How to Build an L-Shaped Desk

An L-shaped desk fits tightly into the corner of a room giving the desk a wrap around effect. This L-shaped desk design is inexpensive, easy to assemble and effective. This desk takes approximately one hour to an hour and a half to build. Read on to learn how to build an L-shaped desk.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 4-by-8 piece of 3 3/4-inch plywood
• 1 1/2-inch quarter-cut round trim 18 inches long
• Jigsaw
• 1 1-by-8 inch board twice the height of the filing cabinets
• 2 identical 2-drawer filing cabinets
• 1 loop latch
• 1 "V" bracket
• 12 feet of wood edging with heat sensitive adhesive
• Paint brush
• Paint
• 4 pieces 1/2-inch quarter round trim
• Package screws
• Screwdriver
• Iron

1. Cut the sheet of plywood diagonally. Start at 24 inches up on the 8-foot side. The diagonal cut ends 24 inches from the end of the other side of the wood. Cut the 18-inch trim into four equal lengths.

2. Measure the height of the filing cabinets. Cut the 1-by-8 board into two equal pieces. For instance, if your filing cabins are 2 feet height, the 1-by-8 board needs to be 4 feet long. After it is cut, it will be in two 2-feet pieces.

3. Paint the plywood and 1-by-8 boards and allow them to dry.

4. Create a "V" shape with the 1-by-8 boards. Screw them together. Place them in the corner with the point facing out.

5. Place the plywood upside down on the floor. Fit the diagonal cuts together to create the "L." Attach the loop lock and the "V" bracket to the area where the boards connect. This braces them together. Place the boards on the corner 1-by-8 piece. Slide the filing cabinets under each end. The easiest way to do this is to have someone hold the plywood while someone else slides in the cabinets.

6. Mark the underside of the plywood with the width of each cabinet. Mount one trim piece to each side of the filing cabinet with two screws.

7. Attach the wood edging around the outside of the desk. Iron around the edge to make the adhesive stick to the wood.

Resources

• Tips for Working With Wood

[texas2wheeler]

on 1/13/2009 Sounds very close to what I would like to build, but I too am lost with some of the descriptions.. A couple of pictures would go a long way toward.

[everyman46]

on 8/16/2008 What am I missing here? It says that after you make a V with the 1x8 pieces you place it in the corner with the point facing out. Since there is no other reference, this would seem to indicate the corner of the wall, lying on the floor. Then it says to form the L shape with the plywood, using the loop lock and "V" bracket and place the boards on the corner 1x8 piece. Okay, so far so good. You've got and L shape lying on a the V shape formed by the 1x8's and it's all lying on the floor. Then it says to slide the filing cabinets on each end, and this is where it's losing me. It would seem that you have the L shape resting on a filing cabinet under each end with nothing to support it in the middle. The V that you made with the 1x8 pieces is still lying on the floor. What am I missing here? A scanned illustration would help a lot.