DIY Desk with Drawers
Get the full tutorial for a simple DIY desk with drawers. This semi wall-mounted desk is a perfect beginner DIY project!
Am I the only one who feels like my kids’ ankles are permanently sticking out of their too-short pants? You know, those pants I would swear were too long for them just weeks ago?!? They are ever growing and changing, and all I can do is try my best to keep up and enjoy each stage. And this time, it meant turning the “antique” printer’s cabinet nightstands (my favorite little IKEA hack last year) into wall mounted desks for my growing boys.
It was truly the easiest DIY desk ever. And I think it’s perfect for the small space on either side of the window in their desk nook!
You could actually use any dresser, and if you can’t find pine project board wide enough, then you could always use plywood cut to fit. The beauty of these particular desks, though, is that the pine project board was not only already the perfect size for the desk (no cuts needed!), the pine board is actually the same as what the IKEA rast dressers are made from, so I was able to basically get an exact match by using the same finishing technique I had used on the dressers.
Enough chit chat, though, here are diy desk plans for you!
Materials needed for a simple diy corner desk
- IKEA rast dresser (here is the tutorial to give it the antique printer’s cabinet look) or any small dresser
- 1×2 board cut to 24” for the wall cleat
- 24×48” pine project board for the desk top
- 3M strip
- Tools: drill, sheetrock and wood screws, level
How to make a DIY wood desk with drawers
Easy DIY Desk Building Project
- prep dresser and finish table top to match
Follow this tutorial to give an IKEA Rast dresser an antique printer’s cabinet look. (Remember that any small chest of drawers could work!) Follow this same tutorial to finish your pine top to match the dresser.
- install the wall cleat
Cut a 45 degree angle on one end of your 24″ 1×2 (this step just removes the sharp corner of the cleat by making it angle into the wall under the desk). Then using a level, mark the wall at the exact height of your dresser, and secure the 1×2 to the wall so that the top aligns with the mark you made. Be sure to secure it into at least one stud.
- assemble your desk
Predrill a hole vertically through the cleat attached to the wall, then place your dresser opposite the cleat and lay your project board across the cleat and dresser to form the desk.
- secure your desk top
Secure the project board to the cleat support using a wood screw through the hole you predrilled. Be sure it is long enough to go all the way through the cleat and enter the project board, but not so long that it will come out the top of your desk. Secure the project board to the dresser using a 3M strip (to avoid damaging the dresser).
Since we homeschool 3 days each week (and this year I’ll have three different grades simultaneously!), I know we will put these little desks to good use. And the space saving cleat on the wall means optimal desk space… while the drawers provide much needed storage space for their school/office supplies so they can keep the desktop clear.
And these desks were so easy to make that I’m actually planning a variation of this diy project in my own home office soon!
What do you think? I’m telling you, you can build this desk so easily! Where could you use one of these?
Don’t forget to pin it!
Hi Rachel, What a great Idea! They look great!
Thank you!
I love these. They would make great crafting desks too with all that lovely storage space!
Thank you, Jayne. You’re so right!
Good idea and they look really nice.
Thank you, Marlene!
Hi Rachel, love the desk and your entire work area. Are you able to tell me where you got the flower pot and wood holder that is on the desk?
Thank you so much, Barbara! I actually made the wood holder (and am hoping to post the tutorial next week!). The flower pots were part of this set (affiliate link). I hope this helps! 🙂
Thank you so much for the information. You are quite talented!
Thank you for your kind comment, Barbara!
How have the desks held up!? I feel like I tried the Rast drawers in the store once and they were hard to use? I’m worried my kids are too hard on furniture haha – we homeschool too, so I’m envisioning something similar. Hmmmm..
Ours have held up great! But I admit that Rast drawers are not smooth glide or anything. 😉 My boys don’t actually open and close them a ton, though. They have chosen to store the books they are not currently using for school (like next semester’s workbook) and personal treasures in them… so they aren’t in daily use.