, making it work as hard as it can for your needs. In fact, the coffee table in the center rises and becomes a higher surface that can be used as a dining table or work desk.
The Couch Seat comes into its own here, providing a supportive and sturdy yet comfortable seat to work from.
Thomas Morbitzer (Opens in a new tab)from AMMOR Architecture, about the space: “This studio is an exercise in flexibility, responding to this need by providing a variety of surfaces for the different types of events that take place here.
While seating is important (there’s a sleeper sofa, lounge chair, dining chair, and cushioned banquette), one key element that makes them all functional individually and separately is the cocktail table, which raises and lowers the adjustment between leisure, dining, or work.
4. Make the most of the high back and sloped arms
(Image credit: Mary Flanigan Interiors/Julie Sofer)
Your home office is, now more than ever, a multifunctional area; It can be a space for relaxation as well as work. Whatever you use the space for, it must be flexible.
“Home offices are no longer just places to work,” says Mary Flanigan. (Opens in a new tab)From Mary Flanigan Interiors. These rooms evolved into elevated, luxurious spaces for working, relaxing, and even entertaining. A sofa or sofa in an office space provides variety not only for your everyday seating options, but for the entire home.
“A lot of homeowners use their desks as a man cave, and a TV cart and bar are often included, making it essential to have seating that goes beyond just an office chair.”
In terms of practicality and aesthetics, Mary continues: “The most important thing to consider is the size of the sofa compared to the room. I love when offices have a clean, modern aesthetic, so I would choose sofas with clean or contemporary lines.”
Since this is also a workspace, you’ll want to choose a soft type with a comfortable arm and the right height to work with. I think this trend is here to stay, because these pieces are perfect for adding functionality.
(Image credit: Diaz + Alexander Studio)
In general, a “couch desk” is usually best with a slightly higher back and at least medium stability to get the right level of support while you work.
However, there are times when you can throw out the interior design playbook – and simply choose something that suits your tastes and preferences.
“We’re all so used to working on our phones and tablets just about everywhere, including in bed or on the couch,” says Brad Ramsey. “So, I think choosing a sofa for an office that serves your personal ergonomic preferences is totally fine.”
6. Create a serene space with dreamy white
(Image credit: Brad Ramsey/Zeke Ruelas)
If your job is reasonably high-pressure, you may want to choose a decorating scheme that acts as a visual antidote to stress.
A light palette provides a quiet backdrop for a home office, and a matching sofa makes the space feel cozier.
Brad Ramsey created the harmonious home office above. “Since this is a home office,” he says, “we wanted to soften the space and make it feel more like a workspace.” And Living room.
“As a break from sitting at a desk, my client wanted the option to read or work on his laptop while sitting on the couch.”
He adds, “I think having a sofa in the office makes the space cozier and can double duty as another place to relax or gather at home.”
7. Bring the room to life with a colorful sofa desk
(Image credit: Studio Ashby/1stDibs/Phillip Durrant)
Get motivation and inspiration from a colorful, eclectic space—as seen in British designer Sophie Ashby’s study (above).
The office is in a terraced Georgian house in London’s Spitalfields that once belonged to legendary English tastemaker Jocasta Innes.
The room’s pretentious bookcases are, as Ashby describes, inherited from Inness, but the oak writing desk, at once organic and modern, is the creation of her design firm, Studio Ashby.
Gino Sarfatti 548 desk lamp (designed in 1951 and found on 1stDibs (Opens in a new tab)), giving you vivid color and shape, while the leopard print covering the vintage office chair offers a dash of whimsy.
A green velvet upholstered sofa brings comfort and more color into the inspiring mix.
“When it comes to your office couch, choose something comfortable in a color you love,” says Lauren Lerner. “If you’re going to look at it from your desk, you’re going to want to inspire.”
8. Choose a structured fabric for a formal office
(Image credit: Studio Mellone/1stDibs/William Laird)
Is your home office more formal than comfortable? Add some comfort but keep it organized with rope-like fabric.
Not only will the aesthetic match the style of the room, but the reference to the ’70s will keep you in the loop—the ’70s sofa is definitely having a renaissance.
In fact, the 1970s trend is one of the biggest interior design trends of 2023, so the wire sofa desk is also stylish and functional.
9. Mix comfort with practicality
(Image credit: BHDM Design/Adam Macchia)
You can never go wrong with a little velvet to ensure your sofa is both comfortable and inviting. When teamed with high backs and armrests, you’re creating the recipe for the perfect sofa office.
In the post-pandemic world, our workplaces are no longer confined to 9-5. Guest rooms and offices now reflect our evolving work habits, which means they are at once functional and comfortable. (Opens in a new tab)Dan Mazzarini, BHDM Design + ARCHIVE Creative Director.
He adds: ‘Couches can be a great addition to any workspace, and it’s best to have a piece of furniture in the back of your Zoom instead.
But remember, most couches weren’t designed to work. If you’re working from the couch, look for higher, denser, sturdier options by inviting fabrics and finishes to blend form and function.
The best Couch Desks to buy now
(Opens in a new tab)
(Opens in a new tab)
(Opens in a new tab)
(Opens in a new tab)
Should a sofa desk be in a home office?
The Couch Desk is a stylish, comfortable and functional addition to any home office. But you can enjoy the couch office in any room that happens to be your WFH space.
If you have a larger bedroom, you can limit the space and add a couch to work from. Or you can invest in a sofa for your living room that will double as a sofa office as well.
