Homemade Computer Desk Ideas

Planning

• Before building your desk, consider what you expect to use it for. Most computer desks contain shelves for the CPU, a monitor, and a keyboard and mouse. Optional shelves or enclosures may house a printer, modem or router, and speakers. In addition, desks with storage for CDs and DVDs, printer paper and general office supplies can be especially convenient.

  Carefully measure your computer and all of its components, as well as the room where the desk will sit. It may help to look at pictures of desks to get ideas for the style and layout.

  Computer desks can be made of many different materials, but wood will work best. Inexpensive plywood can form the basis for a desk you will eventually paint, but pine or oak may be best if you wish to stain the desk, or leave the wood natural.

Construction

• When constructing your desk, follow some simply procedures to make sure it will function as intended. First, measure your office chair from the ground to the point at which your arms rest when seated. This measurement will serve as the height of the surface of the desk, and will allow you to work comfortably.

  Construct the base of the desk first, and add the shelves, drawers and surface last. This will ensure that the desk can support weight on its surface and that the base is sturdy. Use wood glue and small nails to affix all joints. If your carpentry skills are more advanced, consider other methods of joining corners such as dovetailing or tongue-and-groove techniques.

  If you create and enclosures as part of your desk, make sure that they have adequate ventilation for the components that will be inside. Also, cut holes large enough for all of the cables needed to connect the devices to one another.