How to Build Your Own Home Work Desk

A desk is a personal piece of furniture that changes with each person who uses it. Desks need to have enough space to hold your current projects, and enough storage space to hold reference or other materials and still allow you to do your work comfortably. Buying a desk large enough to accommodate your needs can be an expensive proposition. Fortunately, you can build your own spacious desk inexpensively and with basic DIY skills by recycling a wooden door.

Pencil
Paper
Measuring tape
Level
Chalk line
Wooden solid core door
Screwdriver
Stud finder
Angle brackets
1 box of 2-inch drywall screws
Drill with bits
Paint or stain as desired
Clear polyurethane

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the area where you want to put the desk. The desk will be placed against a wall, so measure there. A typical door is sized between 30 to 36 inches wide and 80 inches long.
- 2
  Sit in the chair you will use at the desk. Measure from the floor to a comfortable desk height, and mark that height on the wall. An average height is between 26 and 30 inches.
- 3
  Stretch out a chalk line along the wall at the height you want the desktop. Use a level to check that the chalk line is straight and level. Pop the line to make a chalk line across the wall.
- 4
  Remove any hardware -- like a door knob, deadbolt or hinges -- from the door using a screwdriver.
- 5
  Find three to five studs along the length of the chalk line and mark their locations with a pencil.
- 6
  Attach the brackets to the wall using two 2-inch drywall screws into each bracket and securing them into studs. Screw them into the wall with the top of the bracket 2 inches below the chalk line.
- 7
  Place the door on the brackets flush against the wall.
- 8
  Screw through the brackets into the door with the drywall screws.
- 9
  Paint or stain the desktop and seal it with three coats of clear polyurethane.

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