Interested in how to DIY a desk? I have quite a few DIY desk ideas, desk inspiration and even step-by-step DIY desk tutorials for you! I have made a few DIY desks and DIY tables, but I also have a lot more ideas and variations beyond my own projects for you to consider. I especially love a home office desk that is a beautiful piece of furniture – the less of an “office aesthetic” the better. Below are the desks my spouse and I have made – but keep reading for more ideas!!
DIY Butcherblock Desk:
Technically made from solid walnut countertops, you could make this same DIY wood desk with butcherblock material or another other pre-fab solid wood option.
I love how substantial the solid wood looks and it’s a very clean, timeless look for a home office.
DIY Butcherblock Desk Variations:
If you already have some woodworking experience – or just the tools and are eager to learn – you can check out my tutorial for how to make solid wood countertops and actually make this desk from scratch, instead of using pre-fab wood counters for the top.
DIY Desk IKEA Version:
For a more budget-friendly version, you could also make this DIY desk wood option from plywood (which can be found in many veneered options, including walnut like this) or even something like IKEA’s veneered countertop material (pictured below, we used it in our powder room):
Ideas for Adding Desk Storage (How to Build Wood Drawers):
I had some other ideas for the DIY desk design above, including adding a small bank of drawers, or filing cabinet, to the middle or off to one side. We made this desk for two, so my original plan was some drawers in the middle, before we decided that we didn’t need them. You could simply tuck something under the desk (like these drawers), or even affix a bank of drawers to the underside of the desk for a more “finished” look. Or you could use my tutorial for how to build drawers and add some to this desk in the same material. We built them for a nightstand, but you could use this same tutorial and add to a desk:
DIY Treadle Sewing Machine Base Desk:
Okay, this DIY desk tutorial is thinking a little outside the box: I upcycled an old treadle sewing machine base and hubby built a solid wood top for it. You could buy a pre-fab top from somewhere like IKEA if you don’t/can’t build your own. Again, you can check out my tutorial how to make solid wood countertops, which will show you the same process using different wood.
I used this DIY desk for a long time and LOVED how I could still use the treadle – it actually helped me sit still and focus! The base is very heavy, which wasn’t fun for moving, but it made for a very sturdy desk. We originally made this around 2007 and while I used it for many years (photographed in the lakehouse above and our old townhouse below), my Mom is currently using this upcycled treadle sewing machine base table in her sewing room (as a sewing table, which is kind of a full circle moment for it, haha) so it has definitely been a high quality DIY desk.
Because the base is designed to affix to a surface, this DIY desk plan can be a really easy DIY desk project. We bolted it to a wood plank and then screwed that into the bottom of the desk surface Hubby made:
DIY Welded Desk:
For a fun beginner welding project, we used square metal tubing and a pre-fab, unfinished solid pine top to make this modern DIY welded desk. But now there are so many gorgeous solid wood desk top options that come stained already, like this dark walnut solid wood top or this teak look (which comes in a few other finishes).
DIY Welded Desk Variations:
You can find the tutorial for how we made the DIY welded desk legs here and how we stained the glossy white wood top here. In the years since posting that tutorial (2011?), the online market has blossomed and now you can easily find pre-made welded table legs (these are also similar) for a similar look with zero welding required:
Metal Desk Legs with Storage:
You could also try a set of metal desk legs like these, which come with a little shelf for additional open storage:
DIY Live Edge Table:
Not technically a desk, but we made a cool live edge patio table with ideas you could steal for a different, more rustic wood DIY desk.
“Making” the top was easy, with simple instructions and some of the work done from the factory. You can make this table top any size you’d like and then install some storage underneath (like a narrow, pre-fab set of drawers, etc). I found the supplies for this at Home Depot and it’s a slightly different variation than the solid wood tops in the desks above. But if you don’t want to assemble yourself, you can also buy a live edge solid wood top that’s all ready to go.
We welded our own table legs, but ready-made welded desk legs or table leg options are available (these ones are cool):
How to Hide Cords in Desks:
On my DIY IKEA fauxdenza project, I drilled holes into the top and finished it off with furniture grommets, which is a neat way to hide cords:
For the solid DIY wood desk, we added a supporting piece of lumber to the back but inset it a bit, leaving room for a power bar and cords to be hidden behind:
You could combine furniture grommets with the tip above for an even cleaner look. If you’re going to make this welded desk, perhaps hide the lamp cords inside the metal tubing??? I wish I’d thought of that because my cords were just kind of there… I have since learned the two hack above!
I hope you feel inspired to DIY a desk! Whether you choose to make the DIY butcher block desk, a DIY IKEA desk version, or simply affix a nice solid wood top to a cool treadle sewing machine base or other upcycled antique, making your own desk can help you create the exact aesthetic you want for your home office. I like my home office to feel like an extension of my home decor and making a DIY desk for home office use is always a fun home decor project.
