Corner desk and work nook ideas, for small living rooms, mean using a corner, that is otherwise wasted, for a desk, a chair, and storage, with a desk, that fits the corner, a chair, that can be pulled out, without hitting a wall, a sofa, or a walkway, and with storage, above, or beside, the desk, so a living room, can have a work spot, without a separate office, and without a large desk, blocking the room, every day, and so a corner, that is otherwise wasted, can be a work spot, when needed, and a living room, when not needed, without waste, damage, or a large piece that does not fit. This guide is for a living room corner desk, which is distinct from a bedroom desk, as in the bedroom desk guide, which is linked below, and which should not be repeated, here, because a bedroom desk, has a different job, a different room, and a different checklist, than a living room desk, however good a bedroom desk looks, in a photograph. All measurements in this guide are in inches and cm, as approximate ranges only, and sizes vary by product, so check listings before you buy, and measure your corner first, as in the measuring guide in this series.
Key takeaways
- Use a corner desk, with a width, approximately 36 to 48 inches, 90 to 120 cm, per side, for most living room corners, and with a depth, approximately 20 to 24 inches, 50 to 60 cm, so a laptop, a notebook, and a lamp, fit, without a desk, that is too deep, for the corner.
- Use a desk height, approximately 29 to 30 inches, 74 to 76 cm, and a chair height, approximately 17 to 19 inches, 43 to 48 cm, so a person can sit comfortably, with knees under the desk, and with feet on the floor.
- Use a chair pull out, of approximately 24 inches, 60 cm, behind the chair, as a comfort guide, and a walkway, of approximately 30 to 36 inches, 75 to 90 cm, as a comfort guide, not a building code, so you can walk past, easily, even when the chair is pulled out.
- Use storage, above, or beside, the desk, with floating shelves, or cube storage, so a desk, stays tidy, without a pile, on the desk, and without a pile, on a sofa, or a floor, where items will be forgotten.
- Use lighting, that is bright, for work, and soft, for living, with a lamp, that can be moved, or dimmed, so a living room, can be a work spot, when needed, and a living room, when not needed.
- Measure width, depth, height, chair pull out, and walkway, in inches and cm, with tape on the floor, before you buy, and keep exits, door swings, and walkways clear at all times.
Corner Desk Types: L Shape, Wall Mounted, and Fold Down
Corner desk types, L shape, wall mounted, and fold down, each work, for a different corner, a different room, and a different job, and each needs a different checklist, because a corner, that is deep, needs a different desk, than a corner, that is shallow, and a room, that is small, needs a different desk, than a room, that is large, however good a desk looks, in a photograph. L shape: use an L shaped desk, in a corner, with one side, along each wall, so the corner, is used, fully, without a gap, behind the desk, where items fall, and are forgotten, and with a desk, that has a width, approximately 36 to 48 inches, 90 to 120 cm, per side, for most living room corners, and with a depth, approximately 20 to 24 inches, 50 to 60 cm, so a laptop, a notebook, and a lamp, fit, without a desk, that is too deep, for the corner, and with a chair, that can be pulled out, approximately 24 inches, 60 cm, behind the chair, without hitting a wall, a sofa, or a walkway, and with a walkway clear, approximately 30 to 36 inches, 75 to 90 cm, as a comfort guide, so you can walk past, easily, even when the chair is pulled out.
Wall mounted: use a wall mounted desk, in a very small corner, where a floor desk, would block a walkway, a door, or a seating area, and where a desk, that is fixed, to a wall, can hold a laptop, a notebook, and a lamp, without a floor unit, blocking the room, every day, and with a desk, that is anchored, safely, using manufacturer hardware and weight limits, with studs or rated anchors, and with landlord permission before drilling, because a wall mounted desk, that is not anchored, safely, will fail, damage the wall, and fall, and it can spill a laptop, a lamp, or hot drinks, and hurt a person, however good the desk looks, and it must be anchored, following its instructions, as in the anchoring guide, in this series, to follow, when it is published, and as in the floating shelves versus bookcases guide, which anchors floating shelves, safely, using manufacturer hardware and weight limits, with studs or rated anchors, and with landlord permission before drilling.
