Modified IKEA GALANT desk

I had to plan this modification from the start, before even assembling the new IKEA Galant desk. Since the desk was so large and I couldn't really flip over the frame, I had to attach all items, including the pegboards, while laying on my back. I had to drill holes in the pegboard for the legs and the areas where I'd be screwing the desktop to the metal frame. I'm no construction pro so my larger holes in the pegboard were sometimes off, but it all worked out in the end. I attached everything - including the pegboard to the metal frame - with medium and large zip ties.

I believe I spent a good 6+ hours on this project, but I'm really happy with the results. I even installed a USB hub near the front of my desk so I can plug in extra equipment easily.

When it's all said and done, I spent only $30-40 on supplies (zip cables, 2x4 pegboards (x2).

Step 1: Attaching the pegboards

Attaching the two 2x4 pegboards is a bit tricky and you'll find yourself on your back often. The trick is adding the pegboards into the construction of the desk AFTER completion of the desk's metal frame but BEFORE the legs are attached to the frame. Larger holes need to be made in the pegboard where the leg attaches to the frame from the bottom and where the tabletop is attached to the metal frame from the top.

Comments

[fresnelman90]

I really like this, for it keeps your workspace nice and clean. I will definitely do this with my future desk!

[milesduggan]

Great Idea! Ps you need a 40" screen to top this bad boy off! lol

[veeguy]

You are aware that you can buy zip ties with screw holes on the end, right?  That would have obviated the need to buy and mount pegboard under the desk top in the first place.

[kahunna]

No, I was not aware of those.  So these "zip ties with screw holes" would screw into the wood desk?  That's easier said than done!  The beg board is attached to the metal frame.  Drilling into the desk would be very difficult to accomplish, especially when you add or replace electronic components.  Plus, it would decrease the resell value of the desk.

[Lance Mt.]

I like the unquie ablility of this to add jsut about anything you want to it. It works, its simple and best of all its quick.

[driesyo]

why do you got e router if you can plug your modem to your pc?

[ericharper]

I hate to burst your bubble :) but all of your electrical receptacles are likely to be on the same circuit, so if the current load for everything is too much, you're going to blow a fuse (or trip a breaker) anyway. Fortunately, computer and mid range stereo equipment isn't going to draw much current anyway.

[endolith]

I wonder if I can get one of these up my stairs alone

[jireland]

Rahh! What lamps are those? I want some!

[CamWaite]

just ikea lamps i have three in my living room

[KimJSCP]

Very nice. You have some great ideas I can't wait to share with my husband, who is the real computer geek in my house. He has used the Signums that tallpaul00 mentioned and because his setup changes so frequently (we have probably 8 computers and changes are made every couple of days), the full pegboard would probably not work as well for him, but using some pegboard will be great. One idea we use that I wanted to add, to mount a small fluorescent light on the underside of the desk. We have mounted a 12" light, similar to what you would find under kitchen cabinets. It is very easy to just reach under and flick the switch and makes even something as simple is plugging in different speakers much easier. I love it, but am probably not the best judge, however we sure get a lot of "that is the coolest idea" from visitors. I'm not sure how the light, (or the routers and switches) are connected, but I think many things are screwed on. However, the zip ties would be fast and cheap and allow quick change outs.

[selggiT]

Whats the device on the left of your keyboard?

[kahunna]

It's a 3D mouse called The SpaceNavigator

[tallpaul00]

It seems like peg board is a more difficult way to go than necessary. Ikea sells a product called "Signum" which is basically just a wire basket that hangs underneath the desk and lets you stuff whatever in. It isn't flexible enough to hold a hub, switch, router etc but would cover most of the need. But my DIY plan is to just use some of the wire grid product that is sold for hanging kitchen utensils or tools from with hooks. It would be much easier to thread zip ties through, and at least as strong. It could be cut to shape with heavy duty snips or a dremel. I managed to snag some of this for free/cheap from a garage sale, but it must be at least as cheap as pegboard. There's also no need to thread anything (speaker wire in this example) between the desk and frame - that cable could just as easily have been strung underneath the pegboard....if it were easy to zip tie to the pegboard. Again the wire grid would be a win here. There's also no need to fasten the pegboard (or wire grid) from the top of the frame, but underneath the desktop. If you use screws and large washers for example, either one could easily be mounted from the bottom, either to a hole in the metal frame or in the desk surface from the bottom. I would be interested in locating some of the plastic grommets that Ikea mounts into their MDF surfaces for screws to screw into. Obviously screwing directly into MDF is not so hot, because the MDF rips apart around the threads instead of holding them securely. The plastic grommet gives the screw something sturdier to bite into, while the plastic grips the MDF with friction. Has anyone located these at a hardware store and what are they called? They are much like a plastic wall anchor for drywall or the like - similar problem there.

