How to Make a Desk With Storage Cubbies
By , This Old House magazine
Photo: Laura Moss
- Time: 6 hours
- Cost: $150
- Difficulty: Moderate
Shopping & Tool Lists
- Supplies You Will Need:
- 1. ½-inch plywood to make the desktop, back, sides, and cubby.
Get a 4x8-foot sheet.
2. 1x3 to make the apron.
Get a 3-foot piece.
3. 1x2 to make the cleats.
Get two 8-foot boards.
4. ¾-inch molding to trim the hutch.
Get two 6-foot lengths.
5. 1-inch molding to trim the desktop's front and sides.
Get two 6-foot lengths.
6. 29-inch legs.
Get four.
7. Acrylic sheeting.
Get a piece you can cut to 27 by 48 inches.
8. Small cabinet to make into a hutch.
We used a ClosetMaid 3-Shelf 12-inch Wood Laminate Storage cabinet with door from Lowe's.
9. ¼x5 lumber to make mail-slot dividers for the hutch.
Get at least 4 feet.
10. Hardboard.
Get a piece the size of the back of the cabinet; you'll attach it to the hutch in place of the cabinet's back, which isn't designed to take paint.
11. 1-inch brad nails
12. 1 ⅝-inch brad nails
13. 1-inch screws
14. 2-inch screws
- Tools You Will Need:
-
1. Circular saw
2. Miter saw
3. Utility knife
4. Straightedge
5. Drill/Driver
6. Brad nailer
Introduction
If you lack a dedicated spot for paying bills and stashing loose stuff, a good desk is a must. And you can make one yourself with basic materials. To simplify construction, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva came up with a compact, drawer-free design. The desktop, made of plywood topped with acrylic sheeting, stands on turned legs. "Choose legs at least 29 inches tall for a comfortable working height," says Tom. To make the free-floating hutch, he simply used a small cabinet laid on its side and repurposed the door to create shelves. A cubby tucked under the desktop holds a basket for yet more storage. See how to make it yourself on the following pages. No guarantees, but it should make tackling paperwork more inviting.
Hutch: ClosetMaid 3-Shelf 12-inch Wood Laminate Storage cabinet. Table legs: Waddell 29-inch-long by 2¼-inch-diameter country pine traditional wood table leg from HardwareAndTools.com. Paint: Valspar's Cliveden Pasture. Paint, lumber, and above-mentioned stock parts available at Lowes.
Download the cut list to build a desk with storage hutch.