How to Make a Kids Student Desk

Determine where the desk will be located. These instructions are for a built in desk, so a nook would work best. Another possible location would be a closet that you want to convert. Measure the area and cut the plywood to that length and width using the circular saw. Wear your dust mask and eye protection for safety.

Cut shelves if desired. You'll want the dimensions of these to be short enough that there is still a large space available for the child to sit comfortably. A foot wide is a good size for a shelf. Also cut the side pieces that will hold the shelves to the height you'd like your desk to be. Two feet is typically a good height for a young child, but if making this for an older child, you may want to adjust this accordingly.

Cut dado grooves (indentions that will hold the inserting pieces of wood) in the side pieces for the shelves with the router. Insert the shelves into the grooves and using a square corner and clamps, hold the pieces together making sure that everything is square and level. Screw through the side pieces into the shelves after pre-drilling holes for the screws.

Cut the birch strips to be attached over all of the front edges. Attach these by gluing them. Then nail finishing nails through the birch strip into the plywood edge behind it. Use a nail set to tap the nail below the surface without damaging the surface. A little wood filler in the nail holes will work great to make them disappear.

Move the shelf piece into place. Cut birch supports the same size as the desk. Attach birch shelf supports to the wall by locating the studs with the stud finder and screwing through the shelf supports into the studs in the wall. Place the plywood desk top on the shelf supports and screw through the desktop into the supports.