How to Build a Wall Desk

When space is limited, a wall-mounted desk will give you room for your computer and still keep an open look to the room. Create a desk cut from a sheet of melamine plywood and brackets available at most home centers; include shelving above the desk to display photos and collectibles. Build a desk that will adjust when a different arrangement is needed to accommodate items of different heights, perhaps that new wide-screen monitor on your wish list.

Melamine plywood, 4 feet by 8 feet
Tape measure
Circular saw
Edge molding
Miter saw
Glue
Clamps
Finish nails
Nail set
Putty
Stud finder
Level
Wall brackets
Wood screws
Shelf brackets

Instructions

- 1
  Measure and cut a section 20 inches by 5 feet from the 4-by-8 sheet of melamine plywood with a circular saw. This will be the desktop. Cut two pieces 12 inches by 5 feet for the shelves. For easier transport, have the plywood cut at the home center; most do not charge for cutting. Use the leftover pieces of plywood for shelves elsewhere in the home.
- 2
  Lay the piece of plywood for the desktop on a surface that is at a comfortable working height. Hold a piece of the edge molding against the front edge of the desktop section and mark the molding at the corners to determine the location of miter cuts. Set the miter saw for 45-degree cuts.
- 3
  Make the miter cuts for the molding for the front edge, and then miter the molding for the end sections. The area of the desktop and shelves that will be against the wall do not require molding. Check for fit and ensure that the mitered corners are tight and smooth. Cut the molding for the shelves in the same manner.
- 4
  Spread glue on the back of the molding and clamp it to the desktop. Attach the molding to the desktop with finish nails, using a nail set to countersink the nail heads. Secure the end sections of the molding to the desktop with glue and nails. Follow the same procedure to attach the molding to the shelf edges. Fill the nail heads with putty that matches the molding.
- 5
  Locate the wall studs with a stud finder and mark their position. Use a level to draw a pencil mark on the wall studs for the placement of the wall brackets. Screw the brackets to the studs with wood screws that are 2½ inches long; use four screws for each bracket.
- 6
  Click the shelf support brackets into the wall brackets, using 18½-inch brackets for the desktop and 11-inch brackets for the shelves. Place the desktop on the brackets and check for comfortable working height, then attach the plywood piece to the brackets using screws slightly shorter than the plywood's thickness. Install the shelves and adjust the distance between the brackets if needed before screwing the shelves to their brackets.

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