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Majesty Desk-Box, TOV-G5491 by TOV Furniture[/caption]
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Desks are as versatile as the people who use them. Back in the nineties my mom did all the household accounting on a giant oaken roll-top desk stuffed with files and papers and junk mail. Nowadays a desk is often just a flat surface to put a laptop on. Also, a stable place for coffee cups so as to avoid disasters. That's why it's easier than ever to find a desk that suits your decor. This one would look great in a bedroom, and its small dimensions means it won't take up too much floor space at all.
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Desks don't just belong in formal office settings. (By UrbanWood Goods)[/caption]
There are countless styles of desks, made of all sorts of materials. I like this weathered wooden look a lot, along with the exposed drawers. I am speaking entirely from anecdotal evidence here, but being surrounded by the natural world helps me to feel much more inspired than say, feeling like I'm in a cubicle would. I also like the double-desk idea here, perfect for people collaborating on a project, or just to work in companionable quiet.
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LADO DESK CHROME, 100356 by Zuo Modern[/caption]
On the other hand, not everyone has a zest for the vintage and slightly battered. A sleek, modern desk can also be a really cool look, fitting in well with a more contemporary decor. Zuo Modern's designs are really simple and clean, using basic shapes and materials well. A desk like this is no-frills, perfect for the worker who doesn't want distractions. And glass-topped furniture in general is great for small spaces, since it creates the illusion of more space.
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Standing desks are steadily growing in popularity. (By Emily Winters)[/caption]
Finally, let me mention a desk idea that may seem a little counterintuitive at the outset: the standing desk. There has been a lot of talk recently about how awful sitting down all day is for you, and since so many modern jobs require people to do just that, having a space where you can get work done and also stay on your feet is really valuable to both your health and your sanity. My dad stacks his laptop onto a box and a pile of books in order to stand while he works, but you can circumvent this rather precarious set-up by simply buying a taller desk. Also, maybe invest in a taller chair or stool to go with it, just in case you want to take a rest or really get down to business.
With the workforce moving toward more people than ever working at least partially from home, it's incredibly helpful to have a space that you can dedicate to organization and focus. Speaking from personal experience--all furniture-blogger bias aside--it's definitely made a difference in the quality of my work experience....
Fanta Desk FMI1029-White from Fine Mod Imports[/caption]
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There are lots of ways a desk can be functionally "small," and not all of them involve having little more than a lap desk attached to a rolling stand. Especially if you want a small desk to place in a communal room, the actual size of the desk is less important than its ability to blend with the surrounding decor. Low profile desks - that is, ones with very shallow desktops - are great for this. Like console tables, they sit very close to the wall, meaning they'll be out of the way of foot traffic, but if you're working primarily on a laptop, even this small amount of surface space will be plenty.
Stir Office Desk In Oak EEI-1322-OAK from Modway Furniture[/caption]
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In a similar vein, you can also simply opt for a desk designed to look like a decorative accent table. These, too, can be a little light on the surface and storage space, but are more than adequate for a laptop setup, and typically have features built in that set them apart from standard tables. Keyboard trays, cubby shelves, and desk grommets or cable organizers and concealers help streamline more elaborate setups (like adding a usable mouse, keyboard, and monitor), allowing you a more permanent workstation without making the surface feel cluttered.
Trove Office Desk in Dark Walnut EEI-1323-DWL from Modway Furniture[/caption]
That said, if you really want a desk where you can settle in, it's worth looking for one with a little more built in storage - either in terms of drawers underneath or shelves and cubbies on top. Regardless of the design, a small desk won't have as much storage as you'd get from a dedicated office setup (complete with filing cabinet), but having a place to put your papers, office supplies, and miscellaneous electronic do-dads can make the difference between a desk that looks good in the corner of your living room and one that just catches clutter and makes the space feel messy.
Lescritoire Secretary Desk AE2334 from Toscano[/caption]
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Typically the best furniture for small spaces is modern in design; minimalist, streamlined, compact, and storage-smart modern furniture is hard to pass up when you're trying to save space. But a home office setup is one place where it can actually be a good idea to opt for an antique. Petite writing desks weren't designed with laptop computers in mind, but they're big enough to stow them comfortably, come with tons of built in storage, and are beautiful, decorative accent pieces in their own right. If you have a more traditional design, opting for an antique replica desk is a great way to make your home office corner feel like a cohesive part of the whole room while still giving you a functional workspace.
