Design Desk equipped with useful drawers and a cabinet

Build a desk

Difficulty:

Close Difficulty

Beginner Do-It-Yourselfer - Easy

Intermediate Do-It-Yourselfer - Moderate

Experienced Do-It-Yourselfer - Difficult

Professional - Expert
Completion Time : Week-end Project

Download Construction Plan

Well-designed, functional and attractive, this desk is relatively easy to build. It includes drawers and a cabinet, and will be a practical addition to your home office.

You can follow the plan and build your desk using MDF and paint it to suit your decor, or you can opt for natural wood. For the warmth of wood, substitute quality plywood for MDF and choose a veneer of pine, cherry, or exotic wood essence which you can then finish or stain.

Tools and materials required

TOOLS

Table saw or circular saw with cutting guide
Electric or cordless drill
Depth stop, 1/8"
Depth stop for 3/8" drill bit.
Finish nailer (optional)
Tape Measure
Square
Pencil
Sander

MATERIALS

2 MDF sheets, 5/8” x 48" x 96"
1 MDF sheet, 5/8” x 48" x 48"
1 MDF sheet, ¾" x 48” x 48”
4 jointed-pine chair rail mouldings, 5/16" x 7/8" x 96"
3 quarter rounds, 7/16" x 7/16" x 96"
No.6 flat head wood screws
5/8" flat head wood screws
2 squared strips of wood, 1" x 1" x 96"
20 metal brackets, 3/4"
Wood glue
Fine grain sandpaper sponge block
150-grain sandpaper
2 spring door hinges (100° opening)
6 full extension slides, 18"
1 package of 5 mm shelf brackets
3 handles

Before Assembly

ELEVATIONs

Desk elevation

NOTES ON MDF

MDF is a versatile material that makes it easy to build strong, sturdy and affordable furniture. It is advisable to always glue the parts together with wood glue before fastening them with nails or screws. If the nails or screws do not provide enough strength, use clamps to hold the assembly together while the glue dries.

Screw fastening:
Always drill pilot holes using a countersink bit, with the pieces in their final assembled position. This will prevent the MDF from buckling or splitting under the torque of the screws. In one motion, the countersink bit bores a hole for the body of the screw as well as a cavity to conceal the screw head. You can use a driver-drill to do this, but it is advisable to finish tightening the screws with a manual screwdriver to prevent the driver-drill’s speed and force from damaging the MDF and weakening the screw’s grip.

Nail fastening:
For some projects it is best to use finishing nails. In such cases, using a pneumatic nailer will get the job done more quickly and easily, and the nails will hardly show.

Important note:
Always wear a protective mask when cutting or sanding MDF as the dust can be irritating and is a potential heath hazard. Work outside if you can; if this is not possible, close any air vents and doors leading to other rooms so as to prevent the dust from spreading. Open a window while you work and cover all items in the room with dust sheets. Vacuum once you have finished cutting.