Introduction: Customised, Small Gaming Desk - Maximise Your Space.

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About: I love building things. There's little more satisfying than bringing an idea to life whether it be for my kids, or the big kid in me.

Due to space limitations, I only have room for a small gaming desk. The issue with most small desks is the amount of space available once the monitor is in-place. Most monitors have a large base which consume much of the available area and get in the way of other peripherals. Desks can also have a habit of looking singularly unappealing.

My solution was to customise a desk by including a monitor shelf into which I could embed the monitor.

Skill level - intermediate.

Materials:

  • MDF
  • Blackboard vinyl
  • Screws
  • Wood glue
  • Automotive spray paint
  • LED lighting - optional

Tools:

  • Jigsaw
  • Router
  • Workbench
  • Clamps

Step 1: Basic Shape, With Potential.

The first task was to select a suitably sized desk which needed to be stable. The available options turned out to be singularly uninspiring but some presented a solid foundation to work from.

Step 2: Lets Get This Started.

If I was going to customise this desk, I wanted something with a bit more of an interesting shape. I elected to go for something angular. If you look at my other projects, you can see I like angles.

Three small lengths of MDF were cut to attach to the front of the desk. The veneer was also completely covered in blackboard vinyl. The vinyl is durable and has a lovely texture to it. It is also a lot easier to apply and less prone to bubbling.

Step 3: Vinyl Application

The vinyl was applied to the front piece. It is important to work slowly and push hard on the vinyl when working around edges. The completed piece was screwed onto the front of the desk.

Step 4: Monitor Shelf Fabrication.

A basic shelf was made and a hole cut for the monitor pole. The top piece was wrapped in vinyl.

Step 5: Desk and Shelf Sides.

Shaped pieces of MDF were cut for the sides of the desk and the monitor shelf. A chamfer bit was used on the router to create the beveled edges. Angled strips were cut to attach to the back of the legs. This was to hide any cables attached to the back of the desk's vanity board.

Step 6: Painting.

The upper side pieces were filled, primed and spray painted. The lower sections were covered with vinyl. The sides for the monitor shelf extend slightly to ensure the shelf is stable.

Step 7: Finishing.

Blanking plates were made for the exposed wood on the monitor shelf. It also helped to finish off the design. They have an inlay of vinyl to integrate the design with the rest of the desk.

LEDs were also added to the back , operated by a switch under the desk itself.

The resulting desk is much more space efficient and looks a lot smarter. There is also sufficient space either side of the monitor to accommodate the speakers.

If you enjoyed this project, please feel free to leave a comment and look at my other designs.