DIY Convert a China Cupboard Into a Desk

Purchasing new pieces of furniture can seem wasteful, especially if you have other pieces that you are not using stored in a basement or attic. With a little creativity, the pieces you already have can become the pieces that you need. Just because a furniture store sells a piece described as a china cabinet, that does not mean that you must use it that way. With a few adaptations, that old china cupboard can become an armoire-style desk in which to hide all of your office items.

3/4-inch plywood
Table saw
Measuring tape
Drawer glider system
Hole saw

Instructions

- 1
  Select a china cupboard that has a hutch with doors that open wide. Open the doors fully, and remove all of the interior dividers and accessories.
- 2
  Make a keyboard tray. To do so, cut a piece of 3/4-inch plywood that is slightly narrower than the bottom of the china cabinet hutch area and half its length. Measure the width of the board across the bottom of the hutch, and attach the tracks of the drawer gliders system along the left and right edges near the front. Install the wheeled pieces of the glider system to the left and right edges of the plywood, and fit the wheels into the tracks so that the plywood, now a keyboard tray, slides in and out easily.
- 3
  Cut one or two holes in the back of the cupboard hutch with a hole saw. Make the holes near the bottom of the back wall so that you can feed cords through them and plug the cords into nearby wall outlets.
- 4
  Replace one of the higher shelves so that you have a place for your computer speakers, your webcam and other accessories. Place your computer components in the desk, fitting the monitor behind the keyboard tray. Fill the cupboard drawers with pens, paper and other desk-related items.

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