Ready for a workspace that actually fits the way you work? These 33 DIY office furniture projects start with desks for every room and budget, from a fold down wall desk and a farmhouse X desk to a wall to wall live edge desk and a walnut waterfall desk for two. You’ll find easy IKEA hacks too, like countertop desks on drawer units and Billy bookcases turned into built-ins. Then come the shelves: a floating bookcase, A-frame ladder shelves, a shutter shelf with a pin board and a yarn wall for a craft office. Measure your space before you cut a single board! For wall art, lighting and styling, see the home office decor roundup.
1. Office Chair Makeover
Got a plain office chair that does nothing for you? This makeover wraps one in blush faux fur and gives it gold legs. Spray paint the base and the tops of the wheels gold after a coat of metal primer, but skip the greasy height shaft. Drape two yards of faux fur over the back, pin two gathers where it’s loose, then sew along the pins for a snug slipcover. Do the seat the same way. Watch which way the fur runs before you cut!
Get the full tutorial at A Beautiful Mess.
2. Giant Cork Board
A giant cork board wall gives you a huge spot for mood boards, photos and to-do lists. This one is cork sold on a roll, cut to almost three meters tall and a meter wide, and mounted floor to ceiling behind the desk. Cork is heavier than you’d think, so glue it down well or fix it with screws and nails. Pin anything with thumbtacks, swap it out whenever you like, and park a rolling cart in front for supplies.
Get the full tutorial at Binti Home.
3. Easy Space-Saver Foldable Desk
This easy space-saver foldable desk folds flat against the wall when you’re done working. Cut 1×4 boards to 36 inches and 1x2s to 14 inches for the frame, clamp and screw them together, then attach a 20 by 30 inch pine shelf as the top with small hinges. Cut 45 degree ends on 1x2s to make L-brackets that swing out underneath, and add small braces for strength. Stain or paint it, then mount it to the wall. An extra pair of hands helps.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
4. Pegboard and Rolling Cart For Home Office
A pegboard and rolling cart can turn a narrow spare room into a real office. Set a secondhand desk between the windows for light, then hang a white pegboard above it with hooks, small baskets spray painted chrome, clipboards for art prints and a metal hanging file. Two pegboard hooks and a rod make a washi tape holder. A three-tier rolling cart holds the printer on top, a cutting machine in the middle and paint below, and it wheels away when you need it.
Get the full tutorial at White House Black Shutters.
5. DIY Modern Couch That Also Doubles As A Desk
This modern couch that doubles as a desk is a clever pick for small spaces. It’s the Zig Zag Sofa from HomeMade Modern, built from plywood and lumber with an angled base and a padded leather cushion. Sit on it like a sofa, or use the flat back and sides as a work surface when you need one. The video tutorial walks through every step in detail, from cutting the frame to stitching the cushion. A real two-person project.
Get the full tutorial at Contemporist.
6. Farmhouse X Office Desk
Need a desk with real farmhouse charm? This farmhouse X office desk is built from 2x4s, a 2×2, 1×6 boards for the top and a 2 by 4 foot piece of plywood for the shelf. Build two outer legs and a middle leg with a pocket hole jig and screws, then fit the decorative X pieces into the sides, measuring each 2×4 against the frame before you cut. Join everything into the base, then attach the plank top through upward pocket holes. A right angle clamp helps a lot.
Get the full tutorial at Handmade Haven.
7. Wood Desk Organizer
This wood desk organizer keeps bills and envelopes in one tidy spot, and you only need glue and a hand saw. Cut eight thin pine pieces for the sides, back, base, divider and a little pencil holder, then sand the edges. Glue the pencil holder box together first, then build the letter caddy around it with a tall back and a low front. Painter’s tape holds pieces while the glue dries, and a painted edge makes it look modern.
Get the full tutorial at Make and Tell.
8. DIY Metal Memo Board
This DIY metal memo board is really a storage grid with a handy pocket. Look for flexible plastic-coated garden mesh, then fold the bottom edge upward to form a pocket for magazines and papers. Give the whole grid a coat of plastic primer, test first if you want to skip it, then spray it black. Once it’s dry, hang it over the desk and clip up photos and notes. Add S-hooks to hold scissors, or hang one in the kitchen.
