How to Hang a Keyboard Shelf

Mounting a keyboard shelf to an existing desk takes no more skill than using a screwdriver and drill. The entire project should take no more than half an hour, leaving you with a much cleaner desk surface. There are many models of keyboard shelves, all with slightly different mounting arrangements. However, almost all are variations on the same basic design. These instructions are for mounting a shelf to a wooden or particleboard desk. For metal desks, you'll need specialized equipment.

Wooden desk
Mountable keyboard drawer with hardware
Thin-tip felt pen
Power drill with drill and screwdriver bits

Instructions

- 1
  Clear out the area underneath your desk.
- 2
  Unpack the keyboard drawer from its box. If it requires assembly, follow the instructions that came with the drawer.
- 3
  Set the keyboard drawer frame in place against the underside of your desk.
- 4
  Locate the screw mounting holes in the keyboard drawer frame. Mark the wood behind them by passing the felt pen through the screw holes and making a dot on the wood.
- 5
  Drill a 1/4-inch-deep hole at each marked point on the underside of your desk. Use a drill bit 1/8-inch narrower than the diameter of the screws that came with your drawer. Once finished, replace the drill bit with a screwdriver bit. Place the drill where you can reach it from under the desk.
- 6
  Set the drawer frame back in position. Hand turn one screw into each hole you drilled, turning each screw until it will stay in the hole on its own.
- 7
  Continue to hold the frame with one hand as you reach for your drill with screwdriver bits.
- 8
  Use the power drill to tighten each screw.
- 9
  Add the keyboard drawer itself, if your model has the drawer separate from the frame.

Custom Desk Ideas

Modern Desk Ideas

Desks