How to Design Desk Cupboards

Measure wall space beside a desk or above it for cabinets. Plan to install at least three or four cabinets side-by-side to increase work space and enhance work flow. Purchase cabinets with wide doors if space allows. Plan to hang the cabinets within easy reach so that a step-stool will not be required. Adjust the placement of the desk itself so that shelves in the cabinet are reachable at all times.

Sketch various placements of cabinets. Draw cabinets to stack one or top of the other from floor level, for example, to create a vertical storage space. Experiment with cabinet arrangements by sketching them all along a single wall at waist-to-shoulder level. Find wall studs to make sure cabinets can be secured to wood framing with no problem. Keep in mind that wall studs should be on 16-inch centers. Plan to use an electric screwdriver and 4-inch screws to hold cabinets in place.

Figure out a reasonable budget. Keep in mind that cabinets can be made from wood or particle board. Look for recycled cabinets or old cabinets in antique stores marked down to bargain prices. Review cabinet catalogs from office supply stores, too. Don't refinish old cabinets if new ones will match the desk and enhance the look of the room significantly, unless the budget won't allow the expenditure. Keep in mind that a high-end home office space will increase the resale value of the house in many cases.

Plan to bolt the cabinets to the wall if they are very weighty. Don't underestimate the heaviness of stored computer supplies, file folders, books and media equipment. Make sure the cabinets will support added weight over time, especially books. Use real wood cabinets if they will receive a lot of use, since opening doors will place a lot of wear and tear on hinges.

Design the cabinets with heavy-duty hinges. Use glass panels in some of the fronts, if glass panels come with the cabinetry units. Install glass-front cabinets on the ends of a row and solid faced cabinets in the middle, for example. Store small items such as computer paper or paper clips in cabinets with solid fronts and nicely arranged novels or reference books in cabinets with glass fronts.