Fold down: use a fold down desk, in a very small corner, where a desk, is needed, only sometimes, and where a desk, that folds down, against a wall, when not used, and lifts, when needed, can be a work spot, when needed, and a walkway, when not needed, so a small living room, can have a desk, without a large desk, blocking the room, every day, and with a desk, that is anchored, safely, using manufacturer hardware and weight limits, with studs or rated anchors, and with landlord permission before drilling, and with a desk, that is easy to lift, and lock, without help, and without tools, if possible, so the desk will be lifted, when needed, rather than left folded, because the desk is hard, or heavy, to lift, and so a desk, that is left folded, when needed, will not be used, and work will end up, elsewhere, on a coffee table, or a sofa, instead of at the desk, as in the tables compared guide, which folds down, when not used, and lifts, when needed, for a small apartment, or corner dining nook.
Avoid a corner desk, that is too wide, too deep, or too tall, for the corner, because it will block a walkway, a door, or a seating area, and it will make the room feel cramped, even if it is tidy, and avoid a wall mounted, or fold down, desk, that is not anchored, safely, because it will fail, damage the wall, and fall, and it can spill a laptop, a lamp, or hot drinks, and hurt a person, however good the desk looks, and avoid a desk, that is too small, for the job, because it will not hold a laptop, a notebook, and a lamp, for work, and it will be ignored, and work will end up, elsewhere, on a coffee table, or a sofa, instead of at the desk, and avoid a desk, in a rented home, without landlord permission, before drilling, because drilling, without permission, can breach a tenancy, and can cause a charge, for repair, when you move out, however small the hole looks.
Chair, Storage, and Lighting for a Living Room Nook
Chair, storage, and lighting, for a living room work nook, need a different checklist, than a bedroom desk, because a living room nook, is used, for work, and for living, in the same room, and a bedroom desk, is used, for work, and for sleeping, in the same room, however good a bedroom desk looks, in a photograph, and a living room nook, that is not comfortable, will not be used, for work, and work will end up, elsewhere, on a coffee table, or a sofa, instead of at the desk. Chair: use a chair, with a height, approximately 17 to 19 inches, 43 to 48 cm, for most dining, or desk, chairs, and with a chair, that can be pulled out, approximately 24 inches, 60 cm, behind the chair, without hitting a wall, a sofa, or a walkway, and with a chair, that is comfortable, for work, with a back, that supports, and with a seat, that is not too hard, or too soft, for work, and with a chair, that can be tucked, under the desk, when not used, so a living room, can be a living room, when not needed, for work, without a chair, blocking the room, every day.
Storage: use storage, above, or beside, the desk, with floating shelves, or cube storage, so a desk, stays tidy, without a pile, on the desk, and without a pile, on a sofa, or a floor, where items will be forgotten, and with baskets, one per cube, labelled, so each person, or each type of item, has a place, and so cubes can be rearranged, without moving a whole unit, as in the cube layouts guide, and as in the floating shelves versus bookcases guide, which hold books, baskets, and display, in a corner, without a wide unit, blocking the room, and with shelves, that are at eye level, approximately 48 to 60 inches, 120 to 150 cm, from the floor, for most adults, so items, can be reached, without climbing, or bending, and so items, that are at eye level, will be used, every day, rather than ignored, because they are too high, or too low, to reach, without help.
