How to Build a Desk Connected to a Wall

Place the measuring tape horizontally across the wall to get the desired length of the desk. 45 inches is an ideal length, but you can adjust it as you please for your given work area. In addition, 25 inches is an ideal depth for a work desk mounted to a wall, but this can also be adjusted. Write your preferred dimensions down.

Lay the plywood sheet down and draw the outline of your wall-connected desk on the surface. Use a pencil and ruler to draw the perimeter of the desk using the depth and length measurements from the previous step.

Cut the desk rectangle out with a circular saw. Sand only the edges with the sandpaper to remove splinters, cracks and cuts for a smooth desk edge. Sanding laminated surfaces won’t do anything for the desk itself. If you have a plain plywood sheet, sand it prior to attaching it to the wall or painting it your chosen color.

Find two wall studs in the wall where you want to connect the desk using the wall stud finder. Since studs run vertically in the wall, make a pencil mark on the wall when you find a wall stud. You can adjust the height of the desk at a later time. Find two wall studs within a 45-inch distance so the brackets can fully support your desk. If you chose a shorter desk length than 45 inches, make your adjustments of the wall stud marks accordingly.

Use the measuring tape to measure 30 inches upward from the floor to determine the height of your wall-connected desk. Make a pencil mark at the 30-inch height directly on the wall studs you found in the previous step. Install the two wall brackets on the wall so one bracket is attached per wall stud. Use the cordless screwdriver and 2-inch-long screws to install the bracket into the bracket installation holes. When done, the screws must connect to the wall studs.

Lay the pre-cut plywood desk piece on top of the two wall brackets so it is evenly placed. The brackets must be in the middle to provide the desk balanced support. Install the brackets to the desk by screwing in small 1/2-inch installation screws through the brackets. The screws must attach to the desk itself using a handheld screwdriver. Since the chosen wall brackets are as long as the desk is deep, the desk will get ample support from the metal brackets and the wall studs.