I finally found a desk that fits in my one-bedroom apartment, and it folds up in seconds

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I haven't gone to an office in five and a half years. While I easily adapted to the work-from-home lifestyle, the one key ingredient missing from my workday was something that may shock you: I didn't have a desk for a solid two years.

For those first couple of years, I either set up shop at my kitchen table or settled into the overstuffed armchair in my living room. As a freelance writer specializing in home and furniture products, I know this may seem a little, well, unorthodox. But I thought I had it pretty good, and I'd figured out the whole work-from-home thing to a T. Then, three years ago, I suffered from an intensely awful bout of sciatica where I couldn't sit for more than 10 seconds without screaming pain going into my left hip and thigh. The culprit? Slouching on my armchair and crushing my sciatic nerve instead of sitting upright at a desk.

Thankfully, the sciatica only lasted for one excruciating month. I knew I had to make a change, but living in a one-bedroom apartment, figuring out how to incorporate a desk into the space seemed challenging. While I know many people who have and love their standing desks, I prefer to sit down, since I suffered a pretty bad ankle break almost a decade ago that prohibits me from standing for long periods of time. I knew I needed a more supportive situation for my back and hips, so a sitting desk was the answer for me. I definitely wanted a desk that looked as good as it would make me feel sitting at it. And then, while searching desks on Amazon one day, I came across the Wohomo Faux Marble Folding Desk. Voilà! Problem solved. This desk quickly became one of my most prized possessions.

Our review of the Wohomo Faux Marble Folding Desk

I'm always getting compliments on this desk's chic design

I wanted my new desk to be as stylish as it was easy to assemble. I didn't want to set it up in my bedroom, since I'm a firm believer in the bedroom being only for sleep and relaxation. It also didn't help that at the time, I had extremely loud neighbors who listened to their TV and music at top volume in the bedroom, so working in there was definitely not an option. Since the desk would be a focal point in my living room, it was imperative that it wasn't an eyesore. First of all, I love the design. I went for white and gold, which features a faux marble desktop and gleaming, golden metal legs — it adds such a chic, glamorous touch to my space. The desk comes in a variety of other colors and finishes, too (six additional ones, to be exact), including beige with white legs, solid black wood, brown wood with black metal legs, gray wash wood with black legs, marbled gray with black legs, and solid white wood.

I placed my desk right in the center of my bay window, and my neighbors have all commented on how cute it is when they walk by. And, yes, I've also heard some references to Carrie Bradshaw.

Although I planned on keeping the desk set up in my window most of the time, I also wanted to be able to move it out of the way if needed. Because the legs fold in at the sides, that couldn't be easier. It's also compact enough that I can slide it behind my chair or couch without anyone being the wiser. I'll admit that I don't really do this very often, since I ended up loving the way it looks in my living room, but it is nice to have the option.

It's easy to assemble and folds up in seconds

I honestly couldn't be happier with how quickly I adjusted to having this foldable desk in my living room. I thought I would hate looking at it in my window and would fold it up at the conclusion of each workday. It's almost ridiculously easy to fold up — all you have to do is bend in each leg. Instead, I actually ended up leaving it in its place about 99% of the time. Its small size is unobtrusive, and the design brings me joy. It's also a fact of life that people with one-bedroom apartments need to put their desks somewhere, so I just decided this was where it would be. The only times I've decided to fold it up are when I have guests visiting and need the extra space for their items; otherwise, I leave it in its place by the window.

The setup was incredibly simple, too. The desktop and the two legs, along with some screws, were inside the box. All you need to do is screw each leg into the desktop with the included Allen wrench, unfold them from underneath the desk, and lock them into place. The entire setup took less than 10 minutes and was completely painless. Done and done!

Even though the desk is on the smaller side, it's exactly the right size for me. I have a 14-inch laptop, and it fits perfectly on the faux marble top. I prefer not to use an extra screen, so the laptop isn't crowded for space. I've even been able to decorate it with a few knickknacks, one of my favorite crystals, and bottles of hand cream and lip balm.

It's the perfect size for my small apartment

It was also important to me that the desk not be overly large. My living room isn't small, but I needed a desk that would be big enough for my laptop but not too imposing. It sits between my front door and my armchair, so there was literally a small window of space for it to occupy. Since it's only 31 inches long and a little under 16 inches deep, it truly doesn't feel like it's taken over my space.

I sit at this desk every time I write, which can be in short bursts or several hours at a time. This desk is definitely a great choice for smaller spaces since it doesn't crowd the rest of my living room. During a recent visit with my mom, she sat on my couch while I worked, and we still both felt like we had enough distance between us.

For under $70, it's a total steal

This foldable desk has served me well over the past few years. It's under $70, which I think is an excellent deal on a piece of furniture I use almost daily. I definitely think the price is worth the overall value, too. It's stayed in one piece without any cracking or breaking, and it holds my laptop without any fear of buckling. It's also very easy to clean with a Clorox wipe.

It's also worth mentioning that my sciatica has not returned in the past three years. Having a desk has helped me change my daily habits for the better. Instead of slouching in an armchair or over my kitchen table and crunching up my spine, now I sit fully upright in an office chair in front of my desk. My body feels so much better, and I can't really put a price on how important that has been to me.

Cons to consider

Truthfully, it's tough for me to find cons with the Wohomo Faux Marble Folding Desk. That said, it may be a bit wobbly. It has a weight capacity of 200 pounds, and I only keep about five pounds max of items on top of it. I'm honestly not sure if it's because my apartment is a bit slanted or because the desk itself is uneven, but I needed to attach a felt pad to the bottom of one leg to balance it out.

Additionally, the legs sometimes fold in a bit while I'm working, causing the desk to squeak a bit. Whenever that happens, I just make sure to push the legs out a bit, and the squeaking goes away.

The bottom line

So, I know what you're asking. Is the Wohomo Folding Desk actually worth purchasing? As a writer who never owned a desk before this one (gasp!), I'll confirm this with an enthusiastic YES. I wholeheartedly recommend it for anyone who wants a small yet sturdy desk that won't be overly obtrusive, even in a smaller apartment. Plus, its glamorous design makes it a piece of interest within your space. It's a convenient, easily assembled piece of furniture that isn't too expensive.