Lighting: use lighting, that is bright, for work, and soft, for living, with a lamp, that can be moved, or dimmed, so a living room, can be a work spot, when needed, and a living room, when not needed, and with a lamp, that is placed, so light, falls, on the desk, not in the eyes, of a person, sitting, at the desk, and so a lamp, that is placed, correctly, will help work, rather than hurt eyes, and so a lamp, that is placed, incorrectly, will cause glare, and headaches, however good the lamp looks, in a photograph, and with natural light, from a window, if possible, so a desk, that is near a window, will have daylight, for work, during the day, and a lamp, for work, at night, without a desk, that is too close, to a window, where glare, from a window, will hurt eyes, and where a desk, that is too close, to a window, will block a window, or a radiator, which is a safety problem, not just a tidy problem. For a general awkward corner overview, see the awkward corner pillar in this series, which links to this guide, and to the other Furniture guides, as they go live.
Cables, Safety, and Renters
Cables, safety, and renters, for a corner desk, need a different checklist, than a bedroom desk, because a living room nook, is used, by many people, in the same room, and a bedroom desk, is used, by one person, in a bedroom, however good a bedroom desk looks, in a photograph, and a living room nook, that is not safe, will not be used, for work, and work will end up, elsewhere, on a coffee table, or a sofa, instead of at the desk. Cables: use cable clips, or a cable tray, to keep cables, tidy, and off the floor, so cables, do not become a trip hazard, in a living room, where people walk, past, the desk, every day, and so cables, that are tidy, will not be pulled, when a chair is moved, or a person walks, past, the desk, and so a laptop, that is pulled, by a cable, will not fall, and break, however good the laptop looks, and so a cable, that is on the floor, will not be tripped over, in the dark, when light is low, and when a person, is carrying bags, or a child, through a living room, where a desk, is in a corner, and where cables, are on the floor, in a walkway, which is a safety problem, not just a tidy problem.
Safety: keep exits, door swings, and walkways clear at all times, with a walkway, of approximately 30 to 36 inches, 75 to 90 cm, as a comfort guide, not a building code, so you can walk past, easily, even when the chair is pulled out, and so you can get out, easily, even in the dark, and so a door can open fully, without hitting the desk, or a chair, and keep a desk, away from a radiator, a socket, a switch, a walkway, a door swing, or an exit route, because a desk, that blocks a radiator, a socket, a switch, a walkway, a door swing, or an exit route, is a safety problem, not just a tidy problem, and it must be moved, however tidy it looks, and however much you want it, in that corner, and anchor a tall unit, beside a desk, safely, using manufacturer hardware and weight limits, with studs or rated anchors, and with landlord permission before drilling, because a tall unit, that is not anchored, will fall, and hurt a child, a pet, or an adult, however sturdy it looks, as in the anchoring guide, and as in the shelf styling guide, which keep heavy low, and light high, so the unit is stable, not top heavy.
Renters: get landlord permission, before drilling, in any rented home, because drilling, without permission, can breach a tenancy, and can cause a charge, for repair, when you move out, however small the hole looks, and however good the desk looks, and a landlord, who refuses drilling, may allow no drill options, or may allow drilling, with a condition, such as filling holes, when you move out, and a renter, who drills, without permission, risks a charge, and a dispute, however good the reason looks, for a desk, and a renter, who wants a desk, without drilling, should use a floor desk, or a fold down desk, with adhesive, only where the manufacturer allows it, and only within the adhesive weight limit, and should check the adhesive, regularly, because adhesive, that is overloaded, or old, will fail, and a desk, that is held, by adhesive, alone, will fall, when adhesive fails, however good it looks, on day one.
Choosing by Use: Work From Home, Study, and Occasional Use
Choosing a corner desk, by use, work from home, study, and occasional use, needs a different checklist, because each use, has a different job, a different time, and a different number of items, and a desk, that works, for one use, may not work, for another use, however good it looks, in a photograph. Work from home: use an L shaped desk, in a corner, with a width, approximately 36 to 48 inches, 90 to 120 cm, per side, for most living room corners, and with a depth, approximately 20 to 24 inches, 50 to 60 cm, so a laptop, a monitor, a notebook, and a lamp, fit, without a desk, that is too deep, for the corner, and with a chair, that is comfortable, for work, with a back, that supports, and with a seat, that is not too hard, or too soft, for work, all day, and with storage, above, or beside, the desk, so a desk, stays tidy, without a pile, on the desk, and without a pile, on a sofa, or a floor, where items will be forgotten, and with lighting, that is bright, for work, and soft, for living, so a living room, can be a work spot, when needed, and a living room, when not needed.