[withremote]

We just went to Ikea on Saturday and I picked up a Galant and the parts for a corner desk. Since we live about 4 hours away from the nearest Ikea I had to do without the top, I only got the frame. I did some measuring last night and I figured out I could use just one sheet of MDF 4x8' and cut it down with a corner curve and it would work prefect. it would have cost me about $150 for the table top and extensions, one sheet at HD is usually about $10. SCORE! I do like the way the frame all fits together, they made a good inexpensive product.

[Rob K]

My desk is hopeless. My desk is under a loft. The bars across are my ladder/wire holders. I take my computer with me to much to clean it up.

[kahunna]

That does look like spaghetti, Rob - but I don't think it's hopeless. Have you considered adding a pegboard behind the ladder? You could attach all of your wires to the computer side and paint the ladder side black. Of course, if you use this ladder often, you'd have to learn to climb it with just your toes - but it could be that you do this already with all of those electronics there.

[Rob K]

I use it often because it is my bed. These are actually pictures from last year, but I set my dorm room the same this year and have added a few more wires. It is just a lot of hanging wires. I have yet to yank a wire out. 5.1 surround 5.1 head phones printer scanner joystic 8 USB wires going to every thing play station TV mouse keyboard internet monitor desk light. I looked under my desk and I do have a spot 3' x 1' that I could possibly stick some peg board.

[adome]

You should fo' sho' put a peg board in there. It will clean up that framing you have there. Maybe you could bean bag it with some ladies in there since you do have a 5.1. hmmm just one more idea.

[Rob K]

LOL its a speaker ziptied to each leg of the bed itself and one ziptied in the middle.

[suprphrk]

Kahunna, I've got a Galant that I've already assembled. Any idea if removing the desktop would compromise the integrity of the threaded plastic holes in the desktop?

[kahunna]

I don't think they will be compromised as long as you threaded the screw properly. You might want to test it on a non-critical screw before moving forward. Since you've already put it together, an option you might consider is to glue the board below your desk. Blocks of wood (maybe 1x1x2) and some wood glue might do the trick, but you might have to wait a day or two while the glue sets before adding any wires/etc. to the bottom. Good luck!

[flux702]

i'm looking to buy the same setup essentially ,but i would like to know how far the table extends to the left from the corner where your monitor is. nice setup btw :D

[kahunna]

Hi Flux - the Galant series has a few options for sizes. The set-up I took was with one end rounded (right) and the other square (left). The extension is easier to see on the right because of the light (in front of my printer). On the left, the inner edge of the extension is just before my scanner.

Instead of searching around for my measuring tape, I just looked up the sections on ikea.com:

The main desk - http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S99821523
The right extension - http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S29821545
The Left extension - http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S99843756

So, long story short, the distance from the back corner to the left edge is 78 3/4" (200 cm).

[splendidus]

I really like the idea of using peg board to control wires and mount equipment. I was just wondering, how do you add wires, etc.? It seems as though it would be very tough to add new zip-ties once the desk top is in place. Do you have a good method for getting around this?

[vendebted]

Grab a pair of pliers and put a number of creases in the end of the cable tie. Make two 90 degree angles in it, so that it looks like there is a small box on the end of it. Then you should be able to put the cable tie through on whole and with a little bit of maneuvering you should be able to get it through the other target whole. I work in a hardware store and zip tie stuff to the pegboard all the time. And this sure seems to do the trick for me. Great Idea with the peg board by the way.

[kahunna]

It's a matter of pushing the zip cord through one peg hole and, using a finger up above the board, blindly threading it back down. You can only really do this 4-5 holes from the edge since you'd need to have long fingers or the ability to stretch your hands like taffy to get chords anywhere else. It might be a good idea to put a few chords in place near the center of the boards to have handy down the line. Good question.

[joinst]

We just put a whole wall full of galant desks in our computer room. After debating back and forth about what to do with the wires, we ended up hanging cloth from the back of the desk in a similar color to the wall. There are openings where the cloth overlaps behind each CPU for easy access. So the wires are all still there, you just can't see them. And they are really easy to get to when we need to deal with them.

[kahunna]

Awesome idea! I hope that there's no cloth hanging by the wall sockets, though.

[joinst]

The desks are a few inches from the wall, so the cloth is not too close to the sockets.

[dalucero]

how's the dust control goin?

[Scammah]

Pretty thorough instructable you have there. I have a similar desk to your but I probably can't do this because mine has a glass top

[Exocet]

You could always paint the bottom of your desk so you can not see through it. And it will still be glossy on top.

[kahunna]

Or, better yet, if you have any artistic abilities, you should paint your floor onto the bottom of the glass! Make sure to include your knees and legs for realism. Then when you look "through" your glass desk, it will always look clean and organized!

[gamer]

Half of your pants being jeans, and the other half being snow pants... what the heck?!? :P -gamer

[btop]

Haa

[calman]

why the hell did i get the glass desk?!

[omnibot]

Because it's cool .. now go figure out how to get rid of the wires ;)

[kahunna]

I've got it! GLASS WIRES. I'm a genius!

[omnibot]

Oooohhh . that IS a cool idea.