Build a Desk

Making your own desk can save hundreds or thousands of dollars. If you are interested in a customized look, you can create a wooden desk that looks professional and has plenty of storage space. Measure your office, choose your look and build a desk that fits your style. Some familiarity with power tools and home improvement projects will make this job easier.

Steps

Adjustable Desk

1. Get your materials. You'll need a 48"x20" (or similar measurement) piece of MDF or plywood, two adjustable wood trestles (easily found at Ikea or other stores), wood screws, and paint. You will also need a circular saw if your wood is not already cut to your desired measurement.
2. Cut your wood to size using a circular saw. Measure and cut the wood you purchased to the necessary dimensions for the desk top. Remember: measure twice, cut once.
   • You can also cut a hole in the back of the surface or at the edge, in order to fit cables through.
3. Sand your wood. Unless you have found pre-finished wood panels, you will want to sand the desk. You can rent a power sander to save time. Wipe off the desk when you are done.
   • Use 40-grit sandpaper if your wood needs stripping and resurfacing.
   • Use 80-grit sandpaper to smooth out imperfections.
   • Use 360-grit sandpaper at the end of sanding, to further smooth the surface before staining.
4. Paint the wood. If you want your desk to be a color, you can paint the trestles and desktop. Spray paint will probably go on the fastest, but you can use regular paint as well. Keep in mind that a wood stain will only work if your wood is unfinished.
   • You can choose different colors for the cabinets/trestles and desktop, but you should choose colors that will compliment your house.
5. Place the pieces. Bring the pieces into the room where the desk will be used. This saves you the trouble of carrying the whole desk in later. Set the desktop atop the trestles, so that the bar of the trestle is a few notches up and the two trestles are placed evenly about 3" from each end of the desk top. You can check to make sure that it's level but for most situations it won't need to be completely perfect.
6. Screw the desk top in place. Using appropriately long wood screws, screw through the desk top and into the trestles, 3 screws to each side (evenly spaced). You can further secure the desk if you can find 4 corner brackets that are small enough to screw into the desk top and the adjustable trestle surface.
7. Do finishing touches. Use some wood putty to fill the screws and then finish with some paint touch-ups. Add any other finishing touches you want as well. Enjoy your new desk!
   • Remember that you can use the trestles to adjust the height of the desk.

Bedstand Desk

1. Get your materials. You'll need a side table or nightstand that is at least almost as high as you want your desk to be, MDF or plywood that is as deep as or a few inches deeper than the nightstand and as long as you want your desk to be, and table legs (2 if you can find them at the same height as the nightstand, 2 sets at different heights if you need to add legs to the nightstand to keep them even). You will also need wood glue, decking screws, and corner brackets.
   • The height of the table legs and the nightstand (+ optional legs) must be equal and at a good height for a desk. Buy wood table legs for the long side that are made of wood so that they can be trimmed to size.
2. Cut your wood to size. Cut the wood desktop to the desired size using a circular saw or jigsaw. Sand it when you are done.
3. Paint the desk top. Paint the desk top to the desired color. Spray paint may be the fastest option.
4. Attach the desk legs. Attach the long legs to the desk top using decking screws. The legs go only on one side, as the cabinet will act as the other set of legs.
5. Place the pieces. Add wood glue to the top of the nightstand and then place the desk top with the cabinet centered under the end with no legs.
6. Attach the desk top to the cabinet. Brace the desk top further in place by attaching corner brackets underneath.
7. Do finishing touches. You can paint or add other finishing touches to your new desk. Enjoy!

Floating Desk

1. Get your materials. You'll need 5' of 2x10 lumber and 6' of 1x10 lumber of quality but lightweight wood, wood glue, decking screws, 1" wood screws, and three 4-5" L brackets. You'll also need a saw and a stud finder, as well as any stain or paint desired.
2. Cut the wood to size. You'll need two 5' boards and two 5" boards. The 5" boards should come from the 1x10 lumber.
3. Mount the desk top to the wall. Mount the desk top (the 5' 2x10) to the wall, using the decking screws and the L brackets. The L brackets should be attached to the studs in your wall, so be sure to locate these before you attach the brackets. Use the shorter screws when attaching the desktop to the brackets.
4. Attach the side boards to the bottom piece. Glue and then use decking screws to attach the 5" side pieces to the bottom board.
5. Attach the bottom section to the top. Apply wood glue to the tops of the side boards, brace the bottom section in place beneath the desk top, and then use decking screws to drill through the desktop into the side pieces.
6. Allow it to set. Place a brace underneath the desk structure until the glue dries.
7. Add finishing touches. You can paint your desk if you want to or add other finishing touches. Keep in mind that your desktop can only support a monitor or laptop PC and should not be used to support a desktop PC.

Tips

• If you are using plywood or MDF and you do not want to paint your desktop, consider upholstering it. Lay a large sheet of coated linen, canvas or denim over the table. Place the table top on top of the fabric. Stretch the fabric around the sides and secure with a staple gun at the bottom. Use upholstery tacks around the perimeter for a professional upholstered look.
• Be careful with the power saw, you can cut your fingers off if you are not careful!

Warnings

• Be careful when working with power tools. Always wear safety glasses, gloves and clothing that covers your arms and legs.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Door/wood panels/reclaimed wood
• Cabinets/wooden trestle legs
• Heavy, medium and fine grit sandpaper
• Power sander
• Wood stain/paint
• Upholstery fabric and supplies (optional)
• Circular saw
• Saw horses
• Shop vacuum
• Tack cloths
• Wood finish
• L brackets
• Wood screws
• Safety glasses
• Work gloves
• Work clothing

Sources and Citations

See also

• Build a Hexagon Picnic Table
• Make a Table
• Build a Picnic Table
• Attach Table Legs
• Build a Kitchen Table
• Make a Coffee Table
• Tile a Table Top
• Refinish a Wood Table
• Build a Coffee Table
• Make a Kids Table and Chairs