Unicorn Drop Front Desk AF2137 from Toscano[/caption]
Another added bonus of drop-front and roll-top antique secretary desks is that it's very, very easy to stow away your workspace when you aren't using it. Being able to literally put a lid on your work is maybe the best way to separate your work life from your home life; not only can you completely conceal the work you're doing (and even literally lock it away on some desks!), but you don't have to put all your stuff away to do it - you can leave your papers and projects spread out on your desk and simply close the lid on top of them.
Warp Office Desk In Walnut EEI-1188-WAL from Modway Furniture[/caption]
Last but not least, as home offices without the actual office space become more popular, it's getting easier to find desks that are meant to be maybe just a little more decorative than functional. What that means varies widely from one design to another, but more than ever it's possible to find desks that are attractive accents in their own right - and not just antiques. Modern asymmetrical designs, gold art deco frames, mirrored surfaces, and even driftwood desks are more than just a spot to put your elecrtonics - they're a beautiful, functional accent in any room you put them in.
The desk that will work best for you depends a lot on how and where you're going to use it; you want a design that will both fit your work style and your decor. But even if space is a little scarce, a good, decorative small desk can get the job done - and look good doing it!
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Pivot Desk 13642 In Majestic White from Coast To Coast Imports[/caption]
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Extendable desks come in a lot of different styles and shapes, but what they all have in common is that they come in two pieces that are attached with a pivot hinge, a sliding glider, or some other connecting piece that allows the two parts to change position in relation to each other. For example, many extendable desks consist of a simple rectangular work surface attached to a low bookshelf. Folded out, it's a perfect full length or corner desk, but tucked away it's a completely inconspicuous bookshelf.
Bari Bookcase Desk 77AMC49 from Manhattan Comfort[/caption]
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On the simplest level, extendable desks are great for people who don't have the space for a dedicated home office but need a usable desk space from time to time. The bookshelf-plus-desk design lets your desk sit inconspicuously in just about any room in your home, and still be useful even off hours. You probably won't be able to leave your work out on your desk, but folded open these desks provide ample workspace if you need to spread out your paperwork.
Calabria Nested Desk in Tobacco 33AMC49 from Manhattan Comfort[/caption]
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How much space an extendable desk will take up depends a little on how you plan to use it, but the beauty is, you've got options. If you have a lot of wall space, you can easily leave your desk stretched out all the time. Ditto for a corner desk; a desk that's left unfolded 24/7 won't take up much more space than one that's folded, or than a similar standard bookshelf. If you're really crunched for space, though, and don't want to leave a little patch of your wall unadorned just so you can open a desk flush against it, extendable desks can easily be made to swing out into the middle of the room.
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Teramo Home Desk in White and Oak 78AMC22 from Manhattan Comfort[/caption]
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That's the real beauty of extendable desks: while you wouldn't want to leave them like that 24/7, when you need to, you can use the whole area around the desk as your workspace without disrupting your surrounding decor. Folded up, these desks are totally inconspicuous, while extended they give you both ample workspace and lots of elbow room, so you can really settle in and get some work done - and make your workspace look like you were never there when you're done.
Taranto Cubby Desk in Tobaccon 79AMC49 from Manhattan Comfort[/caption]
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To be fair, if you're trying to sneak a home office into a small amount of space, there are desks out there that are more petite. That said, while it's entirely possible to find a very very small desk, it's hard to find a small desk that doesn't look like a desk. Utilitarian desks are just that: utilitarian, with a minimalist look and feel that's a lot more college computer lab than you probably want for your living room. Extendable desks look and feel more like furniture, and because they're by nature multi-purpose, they're an addition to your living space that's both useful and beautiful.
If you're looking for a full-sized, usable work desk that will blend in with just about any room you put it in, an extendable desk might be just what you need.
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Urbane Carpina Ladder Desk in White 21AMC6 from Manhattan Comfort[/caption]
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Leaving even a small office desk adrift in your living room can make your space feel a little bit awkward. Even if the public parts of the room and workspace are rarely used at the same time, having that reminder of the daily grind can be a real buzz-kill. One easy way to distract from the too-functional feeling of an office desk is to incorporate additional shelving - for books or other media, or even just as a decorative display. Ladder desks are among my favorite multi-function desks for this purpose, because they're relatively narrow and have a slightly more playful (and less stuffy) feel to them than a conventional work desk.
