Easy DIY Desk Plans (7 Simple Steps + Only 3 Tools!)

Looking for easy DIY desk plans? Look no further! This tutorial, with detailed instructions, has only 7 simple steps, and uses only 3 common tools.

This DIY desk is a real workhorse. It’s perfect for a home office or remote learning, and it can double as an extra table when it’s not needed as a desk

Simple DIY Desk

A friend recently texted me saying that he was going to be temporarily working from home and needed a desk.

He wanted a simple piece of furniture that could be used as a desk, but he also wanted to use it as a table when he was no longer working from home. He said it didn’t even need to have any drawers.

His description reminded me of a vintage library table. A library table was my inspiration for this simple DIY desk.

This is an easy weekend project made with only a few straight cuts and a few common woodworking tools.

It’s the perfect desk for anyone working from home or for kids and adult students who are remote learning.

It has plenty of workspace for a computer and storage space for all of your desktop accessories like a lamp, pens, books, and a hot cup of coffee.

The best part is this project can easily transition from a home office space into a table that can be used in nearly any room like a kitchen, dining room, or entryway. It could even be used as a serving table at parties, in a craft room for making crafts, or as a makeup vanity.

Get the plans and build your own desk today!

What Tools Do You Need?
What Wood Should You Use?
Step-by-Step Tutorial
Get the PDF Plan

This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase from these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Visit my site policies for more information.

What Tools Do You Need?

This simple DIY computer desk is an easy weekend project for beginners or DIYers of any skill level. You can make it using basic woodworking skills and just a few common power tools.

We only need three tools to build this project. Tools like a miter saw, pocket hole jig, and a drill.

The miter saw will be used to cut the pieces for the legs, rails, and table top.

Related: When to Use a Miter Saw vs Table Saw

The pocket hole jig or Kreg Jig will be used to drill pocket holes and pocket hole screws will be used to join the parts together.

Related: How to Use a Kreg Jig

What Wood Should You Use?

This simple desk can be made with just about any type of wood. I used common pine to build the base of the desk and select pine to make the table top. Pine is inexpensive and easy to work with. I purchased the pine 1×3s and 1×4s at my local home improvement store.

The difference between common pine and select pine is common pine usually has some knots and select pine is relatively knot-free.

DIY computer desk with a laptop, coffee cup and plant

I planned to apply a clear finish to the table top. I chose select pine for the top because it’s relatively knot-free and would make an attractive table top.

You could also use a hardwood for the table top. Hardwoods like oak, maple, walnut, etc. would make a great top for this project.

Related: How to Make a Farmhouse Table Top (with Breadboard Ends)

How Do You Attach the Table Top?

It’s important that we attach the table top to the base of the desk the right way otherwise the table top could crack.

Wood moves with seasonal changes. We need to attach the top in a way that allows the wood to move with those seasonal changes.

I don’t recommend attaching a table top to the aprons or legs with pocket holes. Pocket holes prevent the table top from moving with seasonal changes which could cause the top to crack.

Instead, we should use table top fasteners or table top expansion brackets to attach the top. The fasteners allow the top to move with seasonal changes and reduces the chances of cracking the wood.

Related: How to Attach a Table Top (the Right Way)

Customize Your Desk

There are a few ways that we can customize this simple desk. We could completely change the look of this project by using hardwood for the table top. A hardwood like oak, maple, walnut, etc.

We could increase the storage capacity of this project by adding drawers to the desk.

Related: How to Build DIY Drawers

How Do You Finish the Desk?

This wood desk could be finished in a variety of ways. It could be left natural, painted, stained, or a combination of paint and stain.

For this project, I chose to paint the base and apply a clear finish on the table top.

DIY desk with painted legs and wood table top

You may want to consider painting the base or desk frame of this project too. There are a few exposed pocket holes that connect the bottom rails to the legs.

I used pocket hole plugs to fill the pocket holes. Then, I filled any gaps around the plugs with Ready Patch. It’s nearly impossible to see the locations of the pocket holes after the paint has been applied.

Related: How to Make Pocket Hole Plugs

After the pocket holes were filled and the Ready Patch was dry, I finished sanding the base with 120 grit sandpaper. I used my paint sprayer to apply three coats of this primer.

Related: Why Knots Bleed Through Paint (and How to Stop It)

When the primer was dry, I lightly sanded any imperfections and removed the dust with my ShopVac.

Next, I used my paint sprayer to apply two coats of Behr “Carbon Copy”.

For the table top, I used my handheld router and a ¼” roundover bit to round over the edges of the top. Next, I finished sanding the top with 150 grit sandpaper and removed the dust with my ShopVac.

Next, I applied three coats of this polyurethane alternative to the table top.

How to Make a Simple DIY Desk

Printed Plan

Get the PDF plan here (includes detailed instructions, measurements, and bonus tips)

Materials

Wood (per the printed plan)
1-¼” Pocket Hole Screws
#6 ½” Wood Screws
1-¼” Wood Screws
Wood Glue
Table Top Fasteners

Tools

Tape Measure
Drill
Kreg Jig
Miter Saw
Countersink Drill Bit Set
Forstner Bit
Chisel

Step 1. Make the Sides

Cut four pieces of wood to length for the legs.

Cut four pieces of wood to length for the rails and use a Kreg Jig to drill pocket holes in each end.

Related: How to Use a Kreg Jig

To help position the bottom rail, I cut two pieces of scrap wood and clamped one piece to the bottom of each leg.

Apply wood glue to the rails, clamp to the legs and attach using pocket hole screws.

Step 2. Attach the Back Rails

Cut two pieces of wood to length for the back rails and drill pocket holes in each end.

To help position the bottom rail, I cut two pieces of scrap wood and clamped one piece to the bottom of each leg.

Apply wood glue to the rails, clamp to the legs and attach using pocket hole screws.

NOTE: The back rails are flush with the back of the legs.

Step 3. Attach the Front Rail

Cut one piece of wood to length for the front rail and drill pocket holes in each end.

The front rail sets in ¼” from the front of the legs. To help position the rail, I used painter’s tape to temporarily attach a scrap piece of ¼” MDF (or you could use plywood) to each end of the rail. Then I positioned the rail so the MDF was flush with the front edge of each leg.

Apply wood glue to the rail, clamp to the legs and attach using pocket hole screws.

Step 4. Attach the Mid-Rails

Cut two pieces of wood to length for the mid-rails and drill pocket holes in each end.

Apply wood glue to the rails, clamp to the front and back rails, and attach using pocket hole screws.

Driving screws to attach the mid-rail for a DIY desk

Step 5. Attach the Table Top Fasteners

Cut four pieces of wood to length for the mounting blocks. Then use the diagram in the printed plan to drill 2 countersink holes in each mounting block.

Related: How to Use a Countersink Bit

Attach the mounting block to the top of each leg using 1-¼” wood screws.

Attaching mounting blocks for a DIY desk

When the mounting block is attached, use the diagram in the printed plan to drill a hole for the table top fasteners. Use a chisel to square the corners of the hole.

Attach a table top fastener to each mounting block using a wood screw.

Related: How to Attach a Table Top (the Right Way)