Build A Desk For A Girl'S Bedroom

If you're planning to make this desk with your daughter or granddaughter, make it more sentimental by having her work on the parts that would be appropriate: Let her sand the edges, help with the planning and even paint the desk with you. The desk will mean more to her, and you'll both be grateful for the memories once it's complete. The design shown here even allows you to adjust the height of the desk as the child grows.

Instructions

1. With a portable circular saw, cut the sides, back, bottom and top for two equal-sized storage cubes 18 inches tall and 14 inches wide. Sand the edges. These storage cubes will sit on either side of the desk, serving as the desk's base. Glue and then clamp and nail the bottom of each cube to the sides, and then repeat for the back and top of each storage cube.

2. With a portable circular saw, cut the sides, back, bottom and top of four more equal-sized storage cubes. Sand the edges. These storage cubes will be approximately half the size of the two storage cubes created in Step 1. The actual height of these storage cubes should be fitted to the child who will be sitting at the desk. As she grows, more cubes may be created to raise the height of the desk. Repeat the same assembly directions for the smaller cubes as described in Step 1.

3. After the glue has dried, chisel away any residue that leaked out over the edges, then sand.

4. Apply primer to all pieces before assembling. Paint as desired, then apply varnish. Let the child pick out the colors herself, and consider painting or stenciling designs onto the sides. The pieces should not be painted after the desk is assembled unless you never plan to disassemble the desk in order to adjust the height.

5. To assemble the cubes, drill 3/16-inch holes through the top of each larger cube in all four corners. With 1 1/4-inch drywall screws, attach the smaller cube to the top. There will be two stacks of cubes--one to hold up each side of the desk's top.

6. When the cubes are assembled to the desired height, the desk top can be fastened to the two stacks of cubes by the same method used to screw the cubes together (see Step 5). This step may be easiest to complete if the desk is upside down.

Tags: storage cubes, height desk, adjust height, back bottom, circular sides, circular sides back, cubes created