Get the full tutorial at Burkatron.
9. Chalk Painted Filing Cabinet
A chalk painted filing cabinet proves an ugly metal piece just needs some love. Wash off scuffs, remove the hardware and drill holes underneath for four wooden table legs. Mix your own chalk paint in a soft pink and brush on a thin first coat with cross-hatch strokes, then pull the drawers out to paint them more easily. Give metal extra time to cure. Chalk paint the legs and pulls first, then spray them metallic gold for a glam finish.
Get the full tutorial at All Things Thrifty.
10. Wall Organizer Hack
This wall organizer hack is an easy, no power tool take on a pricey store version, and it’s just as handy for washi tape and small supplies. The update is even easier: give the little boxes a fresh color. Load a brush with acrylic paint and paint each box, sides included, going slowly so you don’t need painter’s tape. Two coats does it. Mix pinks, white and natural wood for a light, happy look that fits any workspace.
Get the full tutorial at Fish & Bull.
11. DIY Upcycled Denim Jean Organizer
Got an old pair of jeans in the closet? A DIY upcycled denim jean organizer turns the back pockets into handy wall storage. Empty a picture frame, trace it on the back of the jeans and cut along the lines. Fold one side over toward the middle so both pockets sit close together, and hot glue the fold. Glue the frame backing to the wrong side of the denim, lock it into the frame, then hot glue a knotted jute rope to the top corners.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
12. DIY Writing Desk
A DIY writing desk with a small footprint fits where a full desk won’t. This one is 30 inches tall, 29 wide and 16 deep, with a base of 2×2 legs and 1×4 select pine stretchers joined with pocket hole screws. Stack the top stretcher on the bottom one as a spacer for an easy, even height. A full extension pullout drawer holds supplies, and a walnut top dresses it up, though pine works too. It’s a great laptop desk.
Get the full tutorial at Fix This Build That.
13. DIY Bookcase
This DIY bookcase is a full wall built-in that makes any office look custom. The lower half is ready-made wall cabinets set on a simple 2×4 base and pulled a few inches off the wall, finished with a stained top glued up from 1×6 boards. The shelving units above were cut from 3/4 inch plywood, though 1×12 boards are easier, then nailed together and painted with a sprayer. Smooth wall panel boards on the backs hide uneven walls. Slide the units into place, screw them to each other and the wall, then add 1×2 trim to the shelf edges and crown at the top. Trim does all the magic.
Get the full tutorial at Artsy Chicks Rule.
14. Desk with Welded Steel Legs
Love a desk that looks like a designer piece? This one pairs a simple plywood box with sculptural gold steel legs. The desktop goes together with pocket holes, two open cubbies and a center drawer, and there’s even a secret compartment hidden inside with magnetic touch latches. The legs are welded from flat bar and steel rod, then primed and sprayed metallic gold. Don’t weld? No worries, you can order hairpin legs or use wood legs instead and still build the top exactly the same way.
Get the full tutorial at Erin Spain.
15. Wall to Wall Live Edge Desk
Got a long, narrow room? This 11 foot desk runs wall to wall, so there’s space for a computer on one side and a sewing machine or hobby supplies on the other. The top is three boards deep, a live edge board at the front and two center slabs behind it, all joined with pocket holes. Because the run is longer than 8 feet, two live edge pieces get joined end to end. The tutorial also walks you through removing the bark and finishing the wood. Room for a second chair, too!
Get the full tutorial at Lemon Thistle.
16. Leaning Crate Ladder Bookshelf and Desk
Want shelves and a desk that work together? This modular system hangs big weathered crates on leaning ladder legs made from 1×3 boards cut at a 10 degree angle. Build two leaning bookshelves, then add a small leaning desk in the middle with an optional drawer. The desk shown is 25 inches high, sized for a child, and the plans note that 30 inches suits an adult. The crates come already stained, so there’s barely any finishing. Perfect for a homework nook or a tiny office corner!
Get the full tutorial at Her Tool Belt.
