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Posted: 2022-10-17T09:45:25Z | Updated: 2022-10-17T09:45:25Z These Are The Best Lap Desks For Working In Bed | HuffPost Life

These Are The Best Lap Desks For Working In Bed

Genius and comfortable surfaces perfect for work, reading, eating or watching TV.
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Michaels, 2Modern, Amazon
A plastic activity desk , a modern overlay desk made from wood and a padded lap desk .

The pandemic  turned a chunk of the workforce into at-home employees who were suddenly required to turn their dining room tables into desks and spare bedrooms into offices — and two years later, remote and hybrid work is still common. I’ve declined traditional work-from-home spaces and opted to conduct business from the comfort of my bed, propped up on pillows and still in my pajamas. 

 

Incorporating a lap desk has actually made me more productive by providing the illusion of a professional work space and has even made working in bed more comfortable (as if that was possible) since I’m no longer hunching over to see my computer screen. 

 

I’m fully aware that this may be a simple luxury that not everyone can or wants to indulge in. That said, I’ve found many uses for my portable work space beyond just working from home, or in my bed for that matter. Whether you’re a dedicated remote person, enjoy eating from a breakfast tray once in a while or just want some lap activity space, you’re going to want to browse the following list of the internet’s smartest lap desks and tables. 

 

HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently selected by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change.

1
Etsy/SoCalCustomWorks
An adjustable table with built in desk fans
This tilt-top table, hand-constructed from bamboo, can adjust to four different angles and varying heights, while the side surface remains stable to hold beverages or writing utensils. Its best feature might be the two built-in USB-powered fans that can help prevent your laptop from overheating or quickly cool it down once it does.
2
Etsy/ValiaiDesign
A ventilated computer table
Handmade from oak and available in three wood finishes, this elevated computer table can prevent your laptop from overheating thanks to the ventilated surface design.
3
A media stand breakfast table
Enjoy a Sunday breakfast in bed or comfortably conduct a business meeting with this highly rated breakfast table complete with a back slot for propping up your electronics and a lower front edge to make typing easier.
4
A portable lap table with removable padding
This simply designed lap table features a removable bottom cushion with an anti-tangle cord organizer stitched into the side and an ergonomic front end that fits against your body.
5
A small adjustable desk
This compact tray table adjusts to eight angles that lock into place while a bottom lip secures whatever is resting on the surface. For comfort and added stability, there are two over-stuffed bolster cushions built into the base.
6
A 6-in-1 collapsible work space
This versatile fiberglass work surface uses built-in frame magnets to securely position itself in three different modes and three adjustable heights. When not in use, this lightweight desk folds completely flat so it can be easily transported or seamlessly stored.
7
Bed Bath & Beyond
A vented wood lap table
Built with multiple slots to prop up tablets or books, this wood desk also has two integrated felt mouse pads and a vented center section to prevent your laptop from overheating.
8
An over-bed sliding draft table
Set on securable casters, this versatile workspace made from wood measures just over 70 inches so it can easily be moved over a bed or against a wall when not in use. There's also an adjustable tabletop section that can that can tilt up to 75 degrees.
9
A large adjustable laptop table
Ergonomically designed and multifunctional, this laptop table is covered in non-slip leather and has ample surface space to accommodate laptops, tablets, mousepads and paperwork all at once. It even has a removable book stand in the back, as well as slots for a tablet or phone. The sled legs make this a sturdy workspace and it can easily adjust to five different heights and angles to meet your work needs.
10
Pottery Barn Teen
A sherpa storage desk with a built-in charger
This sherpa-accented fitted lap desk opens to a roomy interior with two organizational compartments for storage and, when closed, provides a roomy work space. There are three different charging ports located at the padded base to keep your gadgets running, and the work surface can adjust to three different heights.
11
Bed Bath & Beyond
A plush lap desk by Ugg
Ugg's compact and comfy lap space has a padded faux-rabbit fur base and a sturdy durable bamboo top.
12
A plastic activity desk
This elevated activity desk sits above your lap and has three deep compartments for holding pens, papers and whatever else you may need. You can grab this in seven different colors.
13
A sleek and modern wood overlap desk
Created by Eric Pfeiffer, a furniture designer with an appreciation for molded plywood, this minimalist overlap desk offers a spacious working surface, an open side storage space to keep all of your important documents and notes within reach and a no-slip corked surface for beverages.
14
A woodgrain desk with leg and wrist padding
Perfect for using with your laptop, as a work stand or for watching TV on your tablet, this lap desk features two different slots to hold your gadgets and dual underside cushions to make it more comfortable to rest on your lap. There's also an integrated mousepad and added wrist support.

