I thought I share my build for an affordable computer desk as most of us are now working from home. I needed an extended desk to fit into the study but couldn't find anything within my budget. My budget was under $150 for a 2-metre long desk. It's a straightforward build, and anyone can do it. It was my first desk that I have made. Measurements * Length 2000mm * Depth 500mm * Height 790mm Materials from Bunnings * untreated Pine 30 X 70 mm for the frame * Brackets for the legs * Wood screws * Worktop was 2200 x 600 x 26mm * Stain Linseed Oil (ikea) * Leftover white paint from Dulux (white on white) Update: It has been six months, and the table is holding up well. I built another computer desk with my son for his room of similar size, and he loves it.

Computer desk build

I thought I share my build for an affordable computer desk as most of us are now working from home. I needed an extended desk to fit into the study but couldn't find anything within my budget. My budget was under $150 for a 2-metre long desk. It's a straightforward build, and anyone can do it. It was my first desk that I have made.

Measurements

Length 2000mm
Depth 500mm
Height 790mm

Materials from Bunnings

untreated Pine 30 X 70 mm for the frame
Brackets for the legs
Wood screws
Worktop was 2200 x 600 x 26mm
Stain Linseed Oil (ikea)
Leftover white paint from Dulux (white on white)

Update: It has been six months, and the table is holding up well. I built another computer desk with my son for his room of similar size, and he loves it.

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JoeAzza

Good job,well done.

What material did you use for the top of the desk? It looks really nice.

Nham

Thanks mate..it was the 2200 x 610 x 26mm Oiled Karri Laminated Panel for $129 but sometimes it goes on special for $99. I covered it with linseed oil and tung tree oil from Ikea to bring out the colour.

JoeAzza

Thankyou, saves a lot of work in making your own top, again well done.

Jason

Congratulations @Nham, what a wonderful first project for you to share with the Bunnings Workshop community. We have featured it on our Project Gallery and are looking forward to seeing more.

Welcome to the community. We're so pleased to have you join us.

Please don't hesitate to post anytime you have something to share with the community or need a hand with a project around the house and garden. We're sure you find plenty of like-minded people in the community who love D.I.Y. and will get plenty of helpful information, advice and inspiration.

Thanks again,

Jason

Benskimo

Wow, pretty sweet! Well done.

Noyade

@Nham

Looks great! 👍

What brackets did you use? They appear to have a rounded end?

Nham

Hi Noyade,

I used these brackets https://www.bunnings.com.au/carinya-50-x-50-x-20mm-zinc-angle-bracket_p2760244 and fitted eight into the frame. It holds the the frame really well and is a nice design.

Corinney

What cabinet did you use for under the desk?

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Corinney. It's fantastic to have you join us and many thanks for your question.

Let me mention @Nham, so they are alerted to your question about the cabinet used for this project.

We look forward to hearing all about your projects around the home and garden and encourage you to let us know if you ever need assistance with them or have something to share. You'll find plenty of inspiration within the community as our fantastic members contribute their projects here all the time.

Mitchell

Corinney

Thank you!

Nham

Hi @Corinney

It is the ALEX drawer from ikea. Its affordable and can store quite a lot of stationary.

Corinney

Thank you Nham! Thank you for sharing the information so generously! I will copy your desk and also purchase the same cabinet!

Best regards

Corinne

KevinMall

Well done and thank you for sharing your build. As I was looking for inspiration for a study desk mysrrlf.

Nham

Thank you everyone for your positive comments. Just a quick update, I made another desk with my son and we changed the brackets to Carinya 75x75x25x2.5mm Zinc Plated Angle Bracket - 4 pack. These brackets are much stronger then the previous brackets. We also used a different top as he wanted a lighter colour, it was the rubber wood worktop that Bunnings was selling for $69 and then we painted his frame in Dulux Domino Black (2 coats). The colours go really well in his room and the best part of this build was that my son did most of the work and picked up so life skills.

rubytuesday1953

What a great desk.Well done!!

Looks super easy.

I love the varnished wood top on the white bottom.

I do nearly all my cabinet and table renos in this style.(I think it's called provincial)

Makes everything look high end

Just saw your son's one. It looks great too.

You've got me all excited.

I want to make one now

lhall

Could i ask how you attached the top to the frame?

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @lhall. It's fantastic to have you join us, and many thanks for your question on this brilliant project.

Let me mention @Nham to see if they can let us know how they attached the top.

