DIY Computer Desk Plans

Basic Layout

• A computer desk generally has a top where the keyboard and mouse sit, and a raised area on which the monitor sits. Some desks put the keyboard and mouse on a small shelf underneath the main top; this is a personal decision. The CPU can sit on the desk, beside the desk, or on a special shelf created for it. The desk can be set at any height—to fit a special chair or a stool, or to be used while standing.

  Beyond that, the choices are up to you. Some users prefer a minimal setup, with little more than a top and legs; others like lots of storage space, with file cabinets and drawers.

Peripherals

• Much of the planning involved in building a computer desk concerns the number and placement of peripherals. A printer is one peripheral that most users have, and where you decide to place it can have a big effect on your design. If you want to place it on the desktop, you will need to make the desktop larger. You can build a special shelf to hold it—either above the monitor or below the desktop—or you can build a cabinet that is entirely separate from the computer desk. Other peripherals you might need to consider are scanners, power supplies, external disk drives, graphics pads, and sound systems with speakers.

Materials

• Most desks will include at least some wood, even if only for the desktop and monitor shelves. Particleboard and 3/4-inch plywood are common choices, although a solid wood top created from glued-up lumber can add a real touch of class to an otherwise simple design.

  Monitor stands need not be built onto the desk. You can build or buy simple risers, then set them on the desktop; many of these include storage organizers underneath.

  In addition to wood, you can build legs and frameworks from PVC or iron pipe. You can also suspend desktops from walls by using cleats or commercial shelving systems. And do not forget that you can buy ready-made cabinetry, such as file cabinets, and incorporate them directly into the design of your desk. For example, a file cabinet might support one side of a desktop, while two store-bought legs might be attached to the other end.

Arrangement

• While most users immediately think of a horizontal work surface, computer desks can be built to work vertically. Use adjustable shelves if you think your equipment may change or just need to be rearranged.

  And remember that your computer desk’s workspace can open new options for the design. A classic example: If you use an old closet for your office, a simple system of cleats and pine shelves may work just as well as, or better than, an expensive closet organizer system.