Trestle tables have a rich history, as their functionality has always been matched by the potential ease of constructing them from trestle bases and loose boards. From their prominence as dining tables in Medieval times to their gradual evolution into sleek desks used in today’s modern home offices, these eye-catching pieces are undeniably versatile. Today we present a roundup of home office spaces featuring trestle tables as desks. We’ll begin with a few antiques and move right into contemporary pieces. Ready to get started?! [Ava Wood Desk below from Pottery Barn]

Antique Trestle Tables as Desks

For character-filled home offices, an antique table is the perfect solution for a desk! Many trestle tables of the past receive extra reinforcement from a horizontal support, as shown below. [from Griffiths Construction Inc.]

However, some people prefer to have the support at foot level so there’s ample room for legs under the desk. In the next image, we see an antique table in an eclectic home office space from Pacific Peninsula Group:

Some trestle tables forgo the extra support altogether and present an “empty” middle that allows for maximum room and comfort, especially when it comes to smaller desks. In the next image, we see how French antique bases combine with a custom limestone top from a local slab contractor to create the perfect decadent trestle desk. [from Jeannie Balsam LLC, photography by Nick Johnson]

Trestle Desks with Wooden Tops

Fast forward to the present, and we see how trestle tables-turned-desks have become a highly popular design trend. Many of today’s trestle desks have wooden tops, especially desks of the DIY variety. If the top is extra long, you can stash decorative items in the outside areas beyond the supports and leave the middle of the desk free for your computer and work documents. [photo by Matt Craig, from Touch Interiors]

We see the same effect in the trestle desk below, created from IKEA trestle legs and a butcher block top by Cecilies Lykke of Made. [featured at Design Sponge]

Do the trestles of these desks remind you a bit of sawhorses? Hence the name of the Sawhorse Trestle Desk from Restoration Home Baby & Child, a piece inspired by an antique French architect’s table. Perfect for a little one’s room, this desk is available in large or small, and the sawhorse supports can double as shelving:

Wooden trestle desks are perfect for warming up industrial home offices, as shown in the colorful wood, brick and metal workspace below. [from Behr via Houzz]

Trestle desks can be custom made to accommodate more than one person, especially if more than two trestles are used. Below we see a custom desk paired with modern CB2 stools. [photo by Drew Kelly, from Jute Interior Design]

Sleek Modern Trestle Desks

If you’re looking to add a bit of shine to the home office, consider a gleaming trestle table with metal legs or a glass top. Or both! This Mason Glass Top Desk from Williams-Sonoma Home features polished nickel-plated trestle bases:

Slender trestles in polished nickel and a tempered glass top are the materials that merge to create the Glass Cross Base Desk from West Elm, which adds a dash of elegance to this modern eclectic home office space:

Do we notice a theme here? Yes, the metal and glass trestle desk is one of today’s most popular elegant desk options, as shown by the Ava Metal Desk from Pottery Barn. Cross-beam supports create a powerful form that’s rich in geometry and shine. If your home office features neutral tones, this gleaming desk can add interest without overwhelming the room.

For a variation on the desk above, check out the Ava Desk with Drawers, complete with helpful storage, a semigloss white finish, and iron legs coated in polished nickel. This desk looks right at home in the office space below, which features powerful pops of yellow, red and blue as bold accents.

White trestle desks add a clean, crisp element to the home office, and this Campaign Desk in White from Williams-Sonoma Home does not disappoint. High-gloss white lacquer combines with polished nickel hardware for a luxe look that’s also a bit vintage. Add an accent wall in a decadent shade like cobalt blue, and you can enjoy summer all year long at your desk!

Last but not least, we have a rich, dark addition to the home office, thanks to Williams-Sonoma’s Mason Wood Top Desk in Ebony, crafted from maple. The deep tone of the desk is offset by nickel-plated accents. A powerful punch for the modern home office in the next image!

Would you purchase a trestle desk for your home office? If so, are you tempted to go antique, or do you prefer the chic new designs? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below…