Study: use a wall mounted desk, or a fold down desk, in a corner, with a width, approximately 24 to 36 inches, 60 to 90 cm, for most study corners, and with a depth, approximately 18 to 22 inches, 45 to 55 cm, so a laptop, a notebook, and a lamp, fit, without a desk, that is too deep, for the corner, and with a chair, that can be tucked, under the desk, when not used, so a living room, can be a living room, when not needed, for study, without a chair, blocking the room, every day, and with storage, above, the desk, so a desk, stays tidy, without a pile, on the desk, and without a pile, on a sofa, or a floor, where items will be forgotten, and with a desk, that is near a window, if possible, so a desk, that is near a window, will have daylight, for study, during the day, and a lamp, for study, at night, without a desk, that is too close, to a window, where glare, from a window, will hurt eyes.
Occasional use: use a fold down desk, or a small L shaped desk, in a corner, with a width, approximately 24 to 36 inches, 60 to 90 cm, for most occasional corners, and with a depth, approximately 18 to 22 inches, 45 to 55 cm, so a laptop, a notebook, and a lamp, fit, without a desk, that is too deep, for the corner, and with a desk, that folds down, against a wall, when not used, and lifts, when needed, so a small living room, can have a desk, without a large desk, blocking the room, every day, and with a chair, that is light, easy to carry, and easy to stack, or fold, so a chair, can be stored, elsewhere, in a bedroom, cupboard, hallway, or garage, if you have one, when not used, for work, and so a living room, can be a living room, when not needed, for work, without a chair, blocking the room, every day.
What to Avoid With a Corner Desk
Avoid a corner desk, that is too wide, too deep, or too tall, for the corner, because it will block a walkway, a door, or a seating area, and it will make the room feel cramped, even if it is tidy, and avoid a corner desk, that is too small, for the job, because it will not hold a laptop, a notebook, and a lamp, for work, and it will be ignored, and work will end up, elsewhere, on a coffee table, or a sofa, instead of at the desk, and avoid a corner desk, that is not anchored, if it is wall mounted, or fold down, because it will fail, damage the wall, and fall, and it can spill a laptop, a lamp, or hot drinks, and hurt a person, however good the desk looks, and avoid a corner desk, in a rented home, without landlord permission, before drilling, because drilling, without permission, can breach a tenancy, and can cause a charge, for repair, when you move out, however small the hole looks.
Avoid a desk, that blocks a walkway, a door swing, or an exit route, when it is used, or when the chair is pulled out, because it is a safety problem, not just a tidy problem, and it must be moved, however tidy it looks, and however much you want it, in that corner, when it is used, or when the chair is pulled out, for use, and avoid a desk, with cables, on the floor, in a walkway, because cables, on the floor, will become a trip hazard, in a living room, where people walk, past, the desk, every day, and avoid a desk, that is placed, in a corner, where a child can climb it, to reach a window, a shelf, or a light, without supervision, because a desk, that can be climbed, is a risk, not just a work spot, and it must be anchored, and placed, with climbing, in mind, especially in a family home, and avoid a desk, that is too close, to a radiator, a socket, or a switch, because a desk, that blocks a radiator, a socket, or a switch, is a safety problem, not just a tidy problem.
Checklist: Corner Desk Without Waste
- Measure the corner, the wall, and the walkway, width, depth, height, chair pull out, and walkway, in inches and cm, with tape on the floor, for the desk, and for the walkway, before you buy.