Before You Go

26 Things People Who Work From Home Have Called "Must-Haves"
A 24-inch budget-friendly monitor(01 of26)
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It features a 75Hz refresh rate with 1080p resolution, making it suitable for casual gaming too. It has two HDMI ports be sure to pick up a USB-C hub if you're planning to connect a MacBook (I've used this one for years and like it).

Promising review: "Just set this monitor up, and so far its earned all five stars! It was easy to assemble, its compatible with my MacBook Pro (with a USB-C adapter), and the picture is great! I just wanted another monitor for when I work from home, so having something available that was affordable like this was perfect for what I needed." Allison H.
(credit:www.amazon.com)
Or a portable monitor if you still need a second screen(02 of26)
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This is perfect if you like to take your work to the local coffee shop on nice days.

The Lepow Z1-Gamut is a 15.6-inch IPS monitor with a mini HDMI port, a USB-C port, dual speakers, and a higher color gamut (basically, more vivid visuals). At 1080p and 60Hz, it's not a bad option for casual gaming in your off hours either (many reviewers are using it with their Nintendo Switch). It's also available in 14-inch model.

Promising review: "I purchased this portable monitor to help with working at home since I'm unable to take home one of my work monitor. I'm beyond happy with the quality of the monitor. Truly the quality between my laptop and the portable monitor is beyond similar. It's def a must buy for anyone working from home. I'm also excited to use this product when we are allowed to travel again. I will be able work with two monitors at any hotel or airport." Monique
(credit:www.amazon.com)
A slim laptop stand that'll bring your laptop closer to eye level(03 of26)
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This stand fits any laptop from 10 to 15.6 inches and can be disassembled into three parts for easy transportation. It's available in 10 colors.

Promising review: "This product came very quick, was easy to assemble, and its very sturdy. I cant believe it took me as long as it did to purchase a laptop stand as Ive been working from home since October. It makes a big difference in my comfort sitting at my desk for eight hours. I have two screens, so I needed my laptop to be elevated so I dont slump over. Hands down, an absolute must for the home office." Amazon customer
(credit:www.amazon.com)
A chic waterproof desk mat(04 of26)
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It's available in eight color combinations and three sizes.

Promising review:
"Must-have for teleworkers! This mat is the perfect size and protects my chalk-painted desk. It eliminates the need for an additional mouse pad due to the smooth surface.I love that it is reversible with a shimmery aqua color on one side and a soft silvery color on the other. The stitching around the edges appears strong and even. Im very happy with this purchase for my current teleworking!" Elizabeth S. James
(credit:www.amazon.com)
A keyboard cleaning gel(05 of26)
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Promising review: "Working from home like a lot of people I eat at my desk. Crumbs were getting everywhere. Plus my cat loved to lay on my keyboard if I was using my laptop. [This gel] does such a great job of getting fur and crumbs up. I used a little bit at first because some of the reviews were saying it was sticking. But I didn't have that problem at all. It only now it's sticking to my keyboard and hands more. But that makes sense it's just a glob if junk. So much better than an air can. A must-have for all office desks." Ashley (credit:Amazon)
A six-outlet wall charger and surge protector that doubles as a night-light(06 of26)
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Promising review: "Work from home must-have. I work from home so I have a lot of items plugged in to the two nearest outlets. This six-outlet with the two USB ports and night light is awesome! Shouldve bought another for the other wall!" Megan H. (credit:Amazon)
A Wi-Fi extender if your internet connection is shaky(07 of26)
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Promising review: "Work-from-home must-have! Wanted to move my WFH setup to another room without running an Ethernet cable across the entire house...this worked perfectly! Set up in less than 10 minutes and no issues with speed or connectivity." Brigit Edwards (credit:www.amazon.com)
A pair of blue light-blocking glasses(08 of26)
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They're available in 13 color combos.

Promising review:
"I have been needing some blue light-blocking glasses due to the increase in the amount of time I am spending online when working at home. I love the style of these two frames: They are trendy, lightweight, and comfortable. I have gotten a few compliments on them when on Zoom meetings! A must-buy. I definitely have noticed less eye strain for sure!" carabetha
(credit:www.amazon.com)
A memory foam gel pad to provide ergonomic support for your wrists(09 of26)
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It comes in two pieces one you can prop in front of your keyboard, and the other in front of your mouse. It's available in 13 colors.

Promising review: "Must-have for working from home. Before covid, I had a similar set at my desk. After over one and a half years of working from home, I started to get wrist pain on the tops of my wrists and realized it was because I wasn't using a similar support. These have already helped alleviate some of the discomfort and will hopefully eliminate it entirely over time. Highly recommend if you're also working from home!" Tammylynn130
(credit:www.amazon.com)
An adjustable foam footrest for placing under your desk(10 of26)
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I've been using this particular footrest for well over a year now, and I can say I didn't realize how uncomfortable I was while sitting until I had this. I'm 5' 3" and use the full height of this footrest to ensure my feet are completely supported, but you can remove the bottom part to adjust the height if needed. The velvety cover also comes off and can be tossed in the washing machine for easy cleaning.

