I’ve been working on creating a new playroom and creative space for my daughters over the last few months. What started out as a simple task has escalated, as is always the way for me! We moved the girls from Ava’s big bedroom into Thea’s box room, with bunk beds, leaving a nice big space to play. I wanted child-friendly space-saving desks to give them an area to get creative, without taking over the whole room. Futon Company kindly sent us a pair of matching space-saving ladder desks to help bring my playroom vision alive. These ‘sister desks’ as the girls call them, fit perfectly beneath the eaves.
Why We Chose Space-Saving Desks from Futon Company
We looked at a lot of desks (you can see our other desk ideas, and some pictures of the room mid-way through the make-over on this post). We considered using a large desk for them to share, but we decided they should each have their own desk. The bamboo and MDF ladder desks from Futon Company are £60 each, which I think is very reasonable considering they have built-in shelving. 
These space-saving desk are minimal in design, with a simple Mid-Century feel. They’ll go with any decor, however the girls choose to redecorate their playroom in the future. I love white furniture as I think it makes the space look so bright and cheerful. Bamboo is a eco-friendly choice as it’s fast growing so much more renewable than hard woods. It also has a lovely warm tone.
Space-Saving Desks Have Plenty of Room
The desk area itself is large enough to hold a laptop and a few bits and bobs, if you’re using it for a grown up. There’s plenty of space for the girls to draw or paint, and will be great when they go back to school and have homework.
These space-saving desks go perfectly with the new chairs, which tuck under the desks nicely when the girls want more space to play. There’s space beneath the desks for a pair of oversized gold-coloured plant pots, which they use for rubbish and recycling (start them sorting young!) I’ve added more gold touches around the room to go with the spindles on the chairs.
How I Styled Their Space-Saving Desks
Being so simple, these desks are the perfect blank canvas to personalise. The girls will no doubt fill them with Kinder Egg toys, ‘found objects’ (AKA stones and twigs) and scraps of paper, but for now, I have added the items to make nice ‘shelfies’.
Thea’s Desk
Thea has the left desk, and I’ve added an inspirational print in eco-friendly non-toxic water-based neon pink ink from Flat102 (£20 unframed)*. I couldn’t resist this fab neon-effect rainbow light from NEXT (£25)*. When it’s switched off, it’s plain white, so still looks lovely. We’ve had this sweet rabbit night light for years: you can find one here*. 
The cloud-shaped pencil pot is from Tiger, the fawn money box is from the Little Bird range at Mothercare (though when she was first born so not available now sadly). I sprayed the design on the IKEA coasters with Rustoleum gold spray paint* using masking tape to make a design.
Ava’s Desk
I got another print for Ava’s desk, in the same neon pink. It’s hard to see, but it’s a Russian doll with “It’s what’s inside that counts” from Hazel Nicholls, (£16 unframed)*. She and Flat102 both have loads of gorgeous prints on their Etsy shops, in lots of colours, if pink is not your thing. I framed up one of Ava’s pictures of a daisy in a vase, as it’s too good to hide. There are a few of her favourite books, including “Pippi Longstocking”* and the “What Katie Did” stories*. 
She has a plant in a gold IKEA pot, and a matching smaller pot for some of her many pens. I picked up the white circular storage at the Magpie sale.
Positioning the Space-Saving Desks
We had a bit of a debate about where the girls’ space-saving desks would go. The natural place is next to the window, where the ceiling slopes. But that’s where the wardrobe was. We moved it in the end, which was a real mission, but it looks so much better and really opens the space up. We also had to position the desks around the Tiger cloud shelves which we stuck up a year or two ago. I knew they’d rip off the paint if we took them down and we didn’t want to have to repaint!
I’ve repurposed half of the girls’ old cot bed, which had broken, to make an accessories organised. You can see the indoor herb garden I made with the other half of the cot here.
I built the desks myself and they took about 20 minutes each, plus time to screw them into the wall.
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- Before construction…
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- … the finished desks.
You may need a spirit level for this, to make sure you have the angle correct. We just checked to see if a pen rolled off (so professional).
So do the girls like their space-saving desks? Here they are ‘faffing’ with them a few weeks ago. I think we can safely call that a win!
Thank you to Futon Company for sending us the desks, and being so patient waiting for me to finally finish the room to post about them!
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What a fabulous space saving idea! I think it’s great that they each have their own space and I particularly love the inspirational print on Thea’s desk – just fab!
Author
Isn’t it gorgeous? I went on a bit of a shopping spree on her site, she does lush cards too. Xx
I love how these desks allow your girls the freedom to be individual and provide them each with their own personal space. I adore how you’ve styled them and the fact that these have probably taken up as much space as one desk would have, they’re brilliant! 😀
Author
Thank you so much, so happy you like the look of them xx
What a lovely space and gorgeous styling. I bet your girls have so much fun in this room!
Author
Thank you Nicola, yes they do! They have been spending a lot of time up there together, chatting and playing, it’s really wonderful xx
Your kids are so lucky that they’ve got such a stylish Mum to create a modern on-trend room!! I love those desks. Great for working and perfect for displaying nice bits and bobs too 🙂 x
Author
Ah thanks so much, they love the desks but I’m guessing it will only be a matter of time before they get filled with plastic tat, sadly! X
This space is bright and creative, a great place to study or stimulate kids storytelling skills, love it!
Author
Thanks so much Marlene, that was exactly what I was going for, so pleased you like it tooxx
What a lovely space. The desks are such a great solutions and look great in their room. I’m sure they love it. I would
Author
Thanks so much, I sneak in there to work sometimes, it’s so nice in there xx
I wish my childhood bedroom looked that good! These are two lucky little girls!
Author
Thank you so much, I can’t vouch for how long it will stay looking this good though! Xx
These desks are great for the space you have. And great that they are so affordable. I’d love to create a space like this for my girls when they are older. Will definitely be bearing these desks in mind when the time comes.
Author
Thanks so much Stacey, I spent quite a long time cleaning pink pen off one of them where Ava had gone off the paper! But it did come off luckily xx
oh wow i love both of those desks they can fit so much without taking a lot of space – very stylish and clever x
Author
Thanks Pati, they are ideal for the space we have, we are so pleased with them xx
Oh how nice are these! And really reasonable. I’ve definitely seen some in the 200+ range!
Author
Thanks, yeah I think they are such good value! Xx
Ooh they’re so nice! Love how you’ve styled them too, and those chairs!!
Author
Thank you so much Sam, they look so good together don’t they? Xx
You have very lucky girls Becky – what amazing desks !
Author
Thank you so much Lin, they are really enjoying them
X
Is it my idea or is this space getting better and better with more pastel colours added in? Space saving desk/bookcase combos are the way forward. Can I please, as someone who has worn glasses for over 3 decades, mention that you need to get them desk lamps! Reading in bad lighting is one of the reasons kids end up wearing glasses. GO GO GO 😀
Author
Ah thanks Jenny, I do love grey and pastels! And also thanks for the lamp tip, any excuse to flex that plastic! But seriously I wear glasses myself so I will get some! Xx
What wonderful ideas! And I can totally see how your ideas came to life – what a creative haven for your girls! X
Author
Thank you so much, I really loved creating this area and have some other nice things planned for the rest of the room. They already use this part most days xx
Hi Becky, what a beautiful space you created!!! Such a good idea to have their desks together I’d love to do that for the girls when they’re older. Love the space saving desks x
Author
Thank you so much, I know they will enjoy them for years to come! Xx