Above: I love the workspace solution in this apartment from Homepolish. A wall-mounted console that runs the length of the room serves as both desk and display space and provides a generous work area. As occasional chair double double duty as a desk chair and extra seating for guests.

(Image credit: Flodeau)

A demilune or hall table can make a nice small desk or laptop table, and doesn't take up too much space. You could place one in your entryway, behind the sofa, or on a blank wall, move a chair up to it when necessary, and have it serve as a console table the rest of the time. Image from Flodeau.

(Image credit: Design*Sponge)

Try a small desk next to the sofa in place of an end table, as seen on Design*Sponge.

(Image credit: Stadshem)

A wall mounted desk boils a desk down to its very essence: a flat work surface. No legs, no drawers, no back, no nonsense, so you save lots of space. Here's a wall mounted desk that fits neatly into a corner in a space from SF Girl by Bay.

(Image credit: Lovely Life)

Here's a wall mounted desk that tucks neatly into a nook in a bedroom, with shelves for storage above. Image from Lovely Life.

(Image credit: Resource Furniture)

If even a wall mounted desk takes up too much space, try a design that folds into the wall when not in use, like this desk from Resource Furniture. Amazon has one that even has a little bit of storage inside, or there's this wall mounted table from IKEA.

(Image credit: Style Mutt Home )

In this D.C. apartment, the sill of a high window projects into the room and serves as a desk.

(Image credit: Kate Collins Interiors)

Or use a small desk in place of a nightstand, as seen on Kate Collins Interiors.