17. Shutter Office Shelf
No saw? No problem! This office shelf is almost a no-build, and it’s rent friendly too. Two double shutters stand in an L shape at each side, and wood planks slide right into the shutter slats to make the shelves. A bulletin board wrapped in burlap screws onto the back to hold it all together, so you get a pin board for notes at the same time. Add a few black cup hooks for keys or scissors. Paint the shutters any color, or leave them white if they’re in good shape.
Get the full tutorial at Funky Junk Interiors.
18. Floating Bookcase
Short on floor space? This bookcase floats just above the baseboards, so it tucks into a tight corner without feeling bulky, and it’s easy to keep the floor clean underneath. It’s built from 2×6 pine boards with a thin plywood back, screwed together and anchored into the wall studs. The shelves hide the seams in the backer so it reads as one solid piece, and a pop of paint color on the back makes it feel custom. Free plans are included, and it’s simple enough for a first build.
Get the full tutorial at Ugly Duckling House.
19. IKEA Billy Built-In Bookcases
Dreaming of a wall of built-in bookcases without the custom price? This tutorial turns plain IKEA Billy bookcases into real-looking built-ins. The cardboard backs come off so the wall shows through, the shelf pin holes and toe kick get covered, and 1×2 and 1×4 boards plus base and crown molding tie every case together into one unit. A coat of paint matched to IKEA white and plenty of caulk finish it off. Any basic flat pack bookcase works, so it’s perfect for an office wall full of books.
Get the full tutorial at Lovely Etc.
20. DIY Desk with Drawers
Here’s the easiest desk build you’ll find! A small chest of drawers holds up one end, a 1×2 cleat screwed into a wall stud holds up the other, and a 24 by 48 inch pine project board lays across the top. That’s it, no cutting needed if your board fits. The drawers shown are IKEA Rast dressers finished to look like antique printer’s cabinets, but any small dresser works. It’s a smart fit for a desk nook, and you can make two to flank a window!
Get the full tutorial at Maison de Pax.
21. Industrial Wooden Desk
Can’t find a desk in the right size or price? Build one! This industrial desk is 18 inches deep, 40 inches wide and 30 inches high, sized to fit a corner. The thick top is made from twelve 2x4s glued together side by side, sanded smooth, stained and sealed. The legs are black iron pipe with floor flanges, tees and caps, so they go together like a puzzle. Choose colorful, knotty lumber for the most character, and buy a little extra in case of a mistake.
Get the full tutorial at Craft Thyme.
22. Yarn Storage Shelf
If your craft room doubles as your office, you’ll love this! This wall hung shelf is 65 inches tall, 14 inches wide and just under 6 inches deep, the perfect size for short skeins of yarn. It’s built from 1×6 boards with wood glue, screws and optional corner braces, then hung on furring strips with wall anchors. It takes a little over an hour of hands on time. Because every skein is in plain sight, you’ll stop buying yarn you already own. Perfect for knitters and crocheters!
Get the full tutorial at Dream a Little Bigger.
23. Billy Built-Ins with Glass Doors
Want built-ins with doors? This version uses tall, skinny IKEA Billy bookcases with Oxberg glass panel doors on top and solid doors below, so you can show off books up high and hide office clutter underneath. A 2×4 base lifts the cases, and pre-primed 1×10 and 1×4 boards plus trim make them look built in. Bring a shelf to the hardware store to color match the paint to IKEA white. It’s a great beginner carpentry project, and it works in a home office or a living room.
Get the full tutorial at Bless'er House.
24. Walnut Waterfall Desk for Two
This mid-century style desk is all about clean lines. Three solid black walnut pieces, one long top and two sides, meet at 45 degree mitered corners so the grain flows right down the legs like a waterfall. Knots get filled with epoxy and sanded smooth, wood biscuits add strength to the joints, and Danish oil brings out the color. There are no drawers and nothing fancy, just a simple desk long enough for two laptops that also hides cords at the back.
Get the full tutorial at Dans le Lakehouse.
25. Kallax Shelf with Legs
Here’s an IKEA hack that takes about ten minutes! Adding furniture legs to a Kallax cube shelf lifts it off the floor so it looks like a custom piece, not flat pack. It also leaves room underneath for boxes or shoes and keeps floor vents from getting blocked. Turned wooden legs feel classic, and mid-century legs give it a modern look. Add fabric bins to the bottom row for hidden storage. It’s perfect for an office bookcase, under a sloped ceiling or in a reading nook.
