Corner desks are functional and varied. With shelving added to the walls above them, they make really nice work stations with lots of space for all the things you need to store. Whether you buy one or build one, you will be surprised at how great these things are. You might even wonder why you didn't get one sooner.
Corner desks, executive desks, standing desks, these all take their place among the many types of desks a person can choose to use when they work at home. As a home office worker I understand the value of a good desk, but, to my chagrin, I am still just working at an old table. It is a table I built years ago as a dining table that has since been retired. It works. But, I have always wanted to build a corner desk that has the look and dimensions that I want. As an amateur woodworker I felt like I could probably tackle a project like building a corner desk, and I was right, it was pretty simple.
After thinking for a long time about what I wanted, I decided that I wanted a desk that attached to the wall, and that I not only liked corner desks, but those with built-in shelving appealed to me best. So, I decided that that setup would suit my needs just right. I assembled the tools and materials I needed and got started. Here's the gist of what I did.
First I measured the corner and determined the length of the shelving. Then I cut the shelving taking care to place the wood with the good side up for a smooth cut from the table saw. Slow and steady is always a good idea when cutting anything on the table saw. After cutting the shelving I set them to the side and moved on to the supports and the desk itself.
I marked the location of the upright supports on each shelf, two for each one. Then I marked the walls using a stud finder. corner computer desks can be free standing or attached. I chose to attach mine to the uprights that also supported the shelves. Taking care to attach the uprights to the studs in the walls gives a much sturdier desk.
Since I used MDF for the desk I then finished off the edges with solid wood trim. It looks pretty nice for what it is. Until I can really build the nice stand alone furniture piece I really think this will do nicely. Someday I would like to construct a nice large oak desk with all the bells and whistles, shelves, drawers and pullout surfaces. I'd like to win the lottery too. But, for now, this set up is great. Corner desks are great as space savers and having shelving above them really gives lots of storage. When it is time to move it, all I have to do is disassemble a few pieces and it's ready to go.
Corner desks like the one I built are simple and functional, they serve their purpose. I can put my computer, monitor, keyboard, speakers, printer and lots of miscellaneous do-dads right where I need them on the desk. It doesn't take up a lot of floor space and I like how it looks. Plus, my creative, artsy daughter has taken it upon herself to stencil and paint some beautiful blue flowers on the sides of the desk. Adds a nice touch to an otherwise drab environment. Now back to work.
