When I was a little girl I had a walnut desk in my bedroom where I did my homework every night. It held an old-fashioned metal pencil sharpener, which was screwed into the desktop, and it had a great leather blotter and matching pencil cup. If I close my eyes right now, I can still conjure up the smell of the desk and the pencils that filled that cup.

Today, I know that having a desk in the same room as my bed is a Feng Shui no-no and that my workspace should always be set up in any other room, in order to create the most restful environment and best chi (energy flow). You knew that, too, didn’t you?

In case you didn’t, the ideal room to work in, besides having a designated home office, is probably the dining room because it offers a big surface – the table – to spread out on when needed. There are a number of attractive desks on the market that are unobtrusive and can simply be placed against a wall and paired with a dining room chair. If you don’t have a formal dining room, you might consider setting up your work area in your kitchen, living room or even your foyer, if it is large.

You may also want a low file cabinet on casters that can be stored in a closet, as well as a covered wooden or leather box in which to keep your small office supplies and other bits and pieces, so they all can be hidden, too. And, last but not least, remember to stash your pencil sharpener, so that it doesn’t give your secret workplace away.

(Bottom Concealed Desk: Crate and Barrel)

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