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
Cody says:
Hi,
Do you know 9am HOME standing desks?
I want to know how about their desk.
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Cody, I’ve never seen them before but I took a quick look for you and I’m 90% certain it’s another Jiecang desk. You can tell by the design of the feet and the lowest height (60cm). Desky, Omnidesk, Stand Desk are all pretty much the same.
Cody says:
Which one do you mean? Pesk or Robin series? I am interested in their Robin series, it looks unique and beautiful. I can’t find anyone like it in Desky.
Steven McConnell says:
I was talking about the Pesk Series. Robin series does look attractive and unusual, but I’m usually not a fan of tubular legs as they tend to be more prone to wobble. I can’t say whether this is the case in this instance, as I haven’t physically tested the desk myself. The 10 year warranty is reassuring, however. I wish they offered a risk-free trial to let you test out the legs!
Cody says:
Thank you very much, Steven; I will take your comments into consideration.
Erin says:
Do you know much about Kangadesks? There are Australian as well.
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Erin, its another Jiecang standing desk. Same as Desky, Omni, Stand Desk etc. The design of the feet and 60-125cm height range gives it away. The desk appears to currently be currently on sale for $299, which is an absolute steal and I’m wondering why they’re selling their stock at 1/3 of RRP. Regardless, even if they’re about to go bust, I’d still buy one at that price.
EDIT: Be careful. Fakespot showed these warnings while browsing their website: “Multiple eCommerce scam experiences detected, Poor customer service”
Suzy says:
Hi – given all the desks are so similar, is it possible to mix a desk from one brand with a drawer accessory from another? I don’t like the UpDown desk metal drawer (hangs very low so likely to impede leg space) but don’t mind the Desky one – can these be mixed and matched?
Thank you for the reviews! Super helpful.
Steven McConnell says:
Yes, it’s possible to play switcheroo. But you may want to consider that UpDown design is curved, so it will hurt less if you do jam your thighs into it. Desky’s meanwhile, is quite angular. Pro tip: you can also find a bunch of inexpensive slimline desk drawers on Amazon.
jason says:
I’ve spent far, far too much time agonising over which desk to get haha, definitely more than a week. Very happy that you’ve added the omni-desk to your catalogue. That was the one I was considering the most untill you came you with a review saying that it was more wobbly!
Anyways, do you have an opinion on the new updown desk KLIK Series? Its advertises to be significanlty ligher while having better (on paper) specs
Thanks!
Evelyn says:
Hi Steven, great blog post – thank you! I’m also wondering whether you have any opinion or insights on the new UpDown Desk KLIK series…they come at $100 more expensive (for the same size/table top) but seem to be ‘better’ according to the UpDown website.
Cheers!
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Evelyn, thanks! I will have a full review of the KLIK up around February 2025. It’s not necessarily a better standing desk – but it is lighter, less bulky and promises easier assembly.
Ben Clements says:
Hi. I’m interested to know more about whether I actually could fit the Desky cable management system in the Omnidesk? I’ve had a look at the omnidesks in person at the showroom and it looks like their cable management trays screw on (vs the clip in at the edges of the desk with the Desky tray). The desky system also has the power plugs that snap into place in the tray.
So I’m curious to know if you have you tried it, and if so how did you do it please? Or is your thinking that you’d just buy the power boards and plugs from Desky and rest them in the Omnidesk tray?
I’m stuck, because I prefer the Omnidesks but I really love the idea of a single power lead!
Thanks
Steven McConnell says:
I just had a new Omnidesk delivered to my house. Give me about two weeks to assemble it, test it out and report back.
Sunni says:
Thanks for your very helpful (and funny) review. I used the information to to buy a Desky standing desk in record time – no consumer agonising for weeks, as is my usual practice. It has a pneumatic up/down mechanism, so lets see how that goes.
Steven McConnell says:
Ha! You’re welcome, Sunni. Glad I helped you cut down on the agonising. The pneumatic mechanism is an interest choice – let me know what you think of it?
Amber says:
Hi Steven,
Really great and insightful review. It was refreshing to see something that wasn’t filled with ChatGPT affiliate link garbage!
I’m curious about your opinion on L-shaped standing desks? I know that Desky, UpDown and a few other retailers offer these types of desks and I would assume they are more strong and stable, but I’m not an expert and I can also imagine the opposite being true due to the irregular shape. I’ve been looking at these types of desks because I think their shape suits my space the best. Do you have any knowledge on this or do you only have experience with regular rectangular shaped desks?
Steven McConnell says:
Thanks, Amber. Did you know that I have a L-shaped standing desk review? Search for “arielle best corner standing desks” and you’ll find it.
Melissa says:
Hi Steven great article thank you!
I’ve spent way to much time on this, and I’m now leaning towards the Artiss thanks to your review.
