How to Make a Modesty Panel for a Desk

A modesty panel covers the bottom front of a desk to conceal the lower half of the person seated at the desk. You can bolt the panel to the sides of the desk with metal brackets and wood screws available at hardware stores. Retrofitting a desk with a modesty panel requires precise measurements. If you cannot find a panel in the right size at a lumber yard or home improvement store, use power tools to cut the wood to the required dimensions.

Tape measure
Wood panel
Pencil
Circular saw
Safety glasses
Dust mask
Work bench
Sandpaper
L-shaped mounting brackets and hardware
Screwdriver

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the span between the two sides of the desk with a tape measure held to the inner edge of each side. Write down the height from the bottom edge of the desk to the floor, or as close to the floor as you want to cover with the modesty panel.
- 2
  Mark the wood with a pencil and tape measure to draw the outline of the modesty panel, which will typically be in the shape of a rectangle. Use a wood variety that matches the desk.
- 3
  Cut out the modesty panel with a circular saw while wearing safety glasses to protect your eyes from saw dust. Wear a dust mask to avoid inhaling flying wood particles.
- 4
  Sand the edges of the panel, if desired, with a sheet of sandpaper.
- 5
  Test fit the modesty panel by holding the piece in the desired position on the desk. Mark the mounting points with a pencil; for example, you may use two brackets on the left edge of the panel and two on the right.
- 6
  Attach the modesty panel to the inside front of the desk with L-shaped brackets. One end of the bracket connects to the edge of the modesty panel with a screw and the other end of the bracket attaches to the inside wall or support on the desk with a screw.

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