Working remotely for extended periods demands a desk that’s sturdy, spacious, ergonomic, and aesthetically pleasing. Like many, I found this out firsthand during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. My solution, as with most of my projects, was to design and build a custom desk primarily from materials I already had on hand.
Key Steps in Constructing Your Desk
Building your own work-from-home desk can be a rewarding project. Here are the essential steps I followed, along with some crucial lessons learned:
-
Choose Your Drawer Hardware First: This is a big one! The depth and overall design of your cabinets must be determined by the length of your drawer slides. Trust me, learning this the hard way can lead to frustrating rework. Selecting your drawer hardware early will save you time and headaches.
-
Construct Cabinet Frames: I opted for 1″ x 2″ lumber for the cabinet frames. This size provides ample stability while helping to minimize the overall weight of the desk.
-
Build the Drawers: Plywood is an excellent material for constructing sturdy and durable drawers.
-
Create the Tabletop: My design incorporated height adjustments, allowing the desk to be customized to fit the user perfectly. This feature is key for an ergonomic setup.
-
Add Plywood Panels: Once the frames are built, it’s time to add the plywood panels. I used 1/4″ or 3/8″ plywood for the cabinet sides, 1/2″ for the drawer fronts, and 1/8″ for the back panels.
-
Finish Strong: Sand, Stain, and Seal: This final step brings your desk to life. Always sand outdoors or in a well-ventilated workspace to minimize dust. After sanding, apply your chosen stain, followed by two or more coats of clear polyurethane for protection and durability. Remember to use good dust collection and respiratory personal protective equipment (PPE) throughout this stage to ensure your safety.
Building your own desk allows for complete customization and can be a cost-effective way to create the perfect workspace. What kind of desk features are most important to you for a productive work-from-home setup?
