L shaped desk to boost productivity. Here are 10 ideas.

L-shaped desk IKEA

If you’re always thinking of ways to up your productivity, you’ll want to rethink your most basic productivity hub – your desk – every once in a while.

Your desk configuration may have worked but as time goes by, your requirements and style may change. And the desk that once serve you so well, may need an upgrade.

I’ve worked with a single desk for the longest time but am now seriously considering an L shaped desk. Reason being, I’ve recently (I know, late to the party) discovered the joys of a second monitor.

With a laptop and a monitor, my desk space is getting tight. The additional L shaped desk space will let me spread out all my notes and jottings and keep my main desk area solely for the machines. The goal: division of space for greater focus.

Fortunately, an L shaped desk isn’t hard to find or hack. Here are 7 ways to fit one into your home office space, whether big or small. Let’s start with the IKEA Furniture lineup and work our ways to some cool IKEA hacks for desks.

L-shaped desks available from IKEA

1. BEKANT corner desk

IKEA BEKANT L shaped desk
IKEA.com

Right out of the box – the IKEA BEKANT L-shaped desk. It’s compact, with a price tag of $359.00 and a choice of left or right corners. It comes in a motorized version too to turn it into a standing desk. If you want a fuss-free desk that simply works, you can’t beat the IKEA BEKANT desk.

2. MICKE corner workstation

MICKE corner workstation
IKEA.com

The MICKE corner workstation tucks right into a tight 3.5′ x 3.5′ corner and comes with a storage hutch. It’s a great choice as a kids desk and if it’s too simple, here are some ideas on how to make the MICKE desk work even better.

3. BESTÅ BURS L shaped desk

Place two BESTÅ BURS desks in an L shape like what @SassAndSpice did and voilà, instant expansion of your workspace. This desk setup is good for a narrow space as the depth of the BESTÅ BURS desk is just shy of 16 inches. Given the shallow desk, the monitor may be a bit near and a table in a drawer hack may be the answer.

4. ALEX desk combination

An almost L shaped desk setup with the ALEX desk at right angles to a LINNMON table-ALEX drawer-ADILS leg on the other side. The two units are not joined which is great if you want the option to move things around at a later date. In the meantime, it works! Add a KALLAX bookshelves on top of the LINMMON tabletop to mimic a desk hutch.

IKEA Hack a super long L-shaped desk

5. IKEA corner desk hack

IKEA LINNMON large corner desk

The LINNMON tabletops are a good starting point when you want to piece together a long, sprawling desk with lots of real estate for triple monitors. Join as many tabletops together to get the formation you need. What’s neat is there isn’t an obtrusive leg at the right angle joint. See the tutorial for the large corner desk.

corner home office hack

The glossy LINNMON tables are stunning, when paired with gold accents, as Leah Remillet proves in her home office makeover. She used two LINNMON table tops, one at 47″ in length and the other 59″ long. The table tops are attached to 6 GODVIN legs and an ALEX drawer unit on one end of her office desk. Hold the two tables together at the seams with straight brackets.

Add on additional storage

6. IKEA desk hack with HEMNES desk & storage unit

IKEA HEMNES desk with storage cubby

For a desk with a more classic style, you’ll want to take a look at the HEMNES. This desk hack from OpenParenthesis takes a HEMNES Desk and joins it to a HEMNES Sofa Table. They left off the drawer pedestal on the right and used the materials to construct a back to the table. The two units are joined together with brackets on the underside of the tables. Finally, the table tops are covered with custom cut glass to protect the desk surface.

7. KALLAX shelving unit as computer desk

KALLAX desk combination

Here’s another take on the KALLAX desk combination. The KALLAX desk is usually assembled with the 2×4 units in vertical position. You can definitely change the KALLAX desk to a horizontal position. For this IKEA hack, the KALLAX shelf supports a LINNMON desk on an old IKEA pedestal. An ALEX drawer unit will probably work as well. If you have lots of stuff, this KALLAX desk hack will work beautifully.

Use IKEA countertops to do the work

8. IKEA kitchen countertop desk hack

IKEA KARLBY countertops with ALEX drawer units in L shaped desk

IKEA kitchen worktops are perfect as desk tops. Any one of the IKEA kitchen worktops will work but the KARLBY is one of the most popular choices. The KARLBY comes in oak, walnut and birch wood veneer sandwiching a layer of particleboard. Which means, it’s not solid wood, so if you’re thinking of cutting it down, you’ll need to seal the end with edge banding. Nevertheless, they look great, is durable and is more affordable than solid wood butcher blocks. Set the countertops on top of ALEX drawer units (as pictured above), table legs or IKEA trestle legs to complete the desk setup.

9. Storage drawer units as desk legs

Home office makeover

Kitchen countertops can be combined with IKEA drawer units like the HELMER or even an IKEA dresser for storage space. IKEA KALLAX shelves above the desk add a lot more storage. See how it’s done on the IKEA Home Office makeover.

10. DIY corner desk with BESTÅ cabinets

Jillian made this DIY desk for the little ones, but it’s easily adaptable to adult height. (Just use furniture legs to raise the BESTÅ 25 1/4″ high cabinets to standard desk height at 28 inches). For the countertop it’s up to you. Plywood is an affordable option. If you have a bit more budget you can go for custom wood top or a live edge wood plank. You’ll need a desktop with a minimum depth of 16 inches to cover the cabinets.

Feel inspired to makeover your home office or attempt an IKEA L-shaped desk hack? Tell us all about it.