If you don’t think you have enough room for a full-sized desk, consider installing a floating desk along the wall of your workspace. Floating desks can be as small as 1. 5 feet (0. 46 m) x 3 feet (0. 91 m), and often require only 1-2 pieces of wood.
Most standard desks are around 29–30 inches (74–76 cm) high. Internal dimensions vary, but some of the more common lengths include 48 in (120 cm), 60 in (150 cm), and 72 in (180 cm), with widths of 24 in (61 cm), 30 in (76 cm), and 36 in (91 cm). [3] X Research source To keep things simple, round off the planned measurements for your desk to the nearest 1⁄2 foot (0. 15 m). This will make all the measuring, marking, and cutting much easier.
You’ll be clamping multiple boards together to fashion the desktop, so be sure to shave off any rounded edges on the boards that will go in the middle section. Setting the adjustable blade guard on your saw will make this task easier. If you don’t want to bother with a lot of cutting and clamping, another option is to buy a solid door slab or sheet of laminated 3⁄4 in (1. 9 cm) plywood and use it as a readymade one-piece desktop. [5] X Research source
An automated finishing sander can save you quite a bit of time and energy compared to manual sanding. If you’d prefer to leave your wood unfinished for more of a contemporary rustic look, you can skip straight to gluing the boards together.
Wipe off any excess glue that seeps out through the cracks in the boards right away to prevent it from hardening on the surface of the wood. Allow the glue to dry for at least 1 hour before unclamping the boards and proceeding with your project. [8] X Research source
Add stain one layer at a time until you get the desired depth of color, wiping off the excess pigment between coats. [10] X Research source When you’re satisfied with the appearance of your newly-finished desktop, allow it to dry for at least 24 hours.
Note that 2x4 boards are actually only 1. 5 inches (3. 8 cm) thick, not a full 2 inches (5. 1 cm). This means that if your desktop is 24 inches (61 cm) wide, each of your support pieces will need to be 21 inches (53 cm) to allow enough room for a leg on either side. Similarly, you’ll need to subtract 1. 5 inches (3. 8 cm) from your initial table leg measurements to reflect the thickness of the desktop—you want your desk to sit 28 inches (71 cm) off of the ground, for example, each of your legs will need to be 26. 5 inches (67 cm) long. Paint or stain your table legs to match your desktop, or leave them unfinished to provide some visual contrast.
Metal legs, for instance, could give a lightly-stained wooden desk a sleek, minimalistic modern air, while square frames can keep the underside of a desk from looking so open without sacrificing valuable storage space. [13] X Research source
Think outside the box and keep your eyes peeled for interesting materials and objects that you think might make good legs for a homemade desk. Examples of other unusual items you could utilize as legs include plywood sheeting, bamboo, industrial pipe, telescopic metal poles, or even modified wooden crates or pallets. [15] X Research source
Store-bought desk legs typically have screw holes molded into the ends to make the assembly process a cinch. You may need to get creative when it comes to putting on legs made from converted or salvaged materials, depending on the general shape and configuration of the pieces.
Make sure the drawers you use are a suitable size for your desk’s overall dimensions. Antique stores and thrift shops are good place to hunt for old furniture containing drawers that you might be able to transplant into your homemade desk.
Choose storage pieces that are approximately the same height that you want your desk to be. If you like, you could even cut legs for one side of your desk and place a cabinet or shelf on the opposite side to get the best of both worlds.
Creating a hidden cord hole can be a good way to keep all those pesky wires and cables organized and out of the way, especially if you plan on positioning your desk flush against the wall of your work space. Hole saws come in a variety of diameters, ranging from less than 1 in (2. 5 cm) to 6 inches (15 cm). Use the size that you think will work best to contain all of the cords for your various devices. [19] X Research source
Floating desks can make for tidier workspaces, as they enable easy cleaning and leave the floor open for separate storage solutions or additional furniture or accessories. Mount your desk at around chest height to make a standing desk that also functions as an inconspicuous shelf when you’re not working.
To avoid complicating things, use the same type of wood for both sections of your L-shaped desk. Remember that you’ll need to attach 2 additional legs or another rack, shelf, or cabinet to support the extension.