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3 PIece Carpina Home Floating Ladder Shelf Office Desk in Oak and White 3-2021AMC22 from Manhattan Comfort[/caption]
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Better still, ladder desks blend in almost seamlessly with ladder-style bookshelves. Regular bookshelves make poor work surfaces because they have both too little surface space to work comfortably on and no legroom to speak of, but the angled design of ladder style furniture lends itself well to little tweaks, like an elongated shelf with a keyboard caddy, and a few omitted shelves to give you space to sit and store a chair or stool. Having matching bookshelves not only gives you a whole lot more storage space, but also a little extra camouflage to make that desk feel more at home.
Campania Cubby Desk in Tobacco 92AMC49 from Manhattan Comfort[/caption]
You can also find small laptop desks that have bookshelves stuck to one side. Rather than the surface of the desk serving as one of the "shelves," these bookshelves sit kitty corner to a narrow desk surface, making these a good option for use as corner desks or - if you're feeling a little daring - small desks that extend out into your living room. As with ladder desks, these blend well with a larger bank of bookshelves, but also work well on their own, adding a small homey touch to a desk that's just big enough to house a basic home office setup.
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Pivot Desk and Media Console in Majestic White 13642 from Coast to Coast Imports[/caption]
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If you're worried about a multi-purpose desk/bookshelf getting in the way - especially having the desk surface jutting out from the "front" of the bookshelf - look for models that have pivoting or folding desktops. Rather than having a fixed T- or L-shaped design, these desks are adjustable, able to be converted into a long side-by-side desk and bookshelf, an L-shaped corner desk, or folded down to be a perfectly average looking bookshelf. If you want an office desk that's truly incognito, this is definitely the way to go - but make sure the desk you're looking at can be moved on demand, rather than fixed into a certain position at installation.
Theo Modular Shelving HGDA451 from Nuevo Living[/caption]
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Hutch-style desks are maybe the most conspicuous of these incognito, multi-purpose office desks, but they're a solid option if you need more than the bare minimum of desk space, particularly if you're working with a desktop computer or a larger monitor or tablet. My favorites are part of modular sets that let you decorate the rest of your living space with coordinating shelves, cabinets, stands, and so on, and are essentially wide desk surfaces topped with one or more shelves.
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Aosta Display Desk in Tobacco 81AMC49 from Manhattan Comfort[/caption]
If you're looking to upgrade to a standing desk, hutch-style desks are often designed with work surfaces that are either height-adjustable or designed to be used while standing. Admittedly these can look a little odd on their own (especially ones that forego having lower shelves), but you won't have to worry about storing an office chair in your living room and, if experts are to be believed, working while standing is better for you anyway.
Having a home office in one of the public areas of your home doesn't have to be an eyesore. Adding even a few extra books or decorative elements can make a bigger difference than you think, and if you spend some time looking, you can find desks that will really feel like a natural part of your living space.
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A double adjustable floor reading lamp like this is a good basic. Sleek and shiny.
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Pick this LED floor lamp version for energy conservation. Great bright light, less energy draw, long-lasting. Hard to say no to those arguments.
[caption id="attachment_1997" align="aligncenter" width="169" caption="Style where you need it."]
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A classier option is this swing arm floor lamp with traditional styling. Swivel the shade where you need more light, or eek out a little extra room to work with a slanted ceiling.
[caption id="attachment_1998" align="aligncenter" width="298" caption="And now for something completely different."]
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I didn't expect anything like this adjustable arc floor lamp. People will think you swiped it from an art museum.
[caption id="attachment_2006" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="The souped-up model."]
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This adjustable table lamp comes with extras: a tray table and a full range dimmer dial. Just crank it up or down to the height you want and leave the lights on before putting precious valuables on it.
For Those Flat Surfaces
Desk lamps and table lamps so cool you won't mind moving your other junk.
[caption id="attachment_2004" align="aligncenter" width="197" caption="Beam it up, Scotty."]
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The unique spherical Blink desk lamp slides all the way up and down the base. The shade tilts, too. Looks like an 8 ball, but don't shake it or your fortune will be buying a new one.
[caption id="attachment_2005" align="aligncenter" width="146" caption="What a real techie needs."]
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Technic adjustable desk lamps are all dressed up in their work gear and ready to fill your orders.
[caption id="attachment_2002" align="aligncenter" width="266" caption="How low can you go?"]