- Choose one type, L shape, wall mounted, or fold down, that matches your corner, your job, and your use, rather than a type, that is cheapest, or that looks best, in a photograph.
- Use a desk height, approximately 29 to 30 inches, 74 to 76 cm, and a chair height, approximately 17 to 19 inches, 43 to 48 cm, so a person can sit comfortably, with knees under the desk, and with feet on the floor.
- Use a chair pull out, of approximately 24 inches, 60 cm, behind the chair, as a comfort guide, and a walkway, of approximately 30 to 36 inches, 75 to 90 cm, as a comfort guide, not a building code.
- Use storage, above, or beside, the desk, with floating shelves, or cube storage, so a desk, stays tidy, without a pile, on the desk, and without a pile, on a sofa, or a floor, where items will be forgotten.
- Anchor a wall mounted, or fold down, desk, safely, using manufacturer hardware and weight limits, with studs or rated anchors, and with landlord permission before drilling, and anchor a tall unit, beside a desk, safely, for tipping safety.
- Keep cables, tidy, and off the floor, with cable clips, or a cable tray, so cables, do not become a trip hazard, in a living room, where people walk, past, the desk, every day.
- Keep exits, door swings, and walkways clear at all times, with a door swing, that is clear, so a door can open fully, without hitting the desk, or a chair, and check at night and in daylight, with doors open and chairs pulled out.
- Live with the desk for a week, then adjust one thing at a time, rather than buying a full office set on day one, and avoid a desk, that is too wide, too deep, too tall, or too small, for the corner, or the job.
Conclusion
Corner desk and work nook ideas, for small living rooms, work when you use a corner, that is otherwise wasted, for a desk, a chair, and storage, with a desk, that fits the corner, a chair, that can be pulled out, without hitting a wall, a sofa, or a walkway, and with storage, above, or beside, the desk, so a living room, can have a work spot, without a separate office, and without a large desk, blocking the room, every day, and so a corner, that is otherwise wasted, can be a work spot, when needed, and a living room, when not needed, without waste, damage, or a large piece that does not fit. A desk, that is chosen, by type, L shape, wall mounted, or fold down, that matches your corner, your job, and your use, rather than a desk, that is cheapest, or that looks best, in a photograph, but does not match, your corner, job, or use, will feel intentional, tidy, and easy to use, daily, and when needed, without waste, damage, or a large piece that does not fit.
Use the guides in this series for each type and job: awkward corner pillar, corner bookshelf, expandable dining tables, measuring a corner, shelf styling, tables compared, narrow storage, anchoring, floating shelves versus bookcases, cube layouts, and corner storage per room, each with its own measurements, safety, and styling, so you can choose the right type for each corner, rather than forcing one type into every corner, and so you can choose, a desk, that matches your corner, your job, and your use, rather than a desk, that is cheapest, or that looks best, in a photograph, but does not match, your corner, job, or use. Done that way, a corner desk will feel intentional, tidy, and easy to use, in a small living room, without waste, damage, or a large piece that does not fit. For a bedroom desk, which is a different job, in a different room, see the bedroom desk guide, linked below, rather than repeating it, here.
Related reading
- Awkward Corner Ideas for Every Room in a Small Home
- Corner Bookshelf Ideas for Small Spaces and Awkward Corners
- Expandable Dining Tables for Small Spaces and Corners
- How to Measure a Corner for Furniture in a Small Home
- Corner Shelf Styling Ideas for Small Spaces and Bookshelves
- Space Saving Tables Compared for Small Homes and Corners
- Narrow and Slim Storage Ideas for Small Corners
- Floating Shelves vs Bookcases for Small Corners
- Cube Storage Layouts for Small Corners and Rooms
- Desk in a Small Bedroom
- Corner Entryway Ideas for a Tight Corner
- Rug Calculator
How to Anchor Bookshelves Safely, and Corner Storage for Each Room, in this series, to follow.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size corner desk fits a small living room?
