Whether at home, in a dorm room, or in an office, your desk is your base of operations and where you should do your best work. Your first glance at the Prepac Floating Desk is one that likely makes you think this is a desk you settle for. Rather than sitting in the center of a space, commanding a room, this desk rests against a wall, nicely out of the way. Maybe it’s good for the kids, but it’s not the desk for you. You might think this, but you’d be wrong. Because the Prepac Floating Desk is actually a fantastic option for a desk and, paired with a set of filing cabinets, could be all the office you need. If you want to save some space or like your workstations out of the way, this desk could be an ideal choice for whatever your needs.

Prepac Furniture Manufacturing is one of the largest furniture manufacturers in North America, specializing in “Ready-to-Assemble” furniture. The company, founded in the 1970s to make particleboard shelving, broke into the Home retail space in 1980. They made their bones offering compartmentalized organizational and hanging furniture. They started with kitchen cabinets and closets, but soon expanded to other furniture like bookshelves and desks. In 2002 the company opened their first showroom to display their various furniture sets.

They followed this up with a permanent showroom at the World Market Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The company has been recognized for the success with numerous award nominations, and they won an Exporter of the Year award in their native British Columbia in 2017. The furniture is similar in quality to many Ikea pieces. While Prepac doesn’t have the retail presence of the Swedish furniture giant, they are certainly a contender in the online space. Prepac is a company to watch.

The Prepac Floating Desk may seem like a product that has only a limited use. Perhaps a bedside desk in a child’s room or a multipurpose desk in a small apartment. However, the simple design of this product means that it’s useful for anyone. From college students to creative artists to household business, this is a space you can make the most of. Despite its appearance, this little desk can actually hold more than you might expect. So, it could work as your main workspace, especially if you work from home. These desks are great for kids, especially since you can adjust the desk’s height as they grow.

It is also a useful piece of furniture for young people or those in small apartments. Not only is it a great space-saver, but the ease with which you can assemble and disassemble it means it can travel with you. With a little care, someone could have the Prepac Floating Desk with them from the time they are little on to college and later on to their homes, maybe even setting it up in their kids’ room.

Without question, the best use for the Prepac Floating Desk is right there in its name. This product makes a fantastic workspace. The lack of “legs” on the desk is surprisingly freeing, making what is a small workspace feel much more open than even larger traditional desks. The perfect size for using a computer with room to spare for documents or school books or a bowl of popcorn. Still, this product is versatile enough that to just use it as a desk would be limiting. There are plenty of other uses for it, inspired by the creative folks who’ve purchased it.

In the above photo from Amazon, one person installed the Prepac Floating Desk, but also added a mirror and lights. Now, instead of a desk their family can primp and preen in front of a large, fancy floating vanity. The desk would also serve as a great entertainment center for all but the widest-screen televisions. Especially in a bedroom or small apartment, this could serve as your entertainment center while keeping the floor underneath free for storage.

Now we know more about this product: who makes it, who it’s for, and how you can use it. The next step is to take a deep dive into the specifics of the product, so you can get a better understanding about how it might meet your needs.

The Prepac Floating Desk, like most of Prepac’s products, comes ready-to-assemble, meaning you have to do some work to put it together. The desk pieces are made from laminated particle board, while the rail-hanging system is made of metal. Done right, this desk is sturdy on the wall. You can also add extra clamps, available at any hardware store, if you want to make sure it’s really tight on the wall. You will need a drill, stud finder, an adjustable wrench, a level, and both Phillips- and flathead screwdrivers.

If you are going to have trouble with this product, it’s likely that here is where it will happen. Almost all of the negative reviews involve broken or missing pieces. Installation is an involved process, so you may want to get some help. Still, it’s important to ensure that the desk is securely attached to the wall before you load it up with your stuff, lest it all come crashing down. 

The Prepac Floating Desk is a space-saver, but it does take up a sizable chunk of real estate on your wall. The desk, when assembled, is 44.5 inches in width, which is just shy of four feet. The depth of the desk is a little under two feet at 22.5 inches. This is plenty of room for typing or writing in a journal, but not so much that it encroaches the space away from the wall. The desk is 39.5 inches tall, however the desk doesn’t “feel” like it takes up that much space on the wall. Thanks to the top shelf and the lack of legs crowding the area on the ground, it actually can make a corner feel more open than it is, according to the reviewers. Despite being a floating desk, this is a heavy piece of furniture. Fully assembled, the Prepac Floating Desk weighs 60 pounds. 