Get the full tutorial at Single Girl's DIY.
26. IKEA Alex Desk Hack
Shopping for a stylish desk can get pricey fast. This IKEA hack sets a 98 inch Barkaboda kitchen countertop on three Alex drawer units, and that’s it! Space the drawer bases out evenly, add non-slip bumper pads on top and lay the counter across. The result is a huge double desk with room for two chairs to slide under. Want a matching work table? Spray paint four Krille legs and screw them to a second countertop. It all goes together in about three hours.
Get the full tutorial at Kaleidoscope Living.
27. Double Desks
Need two workspaces on one long wall? These double desks each measure 6 feet by 23 inches. Three IKEA Alex drawer units and a set of IKEA legs hold up plywood tops, and the store can cut the plywood to size so you don’t need a saw. Stain the tops, seal them with matte polyurethane and screw them to the drawer units. It’s a fun weekend project, and you can change the size to fit any room. Perfect for a shared office or craft room!
Get the full tutorial at Simple Made Pretty.
28. A-Frame Ladder Shelves
These A-frame ladder shelves add height and loads of style to a wall. Each ladder is two 1×3 boards joined at the top, with 1 1/4 inch wooden dowels as rungs spaced about 14 inches apart. The trick is to drill the first board, then use it as a template so every ladder matches. 1×12 boards rest across the rungs as shelves, and connecting bolts hold it all together. Build two or seven, depending on your wall. Perfect for books, binders and plants in a home office!
Get the full tutorial at Vintage Revivals.
29. DIY Built-In File Cabinets
Who says file cabinets have to look like they came from a cubicle? These built-in cabinets hide deep, wide file drawers behind a pretty painted face, so your paperwork disappears and your office looks custom. The carcass is cut from 3/4 inch plywood with a notch for the toe kick, joined with pocket screws and glue, then finished with a pine face frame. You’ll build simple drawer boxes, check them for square and add drawer slides. Paint them a rich green, screw them to the studs and top them with stone or wood!
Get the full tutorial at The House of Wood.
30. Simple Desk with a Book Shelf
Need a desk that fits a small corner? This simple build is made almost entirely from 1×6 boards joined with pocket screws and glue. The open front tray keeps notebooks and supplies within easy reach, and a book shelf along the bottom adds extra storage without taking up floor space. The cut list and numbered steps are right on the page, from assembling the legs to attaching the 40 by 22 inch top. Prime, paint and seal it, and it’s ready for homework or work from home days!
Get the full tutorial at Back Porch Bliss.
31. Mid-Century Modern Bookshelf
Love clean lines? This little bookshelf has a Mid-Century Modern look and it’s easy to size up or down for your space. Pine frames are joined with loose tenons, then white shelf backs and bottoms are glued, clamped and brad nailed in place. The materials list, cut lengths and joinery steps are all on the page. Tip from the builders: sand and paint the shelves before you assemble, it saves a lot of time! It’s perfect beside a desk for books, binders and a plant or two.
Get the full tutorial at Reality Daydream.
32. File Cabinet Desk
Want a huge desk without the huge price tag? This one spans a whole wall using two painted file cabinets as the base and a top made from pine 1×6 planks. You’ll build a simple 2×2 frame, screw the planks on with a countersink bit so the screws hide, fill the holes and sand until it’s smooth. Stain it dark, drill a hole for the cords and set it on the cabinets. You get tons of work space plus built-in file storage on both ends!
Get the full tutorial at Over The Big Moon.
33. Milk Painted Writing Desk
Got a plain little desk from the thrift store? Give it a bold new color with milk paint! This one was sanded lightly, cleaned with TSP substitute and painted in a jade green, with bonding agent mixed into the first coat so it grips. It took three coats on the base and four on the top, then a quick sand with 320 grit for a smooth finish and two coats of flat topcoat. Add a new knob and line the drawer with wrapping paper. It’s a one day project!
Get the full tutorial at The Weathered Door.
