Are Kitchen Desks Outdated?

The Truth About Kitchen Desks

A kitchen desk was once the most useful place to install one—sometimes, the only—landline phone in a home. Homeowners and family members could sit down and take notes while they were on a call. 

However, the advent of smartphones, tablets, and other devices meant that anyone could stay connected ever needing a landline. Household members could also find new recipes or access digital scans of family recipes just by reaching into their pocket. 

With these gradual changes, kitchen desks went from being a design staple to an outdated trend. Now, a desk in a kitchen just collects clutter like bills, forms, and miscellaneous tools.

Ways to Replace or Repurpose Your Kitchen Desk Area

If you have a kitchen desk and it's time for a change, here are some ways to update the area so that it fits in with the style and feel of your new kitchen.

Transform the Space into a Mini-Mudroom

Kitchen exit doors are used more frequently than front doors in many homes, which means that coats, gloves, and bags are often left draped over the desktop.

Why not just make the transition official by transforming the kitchen desk area into a small mudroom? Remove the desktop and replace it with a bench. Then, hang sturdy hooks on the walls and add drawers or baskets for gloves, socks, and boots.

Install a Charging Station and Utilities Hub

Use a device organizer to create a charging station for all the portable devices you and your family have scattered throughout your home. Consider getting extra cords for the devices that your family and guests use most often so the space stays useful for everyone.

Hide Your Trash and Recycling

If your kitchen doesn’t already have space in the pantry to hide a trash can and recycling bin, the kitchen desk area would make a great substitute. You could keep the desktop and add a pull-out drawer with a door that matches your other kitchen cabinets.

Add a Dry Bar to Your Kitchen

Imagine having a dedicated countertop to open a bottle of wine or fix your favorite cup of coffee. More and more homeowners have converted their kitchen desks into a dry bar where they can make coffee to wake up in the morning or pour a glass of wine to wind down at the end of the day.

Short-Term Rentals: Create a Cozy, Themed Space for Your Welcome Binder

Investors or homeowners who plan to rent out their homes and need to market it with a relaxing theme—like a beach house or a rustic cottage—can leave the kitchen desk area intact and decorate it according to the theme. 

For a beach house, the décor could include shells and sea glass. A cozy cottage kitchen desk could be decorated with handwritten recipe cards, vintage cookbooks, or herbs and flowers. 

The renovated kitchen desk area can be used as a charming welcome table with a binder that contains your Wi-Fi password and a list of house rules.

Save on Your Remodel by Refinishing the Kitchen Desk Cabinetry

If you’re considering remodeling plans that involve keeping your kitchen desk intact, you can save money on your kitchen remodeling costs with cabinet refinishing. 

Professional cabinet refinishing lets you keep your cabinets’ structure and style while giving your kitchen a “like-new” look with minor repairs and a new cabinet color. With cabinet refinishing, you get a smoother, longer-lasting finish than if you repainted or re-stained the cabinets yourself.

Our team at Oceanside Painting & Refinishing has been helping New Jersey homeowners and investors refresh the look of their kitchens since 1999. We’d be happy to answer any of your questions and offer you a free estimate for our cabinet refinishing services. 

Call Oceanside Painting & Refinishing today at 732-818-0092 or fill out the quick form below for a free estimate!