10 Painted Secretary Desk Ideas That Will Inspire You

The painted secretary desk is my most requested and best-selling item/s. Every time I paint one, I sell it in a blink. My customers can’t get enough, and once you see all the colorful ones that I have painted over the years, you will understand.

A Little Introduction To Vintage Secretary Desks

According to Realtor.com, in the early to mid-20th century, secretary desks were used by actual secretaries of large estates to pay the bills and sort the mail.

Then, they were used by regular homeowners for the same purpose. It’s the first edition of the “bill pay station,” which eventually became a built-in cabinet in the kitchen.

Now, everyone pays their bills online; hence, the secretary cabinets have become a relic from the past. The best part about that is they are super cheap to find on FB Marketplace. The worst part is they require a LOT of work.

Secretary Desks Are Obsolete But Not Useless

In my opinion, a secretary desk or a tall secretary cabinet, as intended to be used initially, is obsolete. The reinvented, redone version is very versatile & your imagination is the limit for its uses.

It is just the perfect size accent piece to add to any room. They can be used as small shelves. Storage on the bottom and display cabinet on the top. Right?

Add a few pictures and knick-knacks, and it’s styled! They are just the right size for small homes or apartments.

1. Benjamin Moore Simply White Secretary Cabinet

This is a simple, clean, timeless look. It is elegant, and it makes a statement. I used Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace for the outside and Benjamin Moore Breath of Fresh Air for the interior as an accent color.

I prefer these simple 3″ round rings for these secretaries. At this point, I almost have a formula. You will see.

You can get the rings here. These are so versatile!

2. Benjamin Moore Marina Gray Secretary Desk

This is the only gray secretary that we have painted, ever. Most customers choose a bold pop of color for them, but this client wanted something subdued.

This light gray secretary may be subdued, but it’s definitely not boring. The polished brass ring pulls keep things simple and classic.

3. Sherwin Williams Naval Secretary

Sherwin William’s Naval is my go-to navy, all day, every day. I am surprised that I didn’t paint a secretary cabinet in the Naval all these years.

On this one, I decided to have some fun. I added Thibaut Honshu wallpaper in the back, and look at that!! Doesn’t it look spectacular? I love the coral colorway the best to pair with Naval.

Here’s Thibaut Honshu’s paper. Yes, it is pricey, but there are so many wallpaper options available on Etsy that are super affordable.

Here is a pretty one with colorful birds.

They are peel-and-stick, so it’s no mess. I have used cheap papers and papers that cost a fortune, and in my honest opinion, they all look equally good.

Pro tip – Choose a wallpaper that does not have an oversized pattern

You are going to use the paper on a small hutch, not on a large wall, so choose a smaller pattern. An oversized pattern may work well for a large china cabinet but not for such a small secretary.

If wallpaper is too expensive, or you don’t want to deal with matching seams, then use fabric. It’s usually 54″ wide, so no seam-matching skills are needed.

We like to use this adhesive when attaching fabric (or even wallpaper) to the backs of our china cabinets and secretaries. It’s rock solid! It does not budge.

4. Teal Painted Secretary Desk

This one is underappreciated, in my opinion. It looked gorgeous because the client chose a beautiful grasscloth wallpaper and these pulls with semi-precious stones. The final look was very upscale.

Use a peel-and-stick wallpaper! Why not? It’s easy, and you won’t see your own mistakes because they will hide behind the doors.

5. Ben Moore Patriot Blue Secretary

This one is so so gorgeous! The color is a very electric blue but slightly muted, if that makes any sense.

This client chose Farrow and Ball’s Pelt for the interior. The pelt is a muted, deep purple. The addition of purple is a very subtle surprise. I bet you didn’t even notice the purple until I told you.

6. Red-Painted Secretary

Now we are talking! Red is my absolute favorite for small accent pieces. It’s a bold color, so many people will shy away from it, but in a small quantity, it becomes less scary.

Look at this traditional red secretary! The red is deep blue-red. It’s not orange, it’s not childish, and it is the perfect red if you ask me.

I love the red so so much that I chose it again for this faux bamboo secretary. Asian/chinoiserie style combined with a deep red…chef’s kiss! Muah!!

Again, it’s almost like I have a formula to paint these. I don’t try to reinvent the wheel. The ring pulls a recurring theme.

7. Orange-Painted Secretary

Here is another stunner. Orange is also an “out of the comfort zone” color for many people, but I am always shocked when customers take the plunge and go for it!

I have done a white outside and orange inside version as well. If you are afraid of a big orange thing but want to venture, then the little splash of orange on the inside is perfect for you.

8. Ben Moore Washington Blue Secretary

This one is the only one done in a matte sheen. It still looks spectacular. It’s not as flashy as a glossy one, but not everyone likes flashy.

So, if you were worried that your non-shiny version wouldn’t look good…there you go! It looks good. It looks better than before, for sure.

Here is some more hardware from Etsy.

9. Sherwin Williams Dynamo Hot Pink Secretary

Yes, this is a totally different style than the rest. This one is very Asian, with a pagoda top and fretwork details. It’s not your traditional secretary from the 1950s, but it is still a secretary’s desk.

There is a spot to store your bills and a small area to write. The hardware on this beauty is original. It is just a hot pink perfection. Yes, it can totally be a make-up vanity.

The chinoiserie hardware is so pretty! I have found something similar here: Chinoiserie Bail Pulls

10. Ben Moore Balsam – Green Secretary Cabinet

This is way back from another era…well, it’s from January 2020. Three months before the entire world shut down! This painted secretary desk was badly treated in its previous life. We painted it for a very talented local designer, Amy Studebaker.

I didn’t think much of it at the time. It looked fine, nothing special…until I saw it in the room. Combined with a deep rust tone and traditional navy, it looked exceptional.

THIS is the perfect use of it. It’s an odd corner that needed something. The room already had consoles, couches, coffee tables, etc.

The green secretary was the perfect piece for that spot. It’s tall, it’s unexpected, and it’s holding a lot of books! Can you see it? It makes good use of space and has great storage.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, I love a pretty painted secretary desk. I love it in just about any color. It doesn’t look bad in any color.

With new shiny hardware and a fresh coat of paint, they look stunning! In high gloss or matte, they look stunning. They are the relics of the past that deserve a 2nd chance. I feel that about almost all vintage furniture.

These secretaries are usually made of solid mahogany and you can score them for $100! Try it! You will definitely have fun.