Promising review: "Excellent product, really improves my home office setup. Great footrest, stays put and is very comfortable without being squishy like a pillow, which would just be annoying. Material is durable and does not absorb odors (NYC air is often stinky). Most important, it doesn't make my feet hot, even in the summer. Awesome product, a must-have especially when the coronavirus has made it necessary for many folks to work from home." SophiaD
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A Bluetooth speakerphone if you're still relying on your laptop speakers for video calls(11 of26)
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You can also use this as a regular speaker for music and podcasts and the like, and hook it up using an AUX cord or an included dongle. Conveniently, it also has a button to mute and unmute yourself, so if you're using different video platforms (or your kid is online learning) it's easy to just mute yourself manually if you can't find the button right away on the screen.

It's available in three colors.

Promising reviews: "A must-have for remote work. My remote working experience just got 1,000 times better. This little speaker was just what I needed to reduce background noise and make meetings more effective." Cheryl
(credit:www.amazon.com)
A sturdy phone holder(12 of26)
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This holder has grippy pads on the bottom so it doesn't slide around or scratch your desk! It's available in 8 colors.

Promising reviews: "A WFH must-have. This phone stand is wonderful to have on my desk while working from home. It would make a great stocking stuffer, too!" Audrey McDonald
(credit:Amazon)
A Rocketbook smart reusable notebook(13 of26)
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It's available in two styles and 10 colors and patterns.

Promising review:
"My new work-from-home must-have. I am a big fan of handwriting notes. I have tried a few digital note taking solutions with the Apple Pencil, but it never felt 100%. This notebook bridges that gap. This notebook has been perfect to keep aside my keyboard to jot notes, to-dos, and reminders that I can then easily import to apps to track if I havent completed them by the end of the day. If you are a note-taker, I highly recommend you pick one up. I am already eyeing up the planner version." Jonathan B. Fischer
(credit:www.amazon.com)
A super lightweight ergonomic lap desk(14 of26)
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Promising review: "This product is a must-have for anyone who works from home and needs to switch up from being at the desk and sit on the couch. Ergonomically perfect, stable, and makes working on a laptop of iPad significantly easier." Michael DeLuca (credit:www.amazon.com)
Or a bigger, adjustable laptop tray table that folds up when not in use(15 of26)
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This can be used as a standing desk or as a table while working from bed. It offers plenty of space for a large laptop, a notebook, an iPad and phone (thanks to the tray at the top), along with small items like pens and glasses thanks to the side drawer. It can be set to five different heights and four different angles, so you can really customize it to your comfort. It's available in four colors.

Promising review: "I hate how much I love this. I didn't own a desk and now work primarily from home so this desk has become a must-have. It is very sturdy and I feel like I'm swimming in space underneath it. The top has some kind of pseudo leather and is anti-slip so I don't loose everything and it has cool inserts that help things from falling if I set it at an angle. Puts the fun in Functional." TweedleDumsTwin
(credit:www.amazon.com)
An electric mug warmer for coffee or tea(16 of26)
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Tip: Reviewers suggest turning the heat down from high to medium once your drink gets down to about the halfway point so it stays a comfortable temperature. It's available in eight styles.

Promising reviews: "This is a work from home must-have!!!! Drink stays hot until the very last drop. Highly recommend." Gigi
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A selfie ring light for all your virtual meetings(17 of26)
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You can either use this with your phone mounted just under the light for FaceTime, or if you're calling or filming from a laptop, you can set up the tripod or the light on your desk behind the screen. Boom: fancy lighting.

Promising review: "All around great item and great price! Provides great, easily adjustable light at three different color temps. Must-have for the working from home professional or DIY vlogger." iluvstuff
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An adjustable standing desk converter(18 of26)
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Reviewers say it's sturdy, assembles in minutes, and has worked wonders for both their back pain and productivity. It's available in four sizes and in three colors.

Promising reviews: "Working from home, having a standing desk is critical. I can work more easily without always sitting. I can hug family as they leave for the day without losing work and just turning around. I can keep my cat off my keyboard during meetings. If I am starting to drift off or lose concentration, I can stand and stretch. It forces me to organize my desk (moving it up and then down, I have to keep it clean and clear). It has been pretty wonderful." Angelfishu
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Or a sleek and beautiful electric standing desk(19 of26)
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It's available in four colors and with a wood or glass top.

