folding travel writing desk

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11 folding desks that work great in small spaces

These space-saving foldable desks are ideal for those without a dedicated study.

No Assembly Foldable Desk

Matys rectangle folding writing desk.

Wooden Foldable Desk

Harbour housewares folding desk.

Wooden Table Folding Desk

Premier housewares folding snack table.

Foldable Desk Stand

Autumndeer foldable laptop bed table lap desk stand.

White Foldable Desk

Compact folding office desk - white.

Modern Foldable Desk

Tyonna desk.

Versatile Folding Desk

Drew folding bamboo 2 seater table - white.

Height Adjustable Standing Desk

Black and Oak Folding Desk

Compact folding office desk - black & oak.

Ladder Folding Desk

Fulton ladder desk.

And there are other benefits: a folding desk will help to separate work from downtime, as it can be simply packed away at the end of the working day. Some folding desks have built-in shelves for storage, while other available options include wall-mounted folding desks too. Whatever you need, there's plenty on offer to suit every home — and job.

Folding desks are currently flying off the shelves, so you'll have to be quick if you want one for your home. Here we round up some practical folding desks you can buy right now – including the best deals ahead of Amazon Prime Day .

Easy to install, this practical folding desk can be opened when needed and then packed away again at the end of the day. From the living room to the bedroom , simply place it anywhere around the home.

In a wooden style, this compact table folds flat so you can hide it away at the end of the day. A great one to consider if you need a more suitable working-from-home set-up.

The perfect addition to your living room, bedroom , or study, this affordable folding table will make remote working a breeze. Lightweight and foldable, simply tidy it away when you've finished for the day.

Ideal for those without a home office, this desk stand can be used comfortably from a sofa or bed. With no assembly required, you can simply prop up and get to work.

Simple yet oh-so practical, Habitat's white compact folding desk offers a spacious surface area for studying, working or crafting. In a white design, it's perfect for complementing every interior scheme.

Compact, sleek and modern, this classic wooden desk is perfect for smaller spaces. It has a simple metal frame and a desktop made from laminated manufactured wood. Simply fold up and pack away again at the end of the day.

This plain white folding table is incredibly versatile. Perfect to use both as a desk and dinner table.

This tall standing desk is perfect for those who enjoy working on their feet. Each desk comes with two shelves to provide you with the maximum configurations, while it also has different heights to achieve the perfect position to work effectively.

Compact Folding Office Desk - Black & Oak

We love this classic black and oak folding office desk from Habitat, which offers spacious surface area for studying, working or crafting.

We love this oak ladder desk, which will complement every interior scheme. Pop plants, books and accessories on the surrounding shelves, while using the larger shelf to work effectively during the day. It's the ideal size for a laptop.

Minimalist Wall Mounted Folding Desk

On the hunt for something more unique? This minimalist drop down 'floating' desk is ideal for smaller spaces. While it needs attaching to the wall, you simply fold it back up after use. Great to consider if you don't have enough floor space at home.

 Lisa Joyner is the Senior Digital Writer at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK , where she's busy writing about home and interiors, gardening , dog breeds , pets, health and wellbeing, countryside news, small space inspiration, and the hottest properties on the market. Previously, she has written for Conde Nast Traveller , House & Garden and Marie Claire magazine. Lisa studied at University For The Creative Arts, where she completed a BA in Fashion Journalism.  

Laura Hill is the Homes Ecommerce Editor for House Beautiful UK, covering the latest shopping trends, budget interior buys and new homeware collections. Since 2016, Laura has written extensively across the home, DIY, garden, retail and property sectors, covering the latest product launches from big brands like John Lewis, Habitat and Dunelm. Her work can be found across publications such as House Beautiful , Country Living and Prima , as well as being translated for ELLE Japan . Before joining House Beautiful, Laura was a writer and editor at major DIY retailer B&Q for six years, specialising in editorial content across kitchens and bathrooms. Laura studied at Bournemouth University, where she completed a BA in Media Communications. When Laura isn’t testing that viral homeware product you’ve been eyeing up on TikTok or finding the best Black Friday or Amazon Prime Day deals, you’ll find her researching the best budget DIY hacks or tackling her latest room renovation. Follow Laura on Instagram at @laurahillyy. 

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Folding Lap Desk Plans

Plans Download

Build this beautiful and functional DIY Folding Lap Desk out of a single board!

*This post contains affiliate links.

• (1) 1 x 8 x 8 Ft. Board
• (4) Connecting Bolts
• (4) Connecting Caps
• 1 1/4-inch Pocket Screws
• Tape Measure
• Carpenter’s Square
• Cordless Drill/Driver with Spade or Forstner Bit
• Circular Saw or Chop Saw
• Pocket Hole Jig
• Biscuit Joiner (optional)
• Parallel Bar Clamps
• Safety Glasses
• Hearing Protection

CUT LIST:          

• (2) @ 7 1/4 inches x 21 inches (top)
• (2) @ 1 1/2 inches x 21 inches (long aprons)
• (2) @ 1 1/2 inches x 13 inches (short aprons)
• (4) @ 1 1/2 inches x 8 1/4 inches (legs)
• (2) @ 1 1/2 inches x 11 1/2 inches (stretchers)

*If you’d like to use standard dimensional lumber instead of cutting the parts out of a single board, the cut list is as follows:

• (2) 1 x 8 @ 21 inches (top)
• (2) 1 x 2 @ 21 inches (long aprons)
• (2) 1 x 2 @ 13 inches (short aprons)
• (4) 1 x 2 @ 8 1/4 inches (legs)
• (2) 1 x 2 @ 11 1/2 inches (stretchers)

STEP 1 – BUILD THE TOP

Measure, mark, and cut the two top pieces out of the board, according to the cut layout. Edge-join the two boards together using wood glue. Clamp and let dry. Use biscuits for alignment, if desired.

