Desktop directory path customization

1. Open gconf-editor.
2. Navigate to Apps->nautilus->Preferences using the left pane.
3. In right pane, make sure that the checkbox next to desktop_is_home_dir is unchecked. After unchecking that box, you might need to restart nautilus for the changes to take effect. The easiest way to do that is to log out and log back in. Hopefully, this will solve your problem.
   
4. Edit ~/.config/user-dirs.dirs file of respective user and change the following line to add your custom location as desktop.

XDG_DESKTOP_DIR="$HOME/Desktop"

        To revert it back undo the above steps.