Office at Home - How to Build Your Own DIY Desk

The dream of working from home is becoming more of a reality for many of us. Whilst the recession is inspiring many to realize their independent entrepreneurial desires, an increasing number of people who have been made redundant are being forced to work as freelancers. Yet, other factors stimulated by the economic climate are also causing companies and businesses to incorporate staff who work from home as a logical space and money saver.

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In order to ensure your home office is as efficient as possible, setting up the space needs careful consideration. Ideally there needs to be a good balance of comfort, accessibility to information, tools, storage, and free space. Typically, the less cluttered the space is, the less likely to be distracted you'll be. But additionally, everything that is necessary to help you achieve your day to day work, such as your computer and books, needs to be as easy to find as possible. Of course, the office desk is an integral factor in all this.

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Free standing desk
A simple free-standing four-legged desk will be, perhaps, the least space-efficient but the simplest type to construct yourself with little more than a cordless drill and a jigsaw. Plywood is likely to be the best material for the desktop, and a sturdy ¾ in. thickness will offer a sturdy and smooth writing surface that can be finished with paint or varnish. Height and legs are the most important consideration, and although it might be tempting to purchase suitable wood new, recycled materials such as old bedposts can offer a more unique and aesthetically pleasing alternative. Of course the height should suit you, but 27 - 28 in. is the average for a desk surface.

The filing-cabinet/desk combo
If you need some additional storage space included in the design of your desk, you could also consider a filing cabinet - desk combination. If truth be told, old filing cabinets rarely have a place in the modern day office, but incorporating one into a DIY desk can give it a whole new lease of life. Again, plywood or similar will offer a suitable surface that can lie flush onto the top of the filing cabinet, whilst an additional two legs will provide support at the other end. This design will mean that you will have to adhere to the height of the filing cabinet to some degree, and construct the rest of the desk around it.

Corner desk
Corner desks are perhaps the most space efficient desk design. These typically involve the surface, plywood or MDF, being attached to two walls by brackets or similar that are screwed into the stud. In addition to using the wall as support, two legs are usually included at the front of the desk for extra support. If you are attaching the desk surface to the wall, consider computer cables etc and whether to cut out a segment at the back in order to pass these through.

Office at Home - How to Build Your Own DIY Desk
Dark Wood Bookshelf

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