DIY Desk Plans

This step by step diy woodworking project is about diy desk plans. If you want to learn more about how to build a simple desk, we recommend you to pay attention to the instructions described in the article. Work with attention and don’t forget to take a look over the rest of the desk projects, as there might be some plans that could suit your needs. Adjust the design of the desk to suit your needs.

Before starting the actual construction project, we recommend you to plan everything, as to save money and to keep the costs under control. Adjust the size and the design of the bed frame to suit your needs. In addition, we recommend you to invest in high-quality materials, such as pine, redwood or cedar, as they have a nice finish and are highly durable, especially in a humid environment.

If you don’t have a rich expertise in woodworking field, you should ask a friend to give you a hand with the project. There are many things that you could go wrong, so make sure you plan everything and invest in quality materials. Select the lumber with attention, making sure the components are perfectly straight and in a very good condition. Use a carpentry square to check if the corners are right-angled. See all my Premium Plans in the Shop.

Made from this plan

Building a wooden desk

Building a small desk

Materials

A – 4 pieces of 4×4 lumber – 30″ long LEGS
B – 3 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 16″ long, 2 pieces – 39″ long SUPPORTS
C – 2 pieces of 3/4″ plywood – 3 3/4″x16″ long, 1 piece – 3 3/4″x39″ long SIDES
D – 2 pieces of 1×4 lumber – 16″ long GUIDES
E – 2 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 24 1/2″ long, 2 pieces – 47 1/2″ long, 1 piece of 3/4″ plywood – 21 1/2″x44 1/2″ long TABLETOP
F – 2 pieces of 1×3 lumber – 38″ long, 2 pieces – 19 1/2″ long, 1 piece of 3/4″ plywood – 19 1/2″x36 1/2″ long DRAWER
G – 1 piece of 1×4 lumber – 38 3/4″ long DRAWER FACE

1 piece of 4×4 lumber – 10 ft
2 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 8 ft
1 piece of 1×4 lumber – 8 ft
1 piece of 2×2 lumber – 8 ft
1 piece of 1×3 lumber – 8 ft
1 piece of 3/4″ plywood – 4’x8′
slides
drawer pull
2 1/2″ screws
1 1/4″ screws
glue, stain
wood filler

Tools

Safety gloves, glasses
Miter saw, jigsaw
Chalk line, tape measure, spirit level, carpentry pencil
Drill machinery and drill bits

Tips

Apply several coats of wood stain to the wooden components
Fill the holes with wood filler and smooth the surface

Time

One Day

Building the desk frame

The first step of the project is to build the frame of the desk. As you can easily notice in the plans, we recommend you to cut the 4×4 posts at the right size and to lock them together with supports. Drill pocket holes at both ends of the supports and secure them to the posts with galvanized screws.

Attaching the side components

Fit the 1×4 slats as shown in the diagram, in order to serve as guides for the drawer. Drill pocket holes at both ends of guides, as well as along the bottom edge. Fit the components into place, align them at both ends and secure them into place with galvanized screws.

Building the tabletop

Building the tabletop is a straight-forward process, so make sure you attach 2×2 lumber trims to the exterior of the plywood tabletop. Cut both ends of the trims at 45 degrees and lock them together with galvanized screws and waterproof glue. Drill pocket holes along the edges of the plywood and inset 1 1/4″ galvanized screws into the trims. Make sure the surface is perfectly horizontal and there are no gaps between the components before inserting the screws.

Attaching the tabletop

Center the frame of the desk over the tabletop, as shown in the image. Drill pocket holes through the legs and insert screws into the trims, in order to create rigid joints. Add waterproof glue to the joints, in order to create a rigid structure.

Building the drawer

Building the drawer for the desk is a straight-forward process, so make sure you take accurate measurements before locking the components together. Drill pocket holes at both ends of the side components and insert 1 1/4″ screws into the front and face components. Make sure the corners are right-angled before inserting the screws and add waterproof glue to the joints. Cut a piece of 3/4″ plywood at the right size, drill pocket holes along the edges and insert screws into the frame of the drawer.

Fitting the face of the drawer

Slide the drawer inside the desk and secure it to both sides with drawer slides. Build the face of the drawer out of 1×4 lumber and attach it to the drawer unit. Leave about 1/8″ along the edges of the drawer, in order to get enough gap to open it and close it properly. Fit a handle to the face of the drawer, making sure you select an appropriate designs and you center it to the panel.

Diy desk plans

Last but not least, we recommend you to take care of the finishing touches. Fill the holes with wood filler and let it to dry out for several hours. Afterwards, smooth the wooden surface with fine-grit sandpaper and vacuum the residues.

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