How can I makeover my desk area?

I would hang cabinets with doors or shelves or a combination of both above the desk and cover the space under them with a wall to wall DIY cork bulletin board, I mean like plywood covered with cork. Paint the cork a cheery bright color and make the cabinets match the desk. You can run the electric cords up the wall behind the bulletin board and put the electronics in the cabinets/shelves. You could make a gallery wall on the side for all the pictures. I see you say you don't want to cover the brick but you would still have an awful lot of it left.

Gywn: What about using something like this -- and you could custom paint/stain it any color? You could also put your laptop inside -- to keep dust free --- and desk more clutter free!

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Assembled-24x30x24-in-Corner-Wall-Kitchen-Cabinet-in-Unfinished-Oak-CW2430OHD/202020615

1st: The shelf is starting to warp. Put the Heavy stuff on file cabinet to the right, As for the Lap top, get a gift box the size of your lap top. Reinforce the sides. You can put pictures on there.And have Ur lap top cover with memories.

Oh goodness you were all so right to post this problem on HOMETALK. The brick is quite unique and lovely to look at I agree 100%. However; the deak filing cabinet and chair all need a splach of color paint of some magical collaboration. I would also emphasis shaeleves and not like the Traingular corner one it bows in the center takes away from the whole space. In my humble opinion, only. You need shelves and how you lay them out is up to your needs. But they can also serve as a means to display those wonder fmaily photos as well. Pick a theme, or a color palet that insipres you, that makes you smile as you walk by or go to sit down. You have a lot to work with , the bones of the corner desk are great now you jsust need to do minor cosmetic touches. Search this website head to toe there are thousands of great people who post their amzing projects. Look ask and get down to making it your own. Do not forget to share the end product with those of us waiting to see how it turns out.

I would make the table, chair, wastebasket, etc. go together more by painting them the same color, that way they won't look like they were just thrown together. I would choose a color from the brickwork to make the area blend in. I think your shelf could use some more support for what you are putting on it, it looks like it is bowing a bit, perhaps longer and more brackets would help. I would also put the family pictures that you love so much on the wall facing your office area where you could see them, making it into more of a picture gallery wall, rather than just a few here and there on the walls and nothing else. Move the speaker or the picture blocked by the speaker. It looks weird where it is, at least to me. To cover your laptop, find a piece of fabric or even a pillow case in a nice pattern that will go with the look you want. Make or fold it into a size that will cover it, but not much more so that you have a nice looking cover that doesn't look like you are just putting a pillow case over it. You can get the look you want with not a whole lot of expense, just a little paint and time to pull things together. You can do this, Gwyn!

Thanks everyone so far. The shelf is metal and is leftover from another project, but from what I see from suggestions the simplest and least expensive thing to start with is paint to unify things.

Keep the suggestions coming.😊

1) buy a grown​ up desk, not one made of plastic.

2) why do people have desks facing the wall? Face the room with shelves and storage on the wall

Shop Craigslist or thrift stores for a desk with a hutch, then you won't need rickety shelves or filling cabinets.

If you want to see some of the brick, cut a hole in the backing above the desk where the computer would sit.

If you're diligent you can find great deals

I would cover part of the brick, about half way up the wall, with drywall, paneling, with a chair rail at the top. This would not only define and soften the 'office corner', separating it from the rest of the room, but would then provide a smooth surface on which to hang bb, calendar, clock,. It would also provide an opaque surface behind which the cords and cables could be hidden. If you wanted to add colour to the space, it could be easily painted.

Thanks to everyone for ideas. Here’s a photo of my updated desk area now. Much nicer and it hides all the cords.

Hi Gwyn, you could start by whitewashing or painting the walls, that will lighten them up wonderfully! You could paint the chair, desk and shelves a nice bright color, update the lighting to LED lights