Use a corner desk, with a width, approximately 36 to 48 inches, 90 to 120 cm, per side, for most living room corners, and with a depth, approximately 20 to 24 inches, 50 to 60 cm, so a laptop, a notebook, and a lamp, fit, without a desk, that is too deep, for the corner. Use a desk height, approximately 29 to 30 inches, 74 to 76 cm, and a chair height, approximately 17 to 19 inches, 43 to 48 cm, so a person can sit comfortably, with knees under the desk, and with feet on the floor. Measure width, depth, height, chair pull out, and walkway, in inches and cm, with tape on the floor, before you buy, because a desk, that is too wide, too deep, or too tall, for the corner, will block a walkway, a door, or a seating area.
Is a living room corner desk different from a bedroom desk?
Yes, a living room corner desk, is for a living room, where work, and living, happen, in the same room, and a bedroom desk, is for a bedroom, where work, and sleeping, happen, in the same room, however good a bedroom desk looks, in a photograph. This guide, is for a living room corner desk, and it links to the bedroom desk guide, rather than repeating it, because a bedroom desk, has a different job, a different room, and a different checklist, than a living room desk, and a living room desk, that is chosen, by type, L shape, wall mounted, or fold down, that matches your corner, your job, and your use, will feel intentional, tidy, and easy to use, in a small living room, without waste, damage, or a large piece that does not fit.
Should I choose an L shaped, wall mounted, or fold down desk?
Choose an L shaped desk, if you have a corner, where floor space is available, and where a desk, that uses the corner, fully, without a gap, behind the desk, where items fall, and are forgotten, is needed, and where a desk, that holds a laptop, a monitor, a notebook, and a lamp, for work from home, is needed. Choose a wall mounted desk, if floor space is very tight, and if a desk, that is fixed, to a wall, can hold a laptop, a notebook, and a lamp, without a floor unit, blocking the room, every day. Choose a fold down desk, if a desk, is needed, only sometimes, and if a desk, that folds down, against a wall, when not used, and lifts, when needed, can be a work spot, when needed, and a walkway, when not needed.
How do I keep cables safe in a living room work nook?
Use cable clips, or a cable tray, to keep cables, tidy, and off the floor, so cables, do not become a trip hazard, in a living room, where people walk, past, the desk, every day, and so cables, that are tidy, will not be pulled, when a chair is moved, or a person walks, past, the desk, and so a laptop, that is pulled, by a cable, will not fall, and break, however good the laptop looks. Keep cables, away from a walkway, a door swing, and an exit route, because cables, on the floor, in a walkway, are a safety problem, not just a tidy problem, and they must be moved, however tidy they look, and however much you want them, in that walkway.
Can renters have a corner desk without drilling?
Yes, renters can use a floor desk, or a fold down desk, with adhesive, only where the manufacturer allows it, and only within the adhesive weight limit, and should check the adhesive, regularly, because adhesive, that is overloaded, or old, will fail, and a desk, that is held, by adhesive, alone, will fall, when adhesive fails, however good it looks, on day one. Renters should get landlord permission, before drilling, in any rented home, because drilling, without permission, can breach a tenancy, and can cause a charge, for repair, when you move out, however small the hole looks, and however good the desk looks.
What should I avoid with a corner desk in a living room?
Avoid a corner desk, that is too wide, too deep, or too tall, for the corner, because it will block a walkway, a door, or a seating area, and avoid a corner desk, that is too small, for the job, because it will not hold a laptop, a notebook, and a lamp, for work, and it will be ignored, and work will end up, elsewhere, on a coffee table, or a sofa, instead of at the desk. Avoid a wall mounted, or fold down, desk, that is not anchored, safely, and avoid a desk, in a rented home, without landlord permission, before drilling, and avoid a desk, with cables, on the floor, in a walkway, because cables, on the floor, will become a trip hazard, in a living room, where people walk, past, the desk, every day.
