Introduction: Hacking Ikea Desktop to Use Wasted Space
My wife and I recently moved in to a new apartment, which is quite smaller than one before. Most of our stuff didn't fit, including our desk. However, we quickly noticed that there was dead space (wasted space behind the master bed room door. There were no power outlets in that area, and there is very little space. In fact, from the door to the wall there was only about 12 inches. We decided to look around to find a thin desk, but noticed nothing was going to work, so this is what we came up with.
(Sorry if the pictures aren't that great we were building this at 11pm. and taking pictures with my iPhone)
Step 1: Materials
Ikea has a small clearance section usually at the end of store, but you must look for it because you can miss it (at least at the ikea close to me.) However, I found a big piece of already finished desktop table. In other words just the top of a desktop. I made sure it was big enough, so that I can make the desk and a shelf right above it.
Materials
Saw (manual or electric) ( I used a table-saw)
I had this but you can rent it for about $15 a day
Ikea (or any place you can find) clearance desktop table $40
Butterfly screws (pictured) $5
6' x 4" x 1/2" piece of wood (I had this but shouldn't cost you more than $10)
You can also use a thicker piece, I decided on this because not only did I already have it but it is less visible.
3" wood screws. $3
level ( I used one that was 2' long, because when it comes to making sure a desk is leveled a pen size level won't work as well)
Drill and bits
L-brackets $2
Step 2: Measure
First step I took was to measure each wall to have to most space for this desk. I took those measurement and cut my desktop table, making sure that as I cut I had other pieces I was going to be able to reuse.
Then I also cut the piece of wood that will act as the support for my desk.
(I am not going into to much detail for measurement because every space will be different. )
Step 3: Support
I first measured from the ground up about 30" which was going to be the bottom of my desk (usually desk are only about 28" from ground). I started by putting the one screw through the first support piece to make sure that it was going to stay and then leveled it to put the second one. I used butterfly screws where there were no studs to screw into. I put about 3 screws in each support, but as long as you can distribute the weight you may only need two. Using my two foot level I went from one piece to the next ( I had 4 pieces all together)
Step 4: Desktop
Once all the supports are up, I slid the tabletop on and made sure it was level as well.
I then secured it will "L" brackets to make sure it didn't move.
Step 5: Electric
THIS PART MAY BE DANGEROUS SO IF YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH IT PLEASE DO NOT TRY IT.
There was a wall that was back to a closet that had a power outlet in it, so I got some wire, a cut in box, and a socket and installed it myself. I drew power from that socket that was on the wall it was backing into.
If you have experience with electrical this should be a breeze if not, then try and get someone with experience to help because this is very dangerous is done incorrectly.
Step 6: Finished Product
It took me about 1 hour in all to complete. I also took the door off during the time I was installing the desk because it was easier access to anything on the outside or inside of the room.
