Choose a corner computer desk if you need a large work surface, use more than one screen or switch between screen work and paperwork, and you have an empty corner to fill. Choose a computer desk with shelves if your room is narrow, you need storage within reach but have little floor space, or the desk must sit against a single straight wall. In short: corner desks give you surface area, while desks with shelves give you vertical storage.
Both are practical solutions for UK homes, where home offices are often squeezed into box rooms, bedrooms or the end of a living room. The right choice depends on the shape of your space and how you work. You can compare designs in our modern corner computer desks UK range, and desks with shelving alongside them in our full modern home office furniture UK collection. The points below should help you decide.
A corner desk is usually L shaped, with two work surfaces meeting at a right angle. Some designs are a single curved or angled piece that fits snugly into the corner. The main benefit is surface area: you get two working zones without needing a long straight wall.
Corner desks often allow a monitor in the angle with plenty of space either side, or a screen on one arm and a writing area on the other. You can swivel between the two without getting up.
A desk with shelves combines a work surface with open or closed storage, either built above the desktop as a hutch, beside it as a tower, or in some cases beneath it. The emphasis is on keeping books, files and equipment within reach while using as little floor space as possible.
These desks are usually straight and sit against one wall. Some include a corner configuration with shelves too, which combines elements of both.
The layout of your room usually makes the decision before anything else.
Corners are often dead space in a room. A wardrobe or sofa rarely fits neatly into them, and they can collect clutter. A corner desk turns that space into a functional area, which is useful in a spare bedroom where the bed and wardrobe take up the main walls.
You need two walls without obstacles for a full length corner desk. Check for windows, radiators, doors and sockets along both walls. A radiator under one arm of the desk can be acceptable if there is enough clearance, but it may affect heating efficiency and can make your legs uncomfortably warm.
Narrow rooms, box rooms and alcoves suit a desk with shelves. If the only free space is a single wall of around a metre or so, a straight desk with storage above uses that wall fully without projecting far into the room.
A desk with shelves is also easier to fit in a shared room, such as a living room or bedroom, because it occupies one wall neatly and can be styled like a piece of furniture rather than a workstation.
If you work with two monitors, a laptop alongside a desktop, drawings, sewing, crafts or a lot of paperwork, surface area matters. A corner desk gives you space to spread out and keep different tasks in separate zones. You might keep the screen on one side and a clear surface for writing or sketching on the other.
If your work involves reference books, folders, supplies or equipment you need to reach often, shelves within arm’s length are valuable. A desk with an integrated hutch keeps those items visible and organised without taking up desktop space.
If you mainly work on a laptop and need little else, a compact desk with shelves is often enough. A large corner desk can feel excessive for a single small device, while shelves give you somewhere to keep chargers, notebooks and a few personal items.
Corner desks take up more floor area, but they push that area into a part of the room you might not otherwise use. A typical L shaped desk might measure 120cm to 150cm along each wall. Measure both walls and check that the room still has a clear walkway once the desk and chair are in place.
Desks with shelves use less floor space but more wall space. Tall hutches can look imposing in a small room, especially if the shelves are filled. Open shelving in a light finish keeps the look airy, while closed cabinets hide clutter but add visual mass.
Think about how the room feels when you are not working. A corner desk is quite noticeable, especially in a bedroom, while a desk with tidy shelves can blend in with the rest of the furniture.
Whichever design you choose, your main screen should sit directly in front of you, with the top edge roughly at eye level and at arm’s length. On a corner desk, this usually means placing the monitor in the angle where the two surfaces meet, which gives the deepest area and plenty of room for a keyboard.
On a desk with shelves, check that the lowest shelf is high enough not to crowd the monitor or force it too close to you. A hutch that sits directly on the desktop can reduce the usable depth, so check the measurement from the front edge of the desk to the face of the shelves.
A swivel chair is particularly useful with a corner desk, letting you turn between surfaces easily. With either design, a chair that tucks fully under the desk helps keep the room tidy.
Choosing a corner desk does not mean giving up storage. A freestanding bookcase beside it or a drawer unit beneath one arm can provide everything a hutch would. Our modern bookcases UK include narrow and tall designs that sit comfortably alongside a corner desk.
Equally, if you choose a desk with shelves and find you need more surface, a small side table or a mobile drawer unit can extend the working area when needed. Our modern home office storage UK collection includes cabinets and units that coordinate with both types of desk.
Both designs come in a wide range of materials. Glass corner desks look lighter and suit modern rooms, while wooden corner desks feel warmer and more substantial. High gloss finishes suit contemporary spaces and are easy to wipe clean.
Desks with shelves often come in wood or wood effect finishes, sometimes with metal frames for an industrial look. Open shelving in a ladder or frame style can look particularly neat in compact rooms. Our article looking at how wooden desk finishes hold up in UK homes is useful if you are weighing up a timber design.
If you are still unsure, ask yourself these questions.
Most people will find that their answers point clearly in one direction. If they are split, a corner desk with a separate bookcase, or a straight desk with a side return, can offer a middle ground.
Once you have chosen your desk, think about lighting, seating and cable management. A desk lamp or wall light helps in corners, which can be darker than the rest of the room. Cable grommets and a tray beneath the desktop keep wires tidy. Planning desk, chair and storage together, rather than one at a time, gives a more coherent room.
You can explore our complete range at Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
It can be, if the room has an unused corner. A compact corner desk makes use of space that might otherwise be wasted. In a very narrow room, a straight desk with shelves is often easier to fit.
Not if the lowest shelf is set high enough above the desktop. Check that there is clearance for your monitor and that the desk depth is not reduced too much by the shelving.
Yes. Floating shelves above one or both arms, or a freestanding bookcase alongside, give a corner desk extra storage.
A corner desk generally offers more room for two monitors, with the angle providing extra depth for comfortable viewing distance.
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