How Can I Make a Floating Wall Desk?

Materials and Tools

• To build the work surface, use 1/2-inch thick plywood. You'll need two pieces to form the side edges, one piece to form the front edge and two sheets to form the top and bottom faces. Construct a support structure using five 2-by-2-inch beams. For hardware, you'll need finishing nails and 4-inch wood screws. Necessary tools include a hammer or nail gun, wood glue, a power drill with screwdriver bits and sandpaper. You may or may not want stain and sealant or primer and paint, depending on your decor.

Work Surface

• Cut your plywood to the dimensions you want for the desk, keeping the desk no more than 2 feet deep. Assemble the side edges and front edges of the work surface into a "C" shape. Glue them in position and allow to dry. Once dry, reinforce with two finishing nails per joint. Set the top sheet on top of the frame with the edges flush. Glue it in position, allow to dry, then nail to reinforce. Repeat for the bottom sheet.

Wall Mount

• Your wall mount will look like an "E", with two beams flush against the wall and three legs sticking out. Measure the length of the inside of your work surface. Cut the wall beams to that length minus 4 1/2 inches and divided by two. This allows for room to insert the legs of the "E" in between the beams that form the back. For example, if the inside of your work surface is 30 inches long, these beams would be 12 3/4 inches each (30 minus 4 1/2 equals 25 1/2, divided by 2 equals 12 3/4 inches). Cut the leg beams to 1 inch shorter than your work surface is deep to allow a smooth fit.

Support Installation

• Mount the first wall beam so it intersects at least two wall studs. Screw it in place with one wood screw per stud that it crosses. Set one of the leg beams in position on either side of the wall beam, sticking out perpendicular from the wall. Screw them in place with two wood screws per joint, drilled in through the side of the leg beam and into the end of the wall beam. Mount the second wall beam with one end flush against the side of the middle leg beam, screwed in place on each stud it crosses. Affix the final leg beam to the end of the second wall beam.

Desk Installation

• Slide the work surface over the wall brace structure. Screw it in place along the back, one wood screw for every 4 inches, driven through the work surface into the beams behind. Position the screws approximately 1 inch from the wall. Add two more screws near the front of the work surface, 1 inch in from each edge and 2 inches from the front. Drive all screw in parallel to the wall, up through the under surface of the desk and into the beam behind. Paint or stain as desired. It's easier to finish before you install, but painting the desk after installation will conceal your screw heads.