Design around depth first
Many small desks are narrow and shallow. Protect monitor distance with an arm, laptop stand, or compact display before filling the width with accessories.
Use the wall but do not trap the desk
Wall-facing layouts save space, but height movement, monitor-arm clearance, outlets, baseboards, and cable trays still need room behind the desktop.
Keep one clear conversion path
If the room changes from bedroom to office each day, decide where the chair, walking pad, and cables go during each mode. A movable desk can help only when this path is planned.
Avoid decorative storage until the core setup works
Shelves, pegboards, risers, and trays can crowd a compact desk. Solve keyboard, mouse, monitor, light, and power first, then add storage for specific recurring items.