65+ Kids Wooden Desk With Storage ~ My Wood Blog

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Introduction: Creating a DIY Kids Wooden Desk with Storage Building a custom desk for your child offers numerous benefits. You can tailor the size and features to perfectly fit their needs and available space, and incorporate storage solutions to keep their workspace organized. This guide provides a step-by-step process for constructing a simple yet functional wooden desk with built-in storage.

Materials You'll Need:

Lumber: Choose softwood like pine or poplar for ease of work and cost-effectiveness. You'll need pieces for the desktop, legs, side supports, drawer fronts, drawer boxes, and shelving (if desired). The specific dimensions will depend on the desired desk size.
Plywood: For the drawer bottoms and potentially for shelving or backing.
Wood Screws: Various sizes for different connections (e.g., 1 1/4", 1 5/8", 2 1/2").
Wood Glue: For strengthening joints.
Drawer Slides: Choose the appropriate length and weight capacity.
Knobs or Pulls: For the drawers.
Sandpaper: Various grits (e.g., 80, 120, 220) for smoothing the wood.
Wood Finish: Paint, stain, and sealant depending on your desired look.
Safety Glasses
Dust Mask

Tools Required:

Measuring Tape
Pencil
Saw: Circular saw, miter saw, or hand saw for cutting the wood.
Drill/Driver: For screwing the wood together.
Pocket Hole Jig (Optional): For creating strong, hidden joints.
Clamps: For holding pieces together while glue dries.
Sander: For smoothing the wood.
Square: For ensuring right angles.

Step 1: Design and Planning Before you start cutting, create a detailed plan. Decide on the desk's dimensions (height, width, depth). Consider the child's age and height to determine a comfortable desk height. Draw a sketch with all measurements clearly labeled. Plan the layout of drawers, shelves, or other storage components. This planning stage will prevent costly mistakes later.

Step 2: Cutting the Wood Carefully cut all the wood pieces according to your plan. Double-check your measurements before each cut. If you are using a circular saw or miter saw, ensure the blade is sharp and the safety guards are in place. For precise cuts, use a guide or fence.

Step 3: Assembling the Desk Frame Begin by assembling the main frame of the desk. This typically involves connecting the legs to the side supports and the desktop support pieces. Use wood glue and screws to secure the joints. If using a pocket hole jig, drill pocket holes on the inside faces of the supports for a cleaner look. Use clamps to hold the pieces together while the glue dries. Ensure the frame is square by checking the corners with a square.

Step 4: Attaching the Desktop Place the desktop on top of the assembled frame. Secure it with screws from underneath, through the desktop support pieces. Ensure the screws are not too long to avoid piercing through the top of the desk. Apply wood glue for added strength.

Step 5: Building and Installing the Drawers Construct the drawer boxes by assembling the drawer sides, front, and back using wood glue and screws. Attach the plywood drawer bottom. Install the drawer slides according to the manufacturer's instructions on the inside of the desk frame and on the sides of the drawer boxes. Insert the drawers into the slides to ensure they fit properly. Attach the drawer fronts to the drawer boxes with screws. Add knobs or pulls to the drawer fronts.

Step 6: Adding Shelves (Optional) If you included shelves in your design, cut the shelf pieces to size and attach them to the sides of the desk frame using wood glue and screws. Ensure the shelves are level. Consider adding supports underneath the shelves for added stability.

Step 7: Sanding and Finishing Thoroughly sand all surfaces of the desk, starting with a coarser grit sandpaper (e.g., 80 or 120) and gradually moving to a finer grit (e.g., 220). This will create a smooth surface for finishing. Wipe away any sanding dust. Apply your chosen wood finish (paint, stain, and sealant) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Allow the finish to dry completely between coats.

Step 8: Final Touches Inspect the desk for any imperfections or areas that need additional sanding or finishing. Install any remaining hardware. Clean the desk and place it in its designated location.

Conclusion: A Custom Desk for Learning and Creativity You have now successfully built a custom wooden desk with storage for your child. This DIY project not only saves you money but also allows you to create a functional and personalized workspace that will foster learning and creativity. Remember to supervise children around power tools and always prioritize safety. Enjoy the satisfaction of creating something unique and useful for your child!

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