STEP 2 – ADD THE APRONS

Measure, mark, and cut apron pieces according to the cut layout. Use a jigsaw to cut the curve for the handles on the short aprons. Drill 3/4-inch pocket holes into the aprons and attach them to the top board with 1 1/4-inch pocket screws and wood glue.

STEP 3 – CUT THE LEGS

Measure, mark, and cut the leg parts according to the cut layout. Notice that there is a slight 15º angle at the bottoms of the legs and the tops are rounded over. Drill a hole at the top for the connecting bolts in the next step. Drill 3/4-inch pocket holes into the stretchers and attach them to the legs with 1 1/4-inch pocket screws and wood glue. Place the stretchers 2 inches from the bottom.

STEP 4 – ATTACH THE LEGS

Using the spade or forstner bit, drill holes into the long aprons for the connecting caps. Attach the legs with the connecting bolts and caps, ensuring that the legs will swing open and closed freely. Do not overtighten so that the legs easily fold in.

Sand, stain and/or paint, and finish as desired.

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Reader Interactions

September 29, 2019 at 10:08 am

Downloadable plans for this are missing.

June 13, 2020 at 6:32 pm

I cannot download the plans

October 06, 2020 at 5:54 pm

How long are the connecting bolts you used for folding lap desk.

October 30, 2020 at 3:51 pm

what size are the connecting bolts and caps??

August 31, 2021 at 12:55 pm

Again, what size are the bolt’s and caps that you used for this project? And approximately how far from the top of the legs did you make the hole for the bolt? The table is lovely. I am a new woodworker and am unable to figure stuff out on my own still.

July 14, 2020 at 10:56 pm

I used a screen capture snipping tool to capture it in 9 pictures. Tedious, but it worked.

November 04, 2020 at 7:30 pm

What size are connecting caps and bolts.

December 08, 2020 at 4:10 pm

Did you figure this out Bryce?

November 29, 2020 at 7:40 am

What is the thickness of the board?

January 24, 2021 at 4:04 am

The cutting list reflects a 1 x 8 so that would be a nominal thickness of approximately 3/4″ thick.

June 13, 2021 at 10:35 pm

April 10, 2022 at 1:22 pm

On your pictures of the underside of the table it shows what look to be 1×1 spacers/stops for the legs against the end apron, I don’t see them on your drawings or cut list. Did you delete them or over look them on your final drawing?

April 06, 2023 at 9:35 am

how big of a bolt should i use

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P&O Cruises to retire its brand in Australia, fold operations into Carnival Cruise Line

P&O Cruises Australia has announced its fleet will soon be sailing to its final berth, ceasing its operations in 2025 after more than 90 years on the water.

The Australian travel brand will fold its operations into parent company Carnival Cruise Line from March 2025.

P&O's Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure ships and workforce will be rebranded and transferred to the Carnival Cruise Line fleet, while the Pacific Explorer, previously known as the Dawn Princess, will be retired.

Passengers set to cruise in 2024 will not be affected, while customers who had cruises booked on the Pacific Explorer after March 2, 2025 will have the option of a refund or credit for Carnival with extra onboard spending money.

It is the end of an era for the popular brand, which first sailed from Sydney on December 23, 1932, on a seven-day itinerary calling at Brisbane and Norfolk Island.

The company's first permanent ship in Australia, the Fairstar — heavily promoted as "the fun ship" — was part of the fleet for nine years until 1997.

P&O Cruises Australia issued its surprise notice to customers on Tuesday.

"As a result, all itineraries on Pacific Explorer scheduled to sail after 2nd March 2025 are being cancelled," it said.

"If you are booked on one of these itineraries you will be contacted by guest services in the coming days with refund details.

"We are all immensely proud of P&O Cruises Australia's 90-year heritage of dedicated operations in the region, and Carnival Cruise Line are honoured to carry forward its storied legacy and continue to deliver the same onboard experiences and itineraries."

Crews on the Pacific Explorer were expected to be redeployed to other ships, but a small number of workers in the P&O Australia head office would lose their jobs, a spokeswoman said.

Acting P&O Cruises Australia and Carnival Australia lead Peter Little will be retained under the new title of country manager.

Carnival Cruise chief executive Josh Weinstein hailed P&O Cruises as a storied brand with an amazing team and lauded its accomplishments in Australia and the broader region.

"However, given the strategic reality of the South Pacific's small population and significantly higher operating and regulatory costs, we're adjusting our approach," he said.

The Carnival brand will see its fleet boosted by eight ships after also acquiring vessels from sister line Costa Cruises and ordering new ships to come into operation in 2027 and 2028.

Under the changes, Carnival will continue to be the largest cruise operator in the region with 19 ships, representing almost 60 per cent of the market.

The P&O ships will have technology upgrades, including an ordering app and loyalty program, but will retain the "familiar feel and much of the same experiences" for Australian guests, Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy said.

Who owns P&O Cruises?

P&O Cruises is owned by Carnival Corporation & plc. 

Carnival Corporation & plc owns a number of different brands including Carnival Cruise Line and Princess Cruises.

What does P&O stand for?

The initials P and O stand for "Peninsular and Oriental", an abbreviation of The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company.

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