Do it Yourself Computer Desk

Materials

• The best material to make a desk out of is wood. It is durable and extremely easy to work with. You can build a basic desk out of 2-by-4s and plywood. Of course, if you are looking to have something with storage or height, you will need more than just those supplies. Desks may have drawers or overhead storage, which will require you to look at 2-by-6 lumber for shelves and 1-by-2 and 1-by-3 for drawers.

Dimensions

• You need to decide on the dimensions of your desk. Measure the space where the desk will be located so you know what will fit. Also, your desktop should be deep enough to give you an adequate work area and hold your computer monitor, mouse, keyboard and printer. Standard widths for home desks are 3 or 4 feet, but you can customize yours if you want it to be wider. Your desk should be high enough for you to sit at it in the typical desk chair. The average desk height is 29 to 30 inches, but you may want it to be a bit lower or higher for comfort, depending on how tall you are. Your feet should be flat on the floor when you're sitting at a desk, and your elbows should form a 90-degree angle when you are typing.

Building the Desk

• Once you have your dimensions and wood, it's time to start building. Make sure you cut the pieces to the right height and that they are all even and square. If your desk is not square, it will not be sturdy and may even collapse under the weight of your equipment. Use a carpenter's square to ensure all angles are at 90 degrees and use a level to make sure surfaces are level. Attach the legs to the desktop first and then add everything else. The easiest way to connect your pieces is with basic wood screws, which are durable and should hold together well. After the top and the legs are connected, add the other pieces. This is when you should build your drawers (a few pieces of 2-by-6 and some ¼-inch plywood make great drawers) and the drawer guides. Attach the drawer guides underneath the desk top so they are out of the way of where you will place your chair, because you won't want the drawers to hit your knees. Finally, if you have overhead storage, add it to the top of your desk. For this you can build a basic shelving unit and screw it into the top of the desk top from the underside.