There’s nothing quite like a good desk for putting you into work mode. Whether you want to outfit a home office, give the kids a homework space, or just want a surface for a computer or crafting, desks are essential. However, a good desk that fits your space and suits your needs might not fit into your budget. To save money and get exactly the look and size you want, a DIY desk is the perfect answer.
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Benefits to Building a DIY Desk
Buying a standard desk from any store, or online, means that it isn’t customized to you and your needs at all.
One example of this is that you have to make the most out of what you have to work with. When placing your computer and all of its accessories, as well as extras, such as papers, writing utensils, notebooks, etc., you really only have a limited amount of space — the space that it comes with. When you build your own desk, you take all of that into account beforehand. You can build a desk with your own customized shelves and be sure that you have ample space for everything that you need.
It also helps with comfort and safety. When building your own desk, everything is adjusted to your personal needs — height of the desk, height of the chair, where the chair is positioned, etc. With a standard desk, a lot of people run into muscle issues, such as with their back. This can be prevented when you build your own desk, because it’s designed specifically to your own needs.
Another great thing about building your own desk, is that you can make it adjustable to become a standing desk. This way, if you’ve been sitting down for too long, you can adjust the desk to be higher so that you can stand it at while working.
Our Top 10 DIY Desk Designs
1. DIY Pallet Desk
Pallets are very trendy in home décor right now. They can be polished and painted or left with a rustic finish. DIY desks made from pallets are no exception. This one is great for you to work on your laptop or for kids to do their homework. Pallets may be a little difficult to work with, but the results are stunning.
Level of difficulty: Difficult
Duration: 1 day
Materials you need:
2. DIY Easy Modern Desk
This simple modern desk is very stylish. It’s perfect for a small space, as it doesn’t take up much room. Most hardware stores can cut your wood when you purchase it, so there’s no need to invest in a whole wood shop! It looks like a lot of work, but our tutorial below will walk you through each step.
Level of difficulty: Intermediate
Duration: 1 day
Materials you need:
- 2 pieces of wood
- Hairpin legs
- Measuring tape
- Hammer
- Nails
- Paintbrush
- White paint
3. DIY Wall-Mounted Desk
This is by far one of the simplest and cheapest DIY desks to make. It is attached to the wall, so you’ll have to be sure of exactly where you want it placed. However, it’s also very customizable. This desk may be scaled up or down depending on your space and can be painted however you like.
Level of difficulty: Easy
Duration: 3 hours
Materials you need:
- Wooden board
- Saw
- Measuring tape
- Pocket screws
- Wood finish
- Clamps
- Kreg Jig & accessories
- Drill
- Wood glue
- Wood filler
- Speedbor bit
- Random orbit sander
- Sandpaper
- Speed square
- Foam brush
- Rachet set
4. DIY Vanity Desk with Mirror
This gorgeous desk also doubles as a vanity table. The two inner compartments are great for storing personal items or work supplies, while the desktop has ample room for study or work. Because you can lift each compartment lid separately, there’s no need to completely clear the desk to access the belongings within. With a natural wood stain and minimalist hairpin legs, this desk is very sophisticated and looks a lot more expensive than it is!
Level of difficulty: Medium
Duration: 6 hours
Materials you need:
- Plywood
- Laminated pine board
- Hairpin legs
- Pull bar handles
- European hinge
- Light bulbs
- Electric work box
- 15-amp receptacle
- Lutron dimmer
- Adhesive bumper pads
- Lamp Cord
- Lamp holder
- Mirror
- Mirror adhesive
- Corner bracket
- Wood finish
- White paint
5. DIY Filing Cabinet Desk
For an easier DIY desk than building one from scratch, you can recycle new or used filing cabinets. They not only provide very sturdy support for your desk, but make for some fantastic built-in storage. With minimal tools and some paint, this gorgeous DIY desk can be made to match any room and serve as a stylish, functional work area.
Level of difficulty: Medium
Duration: 1 day
Materials you need:
- 2 filing cabinets
- Big wood board
- Wood glue
- Drill
- Wood screws
- Sandpaper
- Paint
- Wood stain
6. DIY Pipe Desk
This sturdy DIY desk looks very modern, thanks to the use of metal piping for its legs and frame. The butcher block top is heavy and feels very sturdy, making it perfect for a utilitarian work or craft area. Because you can have the pipes cut to size at your hardware store, the technique used for building this desk is fairly simple. There are no dangerous power tools required, just a strong arm and accurate measurements.
Level of difficulty: Easy
Duration: 2 hours
Materials you need:
- Level
- Drill
- Wood screws
- Workbench top
- ¾” Piping
- Flanges
- Tees
- Casters
7. DIY Barstool Desk
Perfect for a kid’s homework area, this cute little desk is not only easy to build, but very cheap if you source old bar stools from thrift stores or yard sales. The little shelves are perfect for storing books or school supplies, while the work area can be made larger or smaller depending on how large your space is. This very customizable DIY desk design is perfect for a beginner.
Level of difficulty: Easy
Duration: 2 day
Materials you need:
- 2 barstools
- Furring strips
- Wood board
- Nails
- Wood screws
- Spray paint
- Measuring tape
- Saw
8. DIY Murphy Desk
Just like the old beds, this adorable DIY desk folds up into itself. No matter how small your space, building a Murphy desk means you can have ample work space without permanently taking over the floor area. The built-in shelves give you room to store work or school supplies for easy access when the desk is extended, and the chalkboard is a really fun feature. The best part is, it’s a very simple build!
Level of difficulty: Easy
Duration: 1 day
Materials you need:
- Wood boards
- Wood screws
- Nails
- Measuring tape
- Pocket hole screws
- Folding leg brackets
- Drill
- Saw
- Wood glue
- Wood stain
- Swivel latch
- Hinges
9. DIY Rustic Wood Desk
The next DIY desk idea should not give you too much of a headache, especially if you will benefit from some help from a friend. Also, in case you are not an ace at woodwork our tutorial below will help you with all you need to do in order to finalize this project.
Level of difficulty: Intermediate
Duration: 1 day
Materials you need:
- Wood boards
- Measuring tape
- Flanges
- Pipes
- Orbit sander
- Drill
- Wood glue
- Wood filler
- Table saw
- Wood finish
- Wood stain
- Paintbrushes
- T-joints
10. DIY Minimalist Modern Desk
This project is much more elaborate than all the others we have presented so far. But with a few tools, plenty of time, and some woodworking skills you will surely be able to successfully complete it.
Level of difficulty: Difficult
Duration: 1 day
Materials you need:
- Power grommet outlet
- Wood board
- Shrink tube
- Led strip
- Wood veneer
- Wood stain and finish
- T-nuts
- Corner clamping jig
- Assembly square
- Bandy clamps
- Hand screw clam
- Mini travel iron
- Table saw
- Jaw stand
Our Final Thoughts on a DIY Desk Space
Everyone, from children to adults, needs a space where they can work or perform tasks. Instead of spending a lot of money on a desk that may not be perfectly suitable, try your hand at a DIY desk. There are plans to fit any skill level, budget, and space! You can also try these easy DIY shelves. Have you made your own DIY desk? Share your experience with us in the comments below!
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