How to Build a Built-In Corner Desk

Miter one end of two planks of 30-inch 2-by-3 lumber to 45 degrees, so that the two planks mate at that end to form a 90-degree corner. Glue the mitered ends together and let dry.

Paint the glued and mitered lumber, which will be the cleat for the built-in desk, as well as a triangle of 1/2-inch plywood measuring 35-inches on the sides adjacent the right corner, and 49.49 inches on the hypotenuse. This is the desktop. Let the paint dry before continuing.

Draw two 30-inch lines on the wall in the corner where the desk will go at the height you have chosen for the desktop. Between 28 and 30 inches is normal for most desks. Check the lines are level and then use a stud finder to locate the wall stud positions on the lines.

Place the lumber corner cleat into the corner of the wall over the lines you marked. Check again that the cleat is level and then secure it to the wall with three 3-inch screws through the cleat into the wall stud positions.

Fit the desktop into the corner on top of the cleat and then secure it to the cleat with 1-inch screws driven through the top of the desktop every five to six inches into the wall cleat underneath.

Fill the screw holes on the desktop with spackle and let dry before retouching with paint to finish the desk.