DIY Desk Cabinet

Measure the width of your chosen desk surface, which is the distance from the wall edge to the front edge. Write this measurement down. Lay the measuring tape along the length of the desk to determine how long the desk cabinet must be to suit your needs. Keep in mind you will require two of these cabinets underneath your desk, so make room for your legs as well. Write down your desired length.

Lay the three plywood sheets down on the floor. Use the pencil and ruler to draw the panels required for the desk cabinet unit. Draw two cabinet side panels using the width dimension and 30 inches for the height. Draw the cabinet back panel measuring 30 inches in height by the total length, minus 2 full inches. Draw the cabinet door measuring 30 inches by the full length dimension. Lastly, draw end and shelving pieces measuring the depth measurement by the length, minus 2 inches from the length dimension to suit the side panels.

Cut out the cabinet panels required for a single desk cabinet unit with the circular saw, following the pencil lines. Sand all surfaces, sides and cut edges with the sandpaper.

Place one of the side panels in upright position on the 1-inch-thick edge. Do the same with the back panel, but place it perpendicular to the side panel. Place them in an L-shape position, so the side overlaps the end of the back panel. Using the cordless screwdriver, drill 1 1/2-inch screws through the side to connect the two panels, spacing the screws 2 inches apart. Attach the second side panel in the same manner, so the panel overlaps the end of the back panel.

Lay the U-shaped cabinet down on the back side, so the side panels are sticking up in the air. Place one of the shelving pieces between the side panels near the end of the parallel set of panels to create a bottom panel. Attach the panel using screws through the side panels. Turn the unit around, so you can attach a couple of screws through the back panel to secure the bottom. Repeat this step with a top panel at the opposite end of the bottom panel.

Insert a shelving piece in between the two side panels and place the level on top of it. Install the shelving piece in the cabinet in the same manner as the top and bottom pieces using the screws and the cordless screwdriver.

Turn the cabinet frame upside down, so the bottom panel is facing upward. Make a pencil mark in each corner, so the mark is directly above the side panels. Use the drill to make four small pre-drilled installation holes. When done, install one cabinet leg in each of the holes by screwing each leg in place, so the installation screw on the leg is secured.

Turn the cabinet right-side-up, and install the two hinges on the right-hand side of the cabinet side wall. The hinges must be installed on the inside of the side panel, since it is a full overlay hinge. This means the hinges are invisible when the cabinet door is closed. Use the handheld screwdriver and the hinge screws to install the hinges evenly apart along the 30-inch-tall cabinet side.

Hold the cabinet door piece up to the hinges and install the second part of the hinges on the inside of the cabinet door. Use the screwdriver and installation screws to secure the hinges on the door. Ask a friend to help you, if the task is tricky.