How to Make a Girl's Desk

Preparing Wooden Panels

• 1

  Place the measuring tape horizontally along the wall to determine how long the desk must be to suit your daughter’s needs. It should be at least 60 inches in length for stability with the shelving supports. Then, place the measuring tape vertically on the wall to get the desired height. Lastly, place the measuring tape out from the wall to get the width of the desk. Write these three measurements down, as you will need them for cutting the required wood.

• 2

  Lay one plywood sheet down on the floor (add more as you progress). Draw four side panels for the shelf supports on the plywood with a pencil, measuring the desired height minus an inch and the total width. Use a ruler to make the lines straight on all pieces drawn. Label all four rectangles with an “S” to indicate their purpose.

• 3

  Draw four shelving pieces on the plywood sheets, measuring 15 inches by the total width measurement, and label them “H” for horizontal shelves. Draw two back panels on the sheets with a pencil, with the panels measuring 32 inches by the width. Label the panels with a “B” for back panel. Draw the final piece, which is the desk surface itself, which must measure the width by the desired total length.

• 4

  Cut out all 11 pieces for your daughter’s desk using the table saw. Sand all edges and surfaces of all 11 pieces to ensure your daughter gets smooth wooden panels as her desk, so she does not get splinters when using the desk. Organize the wooden panels according to their letters and put the desk surface piece aside for now.

Assembling Shelving Supports

• 5

  Take one side piece and one shelving piece. Create an "L"-shape structure, where the shelving piece is the horizontal bottom piece and the side piece is the longer side angle of the "L." The side piece must overlap the end of the shelf piece. Use the clamp to hold the figure in place. Hammer nails into the side piece to connect the two. The nails must be placed 1/2 inch apart.

• 6

  Attach the second side piece to the opposite end of the shelving piece, creating a "U" shape. The attachment procedure is the same as for the first side piece, so use the clamp to hold the pieces together and hammer nails 1/2 inch apart along the side piece. Insert a second shelving piece between the two side pieces to create a shelf. Use the level to ensure the shelf is even before installing it. This piece must be parallel to the bottom piece. Hammer nails into the side pieces, extending into the shelf. Leave the opposite end of the side pieces open.

• 7

  Place one back panel up against the structure, so the entire shelving structure’s back is covered. Insert nails all around the perimeter of the back panel, except along the top. Place the nails about 1/2 inch apart and hammer them in place, so no nail heads are sticking out. Repeat all of the steps in this section to create a second and identical shelving support unit.

Finishing the Desk

• 8

  Place the two shelving supports evenly apart, and place the desk surface on top of them, so the desk piece covers the opening of both shelf support units. Slide and adjust the shelving units so the desk surface is evenly aligned with all external sides of the shelving units.

• 9

  Hammer nails through the desk surface so they extend into the side and back panels of the shelving support units. Hammer the nails until no nail heads are sticking up. The final desk will have four individual shelves – two on each side – and a large desk surface space.

• 10

  Paint the entire desk for your daughter with a paint brush. Paint it her favorite color, add designs, such as butterflies, flowers, stars or stripes. Ask her to participate, or allow her to attach her favorite stickers to the desk once the paint has dried.