There is a difference, if only psychological, between the specific size of the Prepac Floating Desk and how “big” it is. There are, of course, hard limits on the size. For example, if you were to use this as an entertainment center, you could only put a television on the desk whose legs fit within it’s 44 or so inches of width. For those who use this more traditionally, as a desk or workstation it could easily accommodate two computer monitors. There is plenty of room to work on the desk, so long as it is clear of clutter. To help reduce that, there are compartments lining the side of the desk. There is also a large shelf across the top, though it’s best for more decorative uses than practical. If you keep a cluttered workspace, using this desk could be a challenge. However, it might also help force you to keep things clean and down to the bare essentials.

The last consideration you must make before committing to this product is where to put it. If you were moving, you could disassemble and take this with you. However, it’s not easily movable and you have to drill into the wall in order to secure it properly. Along with ensuring that the wall can hold the desk, you also need to ensure that the space is practical for how you plan to use it. If it is going to be a desk or vanity or something like that, you have to make sure that there is enough space for a chair. If it’s blocking a door or a major throughway it’ll be a source of conflict and annoyance rather than convenience. Think about if you want the desk near a window or in an area free of distraction. Picking the right spot for this is probably half of whether or not you enjoy the product.

Diving into the consumer feedback about the Prepac Floating Desk, it’s clear that the vast majority of them are pleased with it. On Amazon, a full 90 percent of the reviews rate this product four or five stars. Despite the involved process of assembly, many say that putting it together was easier than they thought. They also say it really does save space and looks great in their space. The five percent that give the product a one- or two-star rating are mostly dissatisfied because of missing or broken pieces. Some claim that they have had difficulty in getting those missing or broken pieces replaced.

Ultimately, this is a versatile and useful desk at a lower price point than many comparable pieces. So long as you don’t have the bad luck to get a broken or incomplete product, you should have no problems with this. Still, take great care in ensuring the desk is secure on the wall before you put your devices or anything on it.

By now you should have a sense of whether or not the Prepac Floating Desk would be right for your needs. If you’re still not sure or just want to compare it to other desks, check out these alternatives below. These desks are all, mostly, space-savers with different features. 

If you want a wall mounted desk but just can commit the space the Prepac Floating Desk needs, this is a fair alternative. More limiting as it has to be installed in a corner, it does save space. However, the actual surface area of the desk itself is more limited. While not a great main workstation, it could do the trick if your space is limited. The desk features a large open compartment in the space where it meets the corner. This space is mostly wasted, though could be used for storage if you can get creative. If space is a concern, this should work for you, but you run the risk of being cramped while you work.

This is a smaller, corner desk that still relies on legs rather than mounting on the wall. There is a storage area under the desk and a drawer fit for important papers, a closed laptop, or a keyboard. There are a number of finishes to choose from, so it can match any decor. Either tucked snugly in the corner or a couple of them tucked in the middle of the room, this desk doesn't take up space while it does its job. It has a better surface area than the Southern Enterprises desk but is still great for space-conscious consumers. Made from plywood and laminate, this is a sturdy piece of furniture that can work as a desk or anything else you might want it to be.

This desk isn’t as small as the others mentioned in this article, but it’s not a huge desk either. This seems like the sort of desk that would be at home in the studies of great people throughout history like Benjamin Franklin or Winston Churchill. The unique oval design leaves a small footprint, but there is plenty of room for storage. The Britannia Rose could definitely anchor a room. This cool desk also comes with a cabinet and bookshelf in a matching style so what you need can be close at hand without cluttering your work-space. This is a “big” piece of furniture, but it’s not obtrusive either.

How you ultimately decide to use this product is up to your needs and imagination. If your workspace is small, don't think you have to abandon the hope of having cool desks to work with. This innovative design, which comes in both black and brown, hangs on the wall and won't get in anyone's way. The desk offers a sizable space to work, and there are even small storage areas on the side for supplies or files. Or, it could serve as your wall-mounted entertainment stand, a make-up vanity, or even a display case for your collection of Star Wars toys.

What do you think? Share your thoughts, feelings, and reactions in the comments below. What would you use the Prepac Floating desk for, a desk or as something else? Don’t forget to share this article on social media if you liked it!

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