How to build a desk

[Peggers]

Difficulty: Intermediate

If you’ve been making do with the dining table while working from home, maybe it’s time to build a dedicated workspace.

This is a reasonably simple build - one that could help you progress further from beginner level, with a few new skills involved.

Inspiration for this How To guide comes from the Computer desk build by Bunnings Workshop member @Nham. Further inspiration was taken from the Rustic computer desk created by @jeevanfranciz.

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Steps

Step 1

Take the 1800mm x 90mm plank of Tasmanian Oak and measure and cut two pieces 405mm long for your sides and a 390mm section for the central divider.

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Step 2

For the desktop, we want a smooth and clean finish, so the sides and divider should be attached using wood dowels and glue rather than screws.

Measure exactly corresponding holes - three will be enough - on the underside of the desktop, and the top of the sides and central divider. Be careful drilling into the desktop, as your holes should only be 10mm deep - just over halfway through. In the sides and divider you have more room to play with.

Insert the wood dowels with a small amount of wood glue on each, and attach the sides and central divider to the underside of the desktop.

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Step 3

For the bottom of the desk, you can use screws rather than dowels. Screws are quicker, easier and won’t be seen.

Place the bottom panel of the desk on top of the sides and central divider in the correct position. Drill a hole through a corner of the panel into one of the sides and then secure with a 50mm screw. Then repeat for the rest of the side, the other side panel and the central divider.

This completes the main body of the desk.

Step 4

While the main body of the desk is still upside down, screw the table legs to each corner of the bottom panel. Measure 25mm in from the front and sides of the desk and screw the leg plate to the bottom of the desk - make sure this distance is uniform for all four legs.

Once attached, turn the body and legs over and the desk is really taking shape. In fact, you could finish at this point and varnish if you don’t want drawers.

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Step 5

To make the drawers, first measure the entrance of the main body to see how big your drawer fronts need to be. If you’ve followed our instructions correctly, each drawer front should be 570mm long.

You’ll need four pieces of dressed pine 570mm long for the front and back of the drawers, and four pieces 360mm long for the sides.

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Step 6

With the drawer front, back and sides complete, you need the base of the drawer. Cut your piece of 1200mm x 405mm x 18mm timber into two sections that are 530mm x 360mm. These need to be measured exactly so that they fit snugly in the centre of your drawer sides. In this instance that’s two pieces of wood 530mm by 360mm.

In the same way we joined the side panels and central divider to the desktop, we need to use dowels and glue to construct the drawer fronts, but the sides and back can use screws.

Start by attaching the sides, then screw on the back. When you have a firm structure, attach the drawer fronts with glue and dowels.

Check to see if your drawers fit correctly. If not, some light sanding might be required.

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Step 7

To finish the drawers, I reckon they look great with a vintage white effect to the fronts rather than just pine. You don’t need to paint the whole drawer, just the fronts. You won’t need a lot of paint, just one decent coat with a sample pot. When the paint has dried, take some fine grade sandpaper - 120 grit is perfect - and randomly sand back the paint to reveal underlying grains and create very small patches of wood. You get a weathered antique effect which will contrast really well with the dark wood of the desk body.

Finally, add the cabinet knobs to each drawer. Drill a hole through the drawer from the front, making sure you mark the exact centre of the front. Push the screw through and tighten the knob.

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Step 8

With the desk now complete you just need to add some varnish. It looks good if you varnish the body but leave the drawers matt to emphasise the contrast. You can add a dark stain to the desk body if you want to make the contrast even greater. Or equally you can varnish over the white vintage wood to give that a shine as well.

Your desk is now complete - just add a laptop and a mug of coffee!

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Materials

• 2 Merbau Timber panels measuring 1200mm x 405mm x 18mm

• 1 piece of Dressed Tasmanian Oak measuring 1800mm x 90mm x 19mm

• 3 pieces of Dressed Pine 1800mm x 89mm x 19mm

• 1 piece of timber 1200mm x 405mm x 18mm

• Pack of Timber Dowels

• Pack of 50mm screws

• Pack of chunky 12mm screws

• Wood glue

• 250ml of Ultra Gloss Timber Varnish

• 250ml White sample pot of paint

• 2 cabinet knobs

• 1m sandpaper 120 grit

• 4 Hairpin table legs

Tools

• Handsaw

• Drill

• Tape measure

• Ruler or square

• Pencil

• Phillips screwdriver

• Paint brush

Images

[MitchellMc]

A fantastic guide that is easy to follow @Peggers. Well done.

I really like this desk's styling and would love to build something similar in the near future. I'll be following your instructions when I do.

Many thanks for sharing.

Mitchell

[redracer01]

Hello @Peggers 

This build has that modern mid century feel about it. Those modern retro legs gives it that very laid back vibe that a lot of style magazines are going for. Excellent build! I'm sure our readers will find these instructions very handy. 

Cheers,

Red

[Peggers]

Thanks @redracer01 and @MitchellMc 

@redracer01 that's exactly the look I was going for! I like mid-century furniture itself and have restored a couple of Parker pieces in the past. I like giving things a modern twist if I can though.

Glad you like it!