How to Make an Inexpensive Desk

If your budget allots only a smidgen for a desk, don't despair. Here are three ways to make an inexpensive desk.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wood Or Plastic Veneer Strips
• Keyboard Trays
• Flat Doors
• Paints
• Rectangular Wooden Table Tops
• Rolling Storage Units
• Tables
• Two Upright Two-drawer File Cabinets
• Tables

1. Convert a rectangular table - perhaps a sofa table or a dining table - into a desk by installing a keyboard tray under the top. You can usually push a two-drawer file cabinet or a roll-around drawer storage unit under the table top to keep the storage close by and the office footprint small.

2. Buy a rectangular prefabricated table top - sold at home centers - or a sheet of plywood (cut to desktop size; finish the edges with self-stick strips of wood or plastic veneer). Put a file cabinet on each side of the table top and, if you have a computer and want the keyboard at proper height, install a keyboard tray on the underside of the desktop.

3. Opt for a sawhorse-and-table top (or plywood-topped) desk. Screw the desktop to the tops of the sawhorses, which are placed at opposite ends of the desk.

Tips & Warnings

• Paint your desk a bright, fun color for a whimsical look or go with black for a high-tech look.
• Substitute a flat door (you may want to cut it down) for a desktop perched on file cabinets or sawhorses.
• Look for keyboard trays and roll-around drawer storage units at office supply stores. Roll-around drawer storage units (usually the open-wire styles) also are sold with closet/pantry organizer gear at home centers, and organization/storage speciality stores.

on 8/8/2006 Install 4 commercial 6' shelving rods 16" apart, make sure you screw into your studs; insert 4 commercial heavy duty shelving brackets (hollow square with adjustable arm, remove arm) for the the desk area. Any shelf with a lot of weight, use heavy duty brackets; otherwise used regular shelving brackets. Cut a piece of 3/4" plywood 27" x 60. Round off the edges. Sand the item completely and paint or stain. This is used for the desktop, I attached underneath a homemade roll out keyboard drawer from plywood making it with sufficient space for a miscellaneous tray and mouse pad. I purchased the drawer roller metal rod; made a keyboard roll out. Then cut plywood for storage shelves above desk 12" x 5' or whatever desired size. Round off edges, sand and paint/stain. Install brackets on each rod at desired heights, put your shelving into place and you are done. Screwing the shelving down depends on the brackets you use, mine, however are not screwed down and to date I have had no problem. I have been using this since 1999 and it works for me.

You now have a functional work area, and nothing touches the floor.

on 12/15/2005 A hollow 28 inch door makes a great desk top. I use an old door which had a hole bored. I bore an additional hole and put all my cords through them (bundles with plastic cord tubing I found in the lighting section at Home Depot). It makes for a clean look, for little money.

on 11/22/2005 You can use a flush door as a desk or tabletop. They are 6'8" long and come in a variety of widths, usually between 24" and 36". Just don't get one that's prehung or drilled for a handle.