Office/Study: free-standing desk, or shelf?

Naf

I'm trying to make the most out of our small room as a study room for when I go to uni. I'm planning to put shelves up with flexible shelving brackets: the ones where you mount 2+ rails on the wall and the brackets hook into it, then lay on 18mm MDF boards for shelves (sturdy enough, I imagine - maybe get some edging to make it look more presentable.
My dilemma is what to use as a desk/workspace. I really want to put something into the corner; maximising the space I can use, but I don't know what best to use to hold it up?
I could use long wall rails so they reach low enough to hook brackets into, and a single shelving bracket on the other wall.
Or I could use some kind of shelving bracket all round. The shelf will stretch around 60-70cm off the wall, but I can't find brackets longer than about 40cm, will this be strong enough to hold books, and for me to lean on while writing?
Or am I going to have to resort to creating some legs for it, either making it free-standing from the wall entirely, or just some legs at the front edges.

Any ideas?

Jaynne

Have you considered getting a small unit for one / both sides and some MFC cut to the size of the space with some battoning to support it if necessary? Essentially a desk to fit.

I've done it before with some beech units and MFC and it looked very smart.

Naf

Its an idea, definitely. I have a desk for one end that'll probably work (after I chop about 5cm off the bottom of the legs... CAREFULLY! :-P
I saw a unit I really wanted for the other end, then realised its about 3CM too tall :-(

Jaynne

Screw in rubber feet to raise the other side or stick some painted batton under the worktop to level it?

Naf

nah, the reason for the height restriction is the slight overhang of the windowsill. I need to fit the desk surface just under it at 73.5cm. The unit I wanted is 73, but then there's the 18mm of the MDF surface.

getmore4less

The real trick is to use the hight in the room to create storage.

for corner I have one of these, not seen one for years though.
I get a 24" screen in the cubbyhole