Writing Tables in Solid Wood for a Quiet Place to Work

A James & James writing table is a solid wood desk with a lighter footprint than a full office desk, made for people who need a dedicated spot for a laptop, letters or planning without turning a room into an office. Each is made to order from American hardwood.

The collection includes the Audrey Desk, Fulton Desk, Hathaway Desk and Olivia Desk, each built to feel like part of the home.

Writing Tables in the Collection

• Audrey Desk: a writing desk designed for studies and quiet corners.
• Fulton Desk: shares its name with our Fulton dining tables and bench.
• Hathaway Desk: a writing desk for a bedroom, study or living space.
• Olivia Desk: part of the Olivia Collection, known for graceful curves.

Because writing tables are compact, they fit places a larger desk cannot: under a window, at the end of a guest room, or along a living room wall. The Olivia and Fulton desks also make it easy to coordinate a workspace with furniture elsewhere in the house.

What Is the Difference Between a Writing Table and a Desk?

• Footprint: a writing table is generally smaller and lighter in look than an executive desk.
• Purpose: it suits focused tasks such as a laptop, notebook or correspondence.
• Placement: it can work outside a home office, in a bedroom or living room.
• Corner desks: for a larger workstation, a corner desk offers more surface.

Think about what you actually do at your desk. If the day involves a laptop and a notebook, a writing table gives you everything you need while leaving the room open. If you work across two monitors and piles of paper, a larger desk may serve you better. Our design team is glad to help you weigh the two.

Choosing a Wood and Finish for Your Workspace

• Species: about 95% of our pieces are knotty alder, with oak, white oak and black walnut by design.
• Bright and focused: Harvest Wheat on alder or Oat on oak keeps a work corner light.
• Classic study: Tobacco on alder or Sable on oak gives a library feel.
• Durable surface: a polyurethane topcoat helps protect against water, stains and scratches.

A writing table sees coffee cups, pens and elbows every day, so the protective topcoat earns its keep. Choose a finish that sits comfortably with the floors and furniture already in the room. Natural grain and knots will show through, and knots on the writing surface are filled for a smooth surface to write on.

Find a Writing Table Made for Life

• Made to order: choose size, finish and options on the product page.
• Delivery: white-glove service across the contiguous 48 states.
• Design help: free 30-minute consultations by phone or video.

A good writing table gives work a place to live and lets it be put away at the end of the day. Explore our full range of desks, browse the wider home office collection, or schedule a consultation for help choosing the right fit.