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Hard to go wrong with a clean-lined contemporary table lamp. Especially when it does the limbo for you. Choose where you need to focus the light intense in your face or a more distant glow.
[caption id="attachment_2001" align="aligncenter" width="265" caption="LED lamps look and act better."]
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Stylish and energy efficient LED clip-on lamp. Save some of those cute little energy sparks from extinction.
[caption id="attachment_2007" align="aligncenter" width="307" caption="No good metaphors for this desk lamp. Just love."]
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My perfect solution? An Adesso reach lamp with a long bulb, rotating arm, and adjustable pole. It's a little pricey but it has all the options I could want. And it looks kinda space agey and a little Oriental. My favorites.
Enjoy your new grownup lighting- and how much better everything else looks in it!...
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Of course, because replicas are made of the same solid hard wood material as real antiques, and because so much attention and detail goes into carving them, they're a little pricier than your average pre-fab, particle board and laminate desks. But even with a higher price tag than your average Wal-Mart desk, antique replicas are much, much less expensive than the real thing. An authentic version of this Drop Top Desk, for example, could easily set you back tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on the condition, period, and craftsman.
[caption id="attachment_4002" align="aligncenter" width="318" caption="Knob Hill Flip Secretary Desk"]
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Whether you decide to go with the real deal or a replica, there are a few things you need to consider before buying an antique desk. First, "antique" is a pretty huge blanket term. Really, it just means "old" - or "older than 'retro.'" Mostly, when look for an "antique desk" you'll be getting a lot of 1800s-ish American pieces like this Flip Secretary Desk.
[caption id="attachment_4001" align="aligncenter" width="315" caption="Italian English Style Kidney Desk"]
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But there are also a lot of lovely European pieces (mostly from the 1700s to the turn of the 20th Century), like this gorgeous Italian Style Desk.
[caption id="attachment_4006" align="aligncenter" width="361" caption="Solid Wood Writing Desk with Two Drawers Slide Out Keyboard Tray"]
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Maybe the most important thing to keep in mind while in the market for an antique desk is that they were designed in a different time. This might seem silly and obvious, but the historical context - and by extension, the needs of the owner of the desk - which dictate the design, are entirely different from yours. Put simply, you could get Thomas Jefferson's desk... but it might not have a good place to put your laptop. In this light, there are plenty of desks like this Solid Wood Writing Desk that are tweaked a little in design to make them friendlier to modern needs, but by and large, keep in mind that authentic antiques or exact replicas might need a little creativity to be really functional.
[caption id="attachment_4005" align="aligncenter" width="248" caption="Secretary Desk in Cherry"]
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In that same vein, many antiques are designed to be multi-purposed. This gorgeous Secretary Desk, for example, is equal parts desk and bureau, with tons of storage space, a fold-out desktop, and tons of interior hidey holes, but not, as you can see, a whole lot of legroom.
[caption id="attachment_4004" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Private Retreat Large Desk"]
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As I said, antique desks were designed for another time, which means that an authentic writing desk should come with a leather top - to ensure the tip of your quill doesn't poke through the paper you're trying to write on - which looks really classy and elegant, but could be a little rough on your laptop if it runs hot (and tough on the leather, too!). This is one case where less authentic might be a better choice - a Large Antique Desk without a leather top can look just as elegant (a must-have for a law office!) and a lot more functional.
[caption id="attachment_4003" align="aligncenter" width="270" caption="Ladies Writing Desk or Vanity Table in Cherry Finish"]
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Antique desks that aren't either large, many-drawered centerpieces or thin, long-legged, leather-topped writing desks, tend to be a little on the small side. A Ladies Writing Desk, especially, can be extremely petite, as they were originally intended for writing letters, with minimal storage or room for much else, as letter writing was the high-speed form of communication at the time, and the desks weren't used for much else.
[caption id="attachment_3999" align="aligncenter" width="256" caption="Wood Writing Desk in Cherry Finish"]
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Ultimately, whether you want something compact and multifunctional like this Wood Writing Desk to add a touch of elegance to your home, or a huge, sprawling desk to make a lasting impression on your clients at the office, replica antiques are a great, relatively reasonably priced way to add that special something to a room. Just make sure before you buy that you know the limitations of the piece you're choosing. If you want your desk to be functional rather than merely decorative, figure out what you're going to need to have on it (laptop, or monitor, keyboard, mouse, somewhere to put your desktop, etc) and where all your cords are going to go BEFORE you buy, so you don't end up with a ton of cords and nowhere to hide them.
