How to Make a Shelf for a Desk

Measure your desk's surface to determine the shelf's desired width and depth. Mark these measurements on the slab of unfinished wood.

Determine how high you want your shelf to sit above the surface of your desk. Mark these measurements on the slab of wood twice for two support legs.

Cut the shelf and support legs to size with a table saw. Sand until smooth with coarse-grained sandpaper.

Finish the shelf and support legs with a wood finish and let sit for a day.

Affix the legs to the shelf with wood glue. To insure support, affix triangular screw sockets to the four inside corners where leg and shelf meet and screw a short, sturdy screw into each socket.

Set the shelf atop your desk in the desired location, then affix the legs to the desk's surface using L-shaped metal supports and screws. One face of the support will screw into the leg, the other into the surface of the desk.