Were you thinking of making something similar to this project? I trust @Nham would be more than happy to provide guidance, and I'd also be pleased to assist.

I'll be looking forward to following along with your project.

Mitchell

Nham

Hi @lhall,

To attach the bench-top, I just used silicon and then underneath the frame, reinforce with small L-shaped brackets. The brackets keep the top from moving and the silicon acts as the adhesive. Works really well. Good luck with your table, would love to see the finish product.

Link to brackets

https://www.bunnings.com.au/carinya-25-x-25-x-20-x-2mm-zinc-plated-angle-bracket-4-pack_p0046894?store=7313&gclid=Cj0KCQjwktKFBhCkARIsAJeDT0jH9kLMqFfh04T9AnXzjuyrKthDeAew9XNCBiMI_6LsM_WsTW8bkEoaAuObEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Nham

Thanks @rubytuesday1953 ,

It is super easy, I got the Bunnings crew to cut all the pieces to length and it took me about an hour with my son to build his frame. The painting takes longer and then the top goes on. I think the simple designs are often the best, and we like the provincial look as well. Good luck wth your table:-)

lhall

Thank you for replying. Very useful info

nagumuthu

Hello @Nham,

Good work! Well done. At the right time when I was looking for building similar desk for our boys.

May you share information that assist further. Is the paint sprayed and which tools you used to cut the wood (for frame & legs of the table).

Nham

Hi @nagumuthu

For the paint,I just used a normal paint brush and applied 2-3 coats using Dulux, white on white. It was left over trim paint when we painted the house. For the frame, I got the Bunnings staff to cut everything to length, the staff are awesome and happy to help out. If I had to modified any lengths on the frame, I used a old jigsaw. For the table top, I used a AEG circular saw (https://www.bunnings.com.au/aeg-1200w-184mm-circular-saw_p0088698) with a 40T circular saw blade. To cut it in a straight line, I used a wooden guide. You may have more experience than me, but I took it slow and was very careful using the circular saw. I did a smaller desk for my youngest son "Student desk with a Spotted Gum top" which shows you how to build the frame. For the table cabling, if you have a PC, I went to ikea and bought the https://www.ikea.com/au/en/p/signum-cable-trunking-horizontal-silver-colour-10200254/. The best part was that, my son did the build with me and he enjoyed making his own desk. Good luck:-)

need to use a guide

EricL

Hello @Nham

Thank you so much for sharing that information about your desk build. I'm sure @nagumuthu will appreciate the steps and materials you mentioned in your project.

Eric

Linlin

Looks amazing! Thanks so much for sharing the details.

I want to try and build my own desk, so this is super helpful!

nagumuthu

Hello Nham,

Thanks for your reply.

Good to know that it's your son favourite project. Wonderful hands on work that motivates him for more wood work.

I'm inspired by your son's work to work on this project with a Stone Top above wood. Let me project the cost and see whether it suits by budget.

Thanks

rubytuesday1953

Hi @Nham

I'm just revisiting your great computer desk. I want to revamp my sewing room and was thinking of using your design to build a long table to put all my sewing machines on. You built yours at 2mts long but I want to do mine a little longer at 2.2mts. My machines aren't that heavy and they will be evenly spaced along the table, do you think I need to put a couple of bracing pieces along the length under the top piece?

and I can't seem to find your post with the instructions on how to build the frame. Could you point to these?

Regards @rubytuesday1953

Nham

Hi @rubytuesday1953,

At 2200mm I would probably insert two braces to support your table top. This is my post with most of the instructions and the timber top I use was a specRite panel. There is a longer piece at 2200mm, the merbau panel from the same company. Good luck with your sewing table, would love to see how it turns out.

Stay well.

Nham

rubytuesday1953

Thanks @Nham for the reply. I found the instructions with your son's desk.

I ended up getting the Interbuilt Acacia Golden Teak panel for $99. No Rubberwood, as that was a promotional item.

Couldn't get the same framing timber as Covid's depleted a lot of things, apparently. Ended up with treated pine 70mm x 35mm (just have to make some minor adjustments to the measurements) but they should get the job done. Will have to wear a mask when cutting and sanding though. (what's new)

Regards

@rubytuesday1953

Mrtimber1948

Good looking project

Done well. 🙂🙂

StevieB

Look forward to seeing your sewing room revamp @rubytuesday1953.

Please keep us updated along the way.

Stevie

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