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A Guide to Finding the Right L-Shaped Desk for a Small Office

Adam StacksAdam Stacks
August 25th, 2022
~ 6 minute read

A small office can be challenging to furnish. Multiple issues arise when you begin the process of doing so. The most obvious is limited space with the conventional wisdom calling for small office furniture. However, this is often flawed due to the type of work that we do in our offices. Small desks just don’t allow us to perform the work that we are required to do daily. So, what do we do?

From my own personal experience in a small office in my home, I was able to find a fantastic desk that fit the requirements of my daily duties exceptionally well. How did I do this? When I arrived in Madison for my initial training, I sat down with the skilled co-workers who are very well versed in fitting office furniture into tight spaces. With just the dimensions of the office space, they were able to point me to several options which not only fit my space but provided me with an adequately sized desk to perform my duties.

Long story short, I have an 11’x12’ office with a fantastic L shaped desk sitting in the middle of it. From here, I work comfortably every day. I’ve been working at this L shaped desk for the past year and a half, and I am still completely satisfied with my choice. The professionals at Madison Liquidators really do know how to set up a small office with great office furniture. A year and a half later, if I had it to do all over again, I would pick the exact same L shaped desk!

As I look back on my selection, I really feel that the L shaped desk is a great choice for a small office. It provides two desktop spaces to work from, in a footprint that doesn’t take up too much space. They are also exceptional for placing in corners. This is a smart solution to placing multiple workers in a single office. Other ways to do this include placing two L shaped desks together to create a T shaped workstation. There are several other ways that will cover later. Let us dive into this guide to finding the right L-shaped desk for a small office.

Parts of an L Shaped Desk

  • Shell-

    L Shaped Desk Shell
    The shell of an L shaped desk is simply just the desk, no add-ons. By selecting an L shaped desk shell,  you are choosing to not have any attached storage options. No drawers or anything. To make the shell of a desk work, you must have detached storage nearby such as a credenza or file cabinets. A shell of an L shaped desk is the most basic form of a desk but many people choose them because they have little storage needs along with detached storage solutions that are placed readily close to the desk shell. The shell of an L shaped desk is typically the starting point of placing together a workstation. After selecting a shell, adding storage solutions will complete the workstation. Choosing any combination of drawers, hutches, credenzas, file cabinets, or even wardrobe closets will go along way to completing your L shaped desk for your small office.

  • With Drawers-

    L Shaped Desk with Drawers
    When selecting an L shaped desk with drawers, you are choosing to have a small measure of storage Immediately below the desktop. This is a standard desk set up for a fully functioning workstation. Drawers can be chosen in several configurations such as a single pedestal with three drawers, or two pedestals with two drawers. This makes for a versatile storage solution at the main desk. Selecting drawers is the key to selecting the perfect desk setup for you. Not enough storage and the workstation will be lacking. The great thing about storage though, there's no such thing as too much of it. So don't be afraid to get the most out of your storage.

  • With Hutch-

    L Shaped Desk with Hutch
    When an L shaped desk has a hutch, it has overhead storage above the main desk. An L shaped desk with a hutch must be placed against the wall for support of the overhead hutch. The benefits of the overhead hutch include closed storage above the desk for storage such as books and binders. They are always a popular choice for desks with high storage capacity needs. There are several options for a hutch layout. You caqn select storage behind doors or open as you see fit. The doors can be matching to the finish or hold a contrast to create a unique two toned finish. Many hutches have tackbards beheath them or even small whiteboards for quick notes.

  • With Storage-

    L Shaped Desk with Storage
    An L shaped desk with storage is a blanket term for a desk that has storage other than the previously stated storage solutions. Often accompanied by either detached or attached storage solutions such as a credenza, file cabinet, or bookcase. An L shaped desk with storage for a small office is a great choice because the user will not have to worry about running out of storage at the main desk. They won't be looking for bookcases, file cabinets, and credenzas to fill up their office space when storage runs out. In a small office, the only limit is how much square footage the storage takes up. As long as there are plenty of space, there is no limit to how much storage can be added to the desk area.

What is the Purpose of the L Shaped Desk?

The L shaped desk is an upgrade from a traditional rectangular desk. It provides double the workspace due to the main desk and return combination that gives the style of desk its distinctive L shape. This reversable return gives 50% more workspace as compared to a rectangular desk. They are perfect for the office worker who multitasks on a regular basis. So, the purpose of the L shaped desk is to provide an enhanced workstation for a busy office worker. Let’s take a look at L shaped desk types.

L Shaped Executive Desk

Executive L Shaped Desk With Drawers

An L shaped executive desk is a larger version of the office furniture. This version is designed to be placed in the “big office.” They are both larger and more ornamental than a standard L shaped desk. Even though they are designed for an executive office, they are popular choices for larger offices with plenty of office space.

L Shaped Standing Desks

Adjustable Height L Shaped Desk With Storage

An L shaped standing desk is a modern take on office furniture where the main desk transitions from a sitting to a standing position at the push of a button. They are found in offices where an active work lifestyle is important. They are used to combat the nagging aches and pains that come with office work.

L Shaped Gaming Desks

Modern L Shaped Desk

This is a specialty L shaped desk designed for the ever popular computer gaming industry. Many gamers are building a complete game room with stylish and functional office furniture. An L shaped gaming desk provides plenty of room for the computer, monitors, and keyboards for the optimum gaming experience.

L Shaped Computer Desks

Modern L Shaped Desk With Storage

An L shaped computer desk is designed to provide a solid workstation for an office worker that uses a computer as their primary work duties. With a computer placed on top of the main desk, the return acts as a secondary workstation for other work duties.

Reversible L Shaped Desk

Modern L Shaped Desk With Side Storage

Most L shaped desks can be reversible, which can be important for a fluid office. An L shaped desk that has the potential to be moved, needs to have the ability to change the side of the return in the move. A reversible L shaped desk is a very valuable asset for a growing office.

L Shaped Desk Workstation

6 Person Workstation With Privacy Panels

Affordable workstations for outfitting a business. They can be standalone units or grouped in pairs to create a T or U shaped desk, or in a group of four to create a large collaborative workstation. This is an excellent choice for a small office that works closely together.

Closing Thoughts

Sometimes shapes of the desks are chosen because of the demands of the small office size or shape. However, that doesn’t mean that an L shaped desk can’t fit within a small office space. Regardless of which desk is chosen, it must function well in the available office space. Often, all these factors make for a difficult decision. In these times it is best to reach out to professionals to help assist in designing the perfect small office layout with an L shaped desk. Madison Liquidators has a full design team with many years of layout and floor planning.

We offer a full service from conception to installation. Going through every step, answering every question until you have found the perfect L shaped desk and accessories you need. We will assist with working within your budget, and your schedule to ensure that all your needs are met. If you are ready to start the process of finding the perfect L shaped desk for a small office, then please reach out to us at Phone (608) 831-1012.

desk, l shaped, l shaped desk


Adam Stacks
About The Author

Adam Stacks, came to Madison Liquidators at the start of 2021 after several years of freelance writing for local newspapers, magazines, and websites. His passion for writing began at an early age by writing personal works of fiction. Since joining Madison Liquidators, he has dedicated himself to studying office furniture and relaying his insight to the consumer in hopes of helping them in their search for quality office furniture.

Adam Stacks

Adam Stacks, came to Madison Liquidators at the start of 2021 after several years of freelance writing for local newspapers, magazines, and websites. His passion for writing began at an early age by writing personal works of fiction. Since joining Madison Liquidators, he has dedicated himself to studying office furniture and relaying his insight to the consumer in hopes of helping them in their search for quality office furniture.