Last updated: October 31st, 2024
A corner desk set-up is an efficient way to structure a home office because it creates a productive workspace while taking up as little room as possible.
Corner desk setups can be as flashy, tidy, creative, or minimalist as you’d like. However, you must consider ergonomic principles to maximise comfort while working long hours.
Today, I’ll provide my best ideas for corner desk setups and tips to help make your workspace as comfortable, ergonomic and Instagram-worthy as possible.
(Related: Best Corner Desks For Your Home Office).
Is A Corner Desk Setup Better Than A Straight Desk Setup?
Shown above: Corner standing desks don’t have to be placed into corners. Here, a Desky corner standing desk segments an area and designates a walkway.
Corner desks offer unique advantages. While straight desks are best for regular offices, where the desk is the main focus of a room, corner desks allow for more variety and flexibility.
(Related: 7 Surprise Benefits Of Standing Desks).
1. Better Use Of Dead Space.
A corner of a room will usually gather dust or clutter, but you can put this underutilised area to good use with a corner desk.
2. More Storage Space.
Corner desks typically have more space under the desk than straight desks, which you can use to store any peripheries you need for work, including:
- Filing cabinets.
- Scanners or printers.
- Computer towers.
- Under-the-desk exercise equipment (e.g., treadmills).
Important!
This depends on the corner desk type, as triangular corner desks have much less room underneath than L-shaped desks.
3. Gear Within Easy Reach.
Corner desks offer significantly larger desktops, so you can have more equipment within reach.
This creates an ergonomically superior environment, especially if you’re a gearhead with multiple bulky peripherals such as:
- Extra monitors.
- Hard drives and NAS drives.
- Electronic keyboards.
- Podcasting gear.
- Video Cameras.
(Related: Complete Guide To Standing Desk Ergonomics).
4. Flexibility Of A Multipurpose Space.
A desk doesn’t necessarily have to be used exclusively for work. There are many ways to use a corner desk set-up besides just working on a computer, such as:
- Space for gaming and watching movies.
- Area for reading and relaxing.
- Surface for writing or journaling.
(Related: The 15 Best Standing Desks In Australia, Ranked).
Are Corner Desks More Ergonomic Than Straight Desks?
Shown above: Gamers love corner standing desks. Here, a Desky standing desk is used as a base for a flashy dual-monitor setup that can be used as a workstation during the day and a gamer’s den in the evening.
Both desk types can be used to build equally ergonomic setups, as long as you follow foundational principles. Neither type of setup is inherently ergonomic.
(Related: The Truth About Standing Desks And Back Pain).
When setting up your desk, adjust heights until:
- Monitor is at eye level or slightly below.
- Ears, shoulders and hips are aligned in the vertical plane.
- Wrists are straight and slightly lower than your elbows.
- Hips are parallel to the floor when you’re sitting.
- Feet are flat on the floor.
Expert Tip.
Create the ultimate corner desk setup with a corner standing desk from UpDown Desk. It will allow you to transition between standing up and sitting down throughout your workday for maximum comfort and productivity.
What Types Of Corner Desks Are Best?
There are two types of corner desks. Each has unique pros and cons.
1. Triangular Corner Desk.
Triangular desks are the less common of the two. As their name suggests, these desks are triangular and fit snugly into the corner of a room.
Their desktops are made from a single piece of material (usually wood, melamine or particle board).
Triangular corner desks are also more budget-friendly, due to their less complicated design.
(Related: 10 Most Effective Exercises For Standing Desk Users).
2. L-Shaped Desk.
An L-shaped corner desk is made of two rectangular pieces shaped like an L. It provides much more desktop space and under-desk storage space than triangular desks.
3 Factors To Consider When Creating Your Corner Workspace.
A corner workspace should be minimalistic, uncluttered, yet personalised.
The colours, personal decor, build quality, layout, and even plants on or around your desk can all affect your mood, and a messy work area can make you less productive.
Follow my tips below to create a corner workspace that hits all the right notes.
1. Make It Personal But Not Cluttered.
Keep a maximum of 2-3 personal decor items on your desk, such as:
- Pictures.
- Drawings.
- Keepsakes.
- Souvenirs.
- Plants.
This will ensure there are fewer potential distractions and leave more space on your desk for work-related items.
Important!
Ban all clocks from your office walls. No matter how much you enjoy your job, a clock will tempt you to check it to see how long you have left in the day.
Keep clocks far away from your work area. Set timers on your phone or computer instead to let you know when it’s time to take a break or stop for the day.
(Related: Must-Have Standing Desk Accessories).
2. Use The Left-To-Right Workflow.
The left-to-right method is one strategy to optimise your desk setup for workflow. Keep the right side of the desk clear, and put incoming papers or projects on the left side.
This is easy with corner desks, as one side is often larger than the other, allowing you to spread things out as you work on them.
(Related: Complete Guide To WFH Ergonomics).
3. Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind.
Organise supplies you frequently use on your desk. Supplies you use less often should be kept in drawers or on shelves.
The more clutter you have on and around your desk setup, the more opportunities there are for distraction.
(Related: Standing Desk Cable Management Tips).
How To Select The Best Office Chair For Your Corner Setup.
The second most important piece of furniture in your corner office setup is your office chair.
Uncomfortable office chairs can turn work hours into torture sessions where you regularly gaze at the clock, waiting to leave.
Naturally, this isn’t conducive to a productive work environment. That’s why it’s important to pick an office chair that sits you in the proper working posture.
I’ve written a number of guides to help you choose the right office chair:
Bottom Line On Creating The Perfect Corner Desk Set-Up.
Assembling the perfect corner desk setup in your office can be a very creative, fulfilling process in itself.
Start by choosing the right corner desk (preferably a standing L-shaped desk) and build your workspace around it using sound ergonomic principles.
Steven
Sam says:
Hi.
I am considering buying an electric standing desk. I have a large 44 inch monitor and am concerned about monitor wobble. Which desk and setup do you recommend?
Sam
Steven McConnell says:
44″ is huge – and side-to-side wobble is your biggest enemy. But most premium standing desks in Australia have minimal wobble. Search for “best standing desks in Australia – Arielle” in Google to find my comprehensive review of all standing desks – it will help you make the right decision.