Promising review
: "LOVE this desk. Super easy to assemble, and the built-in drawer keeps things so tidy. I like the child safety lock, too. It took a few weeks to arrive but was very well-packaged. The quality blows me away. Before the pandemic, I worked at various offices with all different kinds of stand-up desks, and this one by far is the most versatile and well made. This is a must-have upgrade if you're working from home. Beautiful, functional and the child lock feature makes it safe if kids are around. Can't recommend enough." Brie
(credit:www.amazon.com)
A desktop whiteboard that fits in the space between your monitor and keyboard(20 of26)
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This whiteboard also comes with a dry-erase marker, accessory channel (to hold the marker), and a storage drawer.

Promising review: "This black whiteboard is wonderful! You do need to get some liquid paint markers for it to work; I bought these at the same time and they are wonderful as well! Once you write on your board and the 'paint' dries, it doesn't wipe off! Only the white pen that came with the board wiped off with my hand. When you need to clean off your board, just use a damp microfiber cloth or just some paper towels and it will come right off. I use this board daily to time block what I am doing and put it behind my keyboard so I can type and see what I'm doing for that hour. A must-have productivity tool for me now! Especially working from home now. Two thumbs way up!" Rose Gold
(credit:www.amazon.com)
A USB-powered cooling pad(21 of26)
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I've had this cooling pad since 2018, though I mainly use it with my personal laptop when I'm playing PC games. The pad itself is super quiet and not distracting, and it does a fantastic job of actively cooling down my now-older laptop while it's working hard to run games, so I can vouch for its effectiveness. It's also fantastic to use while you're working with your laptop on the couch, keeping your legs away from the heat without feeling bulky or heavy. If you're using a MacBook, be sure to pick up a USB-C hub to connect this.

It's available in three colors. There also an RGB version if you want it to light up, which would look pretty cool in the evenings.

Promising review: "Best purchase I have made in years. Only had it two days, but the first words out of my mouth to my wife were, 'I can work for hours like this.' If you work from home and like to work on the couch, recliner, breakfast nook, patio, etc, and you have your computer in your lap, this is an absolute must-have. Not only does it keep your legs and lap cool, but it also keeps your computer cool and able to process much more efficiently." Trent Thiel
(credit:www.amazon.com)
An adjustable mesh desk chair(22 of26)
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Promising review: This chair is amazingly comfortable. Especially with the lumbar pillow I received from the seller. I was in desperate need of a new chair, and this chair meet my need. I love it! Definitely a must-have for your home office." LNG (credit:www.amazon.com)
memory foam lumbar pillow(23 of26)
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I've had this exact lumbar support pillow since 2018, back when I was still working in an office, and I can't express enough how much it's improved my posture and reduced back pain after long hours of sitting. I initially got it because I was stuck working in one of those awful office chairs with zero lower back support, and years later, I still use it at home, even though I have one of those fancy gaming chairs with built-in adjustable lumbar support, simply because I prefer how soft and comfortable this pillow is. It fills the curve of your spine perfectly, and you can adjust the positioning as needed, with straps that go around the back of your chair to hold it steady. I personally use it in conjunction with the ErgoFoam footrest above, and I never have back pain after working anymore.

It comes in five colors.

Promising review: "Must-have now that we work from home. My wife and I are on our office chairs around eight hours a day and these have helped completely eliminate back pain. The cushion has kept its original form after three months too. Great product." Lad
(credit:www.amazon.com)
A memory foam chair cushion from the same brand(24 of26)
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Promising review: "Well-made seat cushion with the added benefit of a cutout where your tail bone rests to aid in sciatica situations. A must-have for people suddenly working from home who miss their great office chair." J. Snodgrass (credit:www.amazon.com)
Or an ergonomic exercise ball chair(25 of26)
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It comes in seven colors.

Promising review: "Best home and professional office chair you will ever own. I am not coordinated enough to sit on a yoga ball without the base. This chair is wonderful. Ergonomically customizable (by inflating/deflating) for any work station. I had I bought for work and another at home. I recently switched jobs and took my one in from home for the front desk window as we share coverage. All my co-workers love it! At my previous job, 90% of my co-workers with desk jobs purchased one for their work stations as well. What I love most, as I am petite and have lower back damage, is that this type of desk chair never puts pressure on the nerves in your leg. It is a must try." SJCJ
(credit:Amazon)
An LED desk lamp that's easy on the eyes(26 of26)
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It also has a touch sensor and memory function to store your preferred brightness and color settings in between uses that way it'll automatically return to your custom setting when turned on.

Promising reviews: "A must-have for your desk! This is one of the best lamps I've bought. The style is great. I like how there are different light settings and there's a timer that helps too. it's a sleek lamp that folds up for storage. I like how you can plug it directly into your computer, no messy wires or anything. Definitely a must have for any office. Would buy again!" Julia
(credit:www.amazon.com)

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