Hello! I've been getting consistent emails and comments on older posts about my DIY craft desk. I thought it would be helpful to put together one complete post with all the details, to help those who'd like to consider this project.
Costs & Materials:
2 of these Cubicle Storage units from Target $50 now, I spent $40.
1 sheet of MDF, 1" thick, about $25 at Home Depot
4 1x4" boards $2 each Home Depot
2 Table Legs (I actually used 2 railing things, cause I liked the shape of them) $2 each HD
White Primer and Paint
Screws
1"x1" board or any scrap board for joining the 2 sides.
Photos of the project:
BEFORE- $35 desk from Craigslist, sheet covered table.
Idea sketch of new desk design.
During assembly - I first put together the cube shelves and then attached them with 2 1x4" boards. This was to make it stable and not let the MDF top sag in the middle.
On the L side, I attached the legs and more 1x4s around the edges.
Painted and sealed - I attached the tops and then painted it and sealed with varnish.
It really didn't take much time at all, once I had it planned out and the parts purchased. Buying two $50 shelves from Target makes it about $150 total in price, so you can definitely find pre-made desks for that amount. However, they will not be nearly as large or with as much storage or as well-built (mostly will be the cheap laminate wood). Also, I absolutely loved the challenge of designing and building something this large all by myself, no help from my husband or anyone. It was completely worth the cost for that feeling of accomplishment!
Here are some links to other fabulous DIY craft desks as well:
Spring Chick's Ikea desk
Curbly's simple desk
Craft desk for four
Thanks to everyone who has left such nice compliments and asked questions. I hope this helps someone become inspired to build their own desks!!
Leave a comment!
UPDATED 12/01/09
Thank you all for your continued interest in my desk! It makes me so happy that so many people have taken this project and built their own. You all are amazing!
Here are a few more details that I have been asked about the desk:
The length of the pieces can all be custom, so it is really dependent on how big your space is. Mine is 6 feet long, and 38" wide. That is because the cube shelf is 36" wide, and I added 1" on both sides to cover the side boards. The side boards are 6 feet long also on the main desk.
A sheet of MDF comes in 8ft lengths, so the 2 ft that were cut off of the bottom to make my main table were used to make the side table, or "L".
So, a standard sized sheet of MDF is 8ft x 4ft (96in x 48in)
I had Lowes cut 10" from the entire length of the board first, then cut the rest of the board at 6ft.
Main desk is 72in x 38 in
Side desk is 24in x 38 in
Extra piece 10in
The MDF I used was 1" thick for stability and balance on my desk. Here is a link to read more about MDF and why it is so wonderful for construction projects.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium-density_fiberboard
UPDATE 12/03/09
This sheet of MDF from Home Depot is 8ft x 4 ft (numbered in grey)
For the visual learners!
Blue: Main Desk
Orange: Side Desk
Grey: Extra
Orange numbers are the order of the cuts
Alternately, you could change the cut order, and have 2 ft cut off the end first, then 10" from the main piece. This would give you a side piece 48"x24" in size. That was too long for my space, but it could work for you!
Joining boards without having nails show
I used this technique to join the tops of the desk to the 1x4" side rails, and to join the "L" side to the main area. There aren't any screw heads showing from the top of the desk, they are all inside. This isn't the easiest way, but it does look sharp when it is finished.
*On some of the holes, I did use a drill gun to first drill a hole, and then the screw. This helped the screw go in a lot easier, especially on the parts that I had to drill upwards.
*Talk to your Home Depot or other hardware store employees, they are full of suggestions about construction. If you don't like this method, they can suggest many others, and direct you to the proper hardware.
Here with the screws highlighted:
Blue: Screw from underneath up into the MDF of the top
Orange: Screw straight forward into the 1x4" side rail