I’m wondering if you have any insight into ergonomic chairs for the home office also?
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Melissa, thanks! The Artiss is a great budget pick. I’ve written numerous ergonomic chair reviews – Google “arielle best ergonomic office chairs” to find them 🙂
tania says:
hey are there any other manual desks apart from the ikea ones you don’t recommend, that you would recommend? I prefer the idea of not needing electricity to move between stand up and sit down but maybe that doesn’t really exist?
Steven McConnell says:
Hey Tania, all of the premium brands (UpDown, Desky, etc) offer a manual crank model. Definitely the way to go if you want to avoid electronics. But TBH I suggest you reconsider. Electronics are very reliable these days – and hand-cranking your standing desk is more annoying than you’d expect.
Adam says:
Hi, do you know much about the UpDown Klik vs Pro system?
Steven McConnell says:
The company has shipped their new Klik standing desk to me yesterday. Stay tuned!
Scott Long says:
You mention in your review of the Up Down Pro that you would get the cable holes and grommets done, but it looks like your (very pretty) Messmate desk doesn’t have them. Is your recommendation a hindsight reflection, or did you choose not to spoil the look of the desk with the grommets? Without the grommets can you can still run the cables behind the desk and into the cable management tray? Cheers!
Steven McConnell says:
Scott, I said in the review that grommets and holes are a great idea, not that I have them. They’re less important if your standing desk faces a wall. But if you have an open-plan style home office like mine, they’ll make your workspace look much cleaner. PS You can still run cables into the tray without the holes and grommets – the cables will simply run behind the desk.
Isaac Jenkinson says:
Hello,
Have you had a chance to try the new UpDown Lyft model? Curious about its stability vs the pro.
Steven McConnell says:
Isaac,
Not yet. On first glance, it looks like a budget alternative to the “big brothers”. It’s probably pretty good (UpDown has a reputation to maintain), but I’m of the opinion that buying cheap means you pay more in the long term. I’d save up another few hundred bucks and get the Pro. You can often get a melamine or bamboo-topped model on sale for around $900.
David says:
This is a great site and will help me decide on which desk to buy. Have you heard any good/bad reviews about the Blacklyte Atlas Lite or Ergo-Rise II from BDO furniture?
Steven McConnell says:
David, thanks for the kind words. Never heard of the Atlas Lite until you mentioned it. Looks like a decent gaming desk that borrows heavily from Secretlab Magnus – but why not just buy a real Magnus instead?
As for the Ergo-Rise – looks like a decent desk, but its height controller is outdated. The best standing desk brands have upgraded to OLED controllers.
Ben says:
Thank you for writing this review Steven; really helpful to break through the BS.
By any chance have you used or hold an opinion on Vertilift desks?
Steven McConnell says:
You’re welcome. God, I haven’t even heard of them – but thanks for the heads-up. There are too many standing desks on the Australian market. Obviously I haven’t used these in person, but I’m almost certain they’re yet another Jiecang variant (i.e., frames are identical to Desky). You can tell by the identical max and min heights, as well as the design of the foot.
Eloise says:
Hey Steven, I was recommended the Alwyn or Octavia (Living Fusion) 140cm sit and stand desks from Temple and Webster which don’t even get a mention in your review. Would you bother with any of their brands ? (I may have dodged a bullet by finding your review!)
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Louise, I haven’t had first-hand experience with the T&W standing desk (must add one to my list!).
However, I had a look through the specs for you.
It doesn’t look too bad, actually – considering the price. If you can’t stretch your budget to ~$950 for an entry-level UpDown or Desky, this could be a good option.
Jordan says:
Hi Steven, Thanks for the review! I am starting out with a home office set up and need a new chair and sit stand desk. I’m a student but I prefer to buy things I know will last, but I don’t have too much experience with sit stand desks. I initially thought to buy the Artiss but have considered buying the Acacia UpDown Pro+ so I know it lasts and I don’t have to buy another desk in a couple of years. Is it worth the price jump for me? Thanks!
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Jordan, the Artiss and the UpDown desks sell at two very different price points. If you have the budget, I suggest you stretch to the UpDown standing desk – you won’t regret it.
jason says:
I know you’ve disqualified the flexispot e7 pro so the e7 max plus would probably also be disqualified, but a quad motor 4 column desk frame at a prices competitive with UpDown desk is incredibly tempting. Plus 15 year warrenty (if the company lasts that long)
Have you had a chance to take a look? Its like half the price of the desky quad!
Steven McConnell says:
Hey Jason, great observation. I haven’t included quad standing desks here because they’ve traditionally attracted a niche consumer – someone who needs to place a tonne of gear on the desktop and doesn’t mind paying 2X the usual price. But Flexispot’s sharp pricing on their quad desk certainly changes things. I haven’t seen one in the wild yet – but the specs look promising.
Steven