Personally, if I were going to get an antique writing desk, I think I'd only use it for its original intended purpose - writing! Then again, someone would have to pry my laptop out of my hands, first. What about you? What are you looking for in an antique - does the style outweigh the nuisance of modern wiring? Let me know in the comments!...
Height Adjustable Cherry Laptop Computer Desk From Flash Furniture[/caption]
Laptop desks are ideal for more casual computer users for a couple of reasons, but maybe the most important one is that they're small. Even a petite desk for a desktop computer is a pretty hefty piece of furniture, and in a house where everyone has one (or two, or three) devices, that might be more space than you want to share. One solution is having a shared family computer, but this option is less appealing the more connected we become. Ultra compact laptop desks offer the ergonomics of a full sized desk but do it in a much, much smaller space, making it possible for everyone in the family to have their own.
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Height Adjustable Mobile Laptop Computer Desk With Black Top From Flash Furniture[/caption]
Most devices these days are designed to be free-roaming: laptops, notebooks, tablets, and e-readers are all meant to be portable and used on the move. Where desktops are fairly well tethered, a good laptop with a decent battery life can be used almost anywhere. Laptop desks reflect this key difference, and are lightweight and almost always equipped with wheels. That means they can be picked up, carried, rolled, or adjusted as easily as the laptop itself, making anywhere you choose to sit (or stand) and work a viable "home office."
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Angle And Height Adjustable Mobile Laptop Computer Table From Flash Furniture[/caption]
But desks aren't just something to set your computer on - they're designed to keep your body in the right posture - something that smartphones, tablets, e-readers, and even laptops are notoriously bad about. Because the screen and keyboard are so close together (or even one in the same) these smaller devices encourage you to curl up around and hunch over them, which can slouch your back and put a crick in your neck. Laptop desks, while petite, will at least keep your laptop at a comfortable, usable height. Many are even adjustable - vertically to match the height of the chair you're sitting in, and also the angle of the main desk or mouse area so you can get your screen, keyboard, and mouse at angles that are comfortable for your wrists and neck.
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Laptop Computer Desk With Silk Black Tempered Glass Top From Flash Furniture[/caption]
This portable, adjustable setup allows you to turn almost any part of your home into a usable workstation, whether it's your sofa, an arm chair, office chair, or just-a-chair chair. What I especially like about laptop desks is that you can keep everything you're working with all together. If you set up a laptop on the dining table or even just on the sofa, if you want to move, you have to move the laptop, the cord, the mouse if you're using one, and any other books or paper you might be working with. With a laptop desk, your work won't be interrupted by dinner time. Because everything is neatly contained on a movable desk, you can easily roll your whole setup into another room if you need a little peace and quiet, or just a change of scenery.
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Nicholas Side Table From Nuevo Living[/caption]
If you're in the habit of working or surfing the 'net from your spot on the sofa, laptop desks also make for a functional alternative to a side table. Similar to designer TV trays, these are basically slightly taller side tables that only have legs on one side and an especially wide top. This simple design twist allows you to pull the table top over your lap while you're sitting on the sofa, meaning you can sit comfortably while keeping your laptop directly in front of you and out of your lap. When you aren't using it, just push it back into place beside the sofa. This is also great for tablets and e-readers if you want to keep a cup of coffee or some snacks close at hand while you're cuddled up under some blankets.
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Angle Adjustable Laptop Computer Table With Natural Top From Flash Furniture[/caption]
All that said, the biggest problem with using a laptop while lounging - either on the sofa or in bed - isn't your posture, it's that setting a laptop on your lap or blankets restricts the flow of air, which can cause the laptop to become very, very hot. This isn't good for your laptop, and it doesn't feel too great on your lap, either. But if you really want to recline rather than sitting at strict 90 degree angles, consider investing in a laptop tray instead of a laptop desk. These are often incredibly inexpensive - they can cost as little as about $20 - and resemble old fashioned breakfast trays. They keep your laptop just slightly elevated, promoting air flow (some even have built in fans for cooling), and often have an adjustable tilt so you can adjust the screen, keyboard, and mouse to comfortable angles no matter what position you're lying in.
How would you use a laptop desk? To give everyone in the house a place to work, to turn your sofa into an internet haven, or something else entirely? Let me know in the comments!...