Wether making a statement in large office space, or making the most of an awkward office space; getting an L-shaped desk made to measure can be the answer, and it can actually make the most sense economically too. This post will:
- demystify l-shaped desk jargon
- highlight some potential issues faced when adding a height adjustable motor
- compare L-shaped desk frames
- present alternative solutions including the ‘mini return’ which might be right for you and save you £££s.
L-shaped desk jargon buster
Return
The return is the section that extends back toward you as you look at the main desk. You can have a left-sided return, right-sided return or reversible. Left/right refers to the side the return comes back on, a reversible return means it can be installed either way.
J-shaped/Turned Desks
Referring to the top, not the frame. Usually it indicates the top is made of one piece of material with a portion cut out. J-shaped desks normally have a shaped inside corner, and a shallower return.
3 Leg Desks
Referring to the frame, not the top. Usually required when the return and length are quite long, to offer extra support. L-shaped desks with a smaller return sometimes only have two legs with a supporting beam, 3-leg desks have less wobble by design but introduce more complexity and bulk.
Credenza
Sometimes used to indicate some storage/shelves are built into the desk.
Common issues with sit/stand L-shaped desks
More motors, more problems
A trap many can fall into when purchasing a sit/stand desk frame is always equating more motors to a better product. Multiple motors add more complexity, not only are the chances of mechanical failure greater, but synchronising the motors is essential and sometimes difficult over time.
Load weight
The more desk top space you have, the more the desk top weighs. The more space you have, the more things sit on the desk top. All of this could mean you start to encroach on your weight limits for a sit/stand desk frame. It also becomes harder to equally balance significant weight on the desk, which can cause to problems years down the line.
Stability/wobble
When using a two leg frame, the return is naturally going to create an imbalance that needs to be addressed in the design. Some desk frames do this better than others. When raising the centre of gravity to a standing position, failures in this area become very noticeable.
Sit/stand L-shaped desk frame comparisons
| Desk Frame | Price (inc VAT) | Overall Min Size | Overall Max Size | Type | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fully Jarvis L-shaped | £1149 | 1800 x 1600mm | 2000 x 1600mm | 3 Leg | 15 Years |
| Flexispot L-shaped | £400 | 1200 x 1000mm | 1800 x 1200mm | 2 Leg | 3 Years |
| E:Lift Corner | £933 | 1400 x 1200mm | 1800 x 1800mm | 3 Leg | 5 Years |
| Flytta 3 | £960 | 1200 x 1600mm | 1800 x 1600mm | 3 Leg | 7 Years |
| Conset 4996 | £893 | 1800 x 1800mm | 1800 x 1800mm | 3 Leg | 3 Years |
| HADO HD3 | £995 | 1000mm | 580mm | 2 Leg | 7 Years |
Alternative approaches to the L-shaped desk
Hybrid sit/stand ‘mini-return’ could save you £££s
Negate many of the issues that come with L-shaped tops (extra wobble, extra motors etc) with a visually similar approach as show below by buying only a standard sit/stand desk frame with an additional standalone section, build in a custom shape ‘mini return’ to create the L-shape illusion.
Budget solution
After reviewing the above comparison table, it is apparent that L-shaped desk frames, especially 3-leg models, come at a premium. If on a budget, it might be best to decide which is more important, sit/stand or L-shaped. Using third party legs is a cost effective way of building a high quality L-shaped non-sit stand desk, learn more about this approach here.
Solid Wood Custom L-Shaped Desk Gallery
Buy your custom L-shaped desk top today
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