You can build a professional workspace in your home or office with the right desk design. A professional workstation requires a wide table with several storage compartments to house various pieces of equipment and declutter the area. While an office requires furniture like chairs and bookshelves, getting the executive desk can transform the space. As a DIYer, this means building this executive table.
Executive desks are extensive and suitable for large spaces. They also typically have double pedestal drawers, which means more storage space to store paperwork and supplies and keep them easily accessible.
Modern offices require the perfect desk with enough room to concentrate on the work. But how do you build this extensive desk for your professional workspace? We’ll answer this question in detail while providing executive desk ideas from which to choose.
Planning And Preparation For Building DIY Executive Desk
Preparation and planning are essential for such an extensive project to ensure a quality desk. You can simplify the building process and reduce mistakes with the right approach. Here are a few steps to take to prepare for the construction of an executive desk:
1. Identify Your Needs
The first step is identifying your needs, including the size of the desk you need, design, storage space required, and other minute details about why you need the table. Accurately measuring the space where you intend to keep the desk will guide you on the size you need. This initial needs-identification stage will set the tone for the rest of the project.
2. Gather Inspiration
By now, you have an idea of the type of executive desk you want to build; however, for many, it is only an idea without clarity. By searching for design inspiration, you get more clarity on the type of desk to build for your office. This article is an ideal inspiration-gathering source to use.
3. Sketch Design
Making a rough sketch of the design is vital to help visualize the desk; this is even more essential when building a unique idea as it allows you to see flaws beforehand and make adjustments before you start building.
4. Create a Bill of Materials
A Bill of Materials (BOM) lists all the materials and supplies needed to complete your executive desk. This structure list is an important part of any construction process as it ensures you highlight all required supplies in their right proportions. Select only quality wood and supplies with plywood, solid wood, and medium-density fiberboard among the most preferred. The BOM also includes hardware like wood glue and screws.
5. Acquire Tools, Equipment, And Materials
With the BOM, you can acquire all the tools and equipment for this project. As an ardent DIY enthusiast, you already have most of the equipment. You can borrow, rent, or purchase the other tools your workshop lacks. These tools include drills, sanders, a table saw, measuring and marking tools, and a miter saw.
You can buy all the materials in your BOM in home improvement stores near you; it is vital to choose close-by stores to make transportation easier. Compare prices between suppliers and look for good deals like free delivery of your product to reduce costs.
How to Build an Executive Desk?
Building the desk becomes straightforward if you carefully prepare and plan. By dividing the construction into smaller sections, the procedure becomes easier to follow. Here’s a simple guide for any DIYer to build the perfect executive desk for their office:
1. Preparation For The Top And Drawer Box
The first pieces to be built are the drawer boxes and the tabletop. It means you have to cut these pieces to the right size. Utilizing standard pieces’ dimensions will reduce the required cuts, save time, and streamline the building process.
The table features a double pedestal style with a drawer on either side and a smaller center drawer in the middle. There are three drawers in this table design, which means three drawer boxes must be attached to the top. Cut the plywood for the drawers’ parts, including all the sides and bottom pieces. Remember that the center drawer will utilize the sides from the double pedestal setup and would only require the bottom piece.
Splines, corner pieces, and dovetails are recommended, so prepare each piece for the joinery. Cut the female dovetail slot into the top board and the male into the inside board of the taller drawer. Follow up by cutting matching dadoes and splines in the required plywood. You’ll also need eight corners lumbers cut from hardwood that matches the plywood-veneer.
2. Assembling The Top And Drawer Boxes
Glue the parts in stages for ease, starting with the top, two corner bits, and two splines. Rub glue along the length of the slot and insert a spline while ensuring more glue is on the side. Allow the glue set before installing the drawer slides. After which, you can attach the bottom and top pieces.
3. Preparation For The Drawer
Cut all the pieces for drawers using the correct measurements to ensure it fits into the drawer box. Check the cut list drawer dimensions and ensure it has been followed while building the drawer boxers. Where these two match, you can use the cut list to build the drawer; otherwise, use the dimension of the inside of the drawer box.
4. Assembling The Drawers
Glue each drawer’s side and bottom pieces, hold using corner clamps to secure the fixture, and allow the glue to set. Add all the parts and secure using pin nails to support the glue. You can also band the edges as additional support.
Fix the opposite drawer slide to the drawer while ensuring it aligns with the slides attached to the drawer box. Once the slides are aligned, the drawer will seamlessly slide in and out of the drawer box.
5. Preparing The Leg And Stretcher
The top part of the executive desk is complete, so you can move to build its support system. The table legs and stretcher are the next parts to build, but cutting and arranging the joinery method is vital before then.
It would be best to have four legs, two side stretchers, and a rear apron to support the wide desk. Cut the shoulders on the top of the legs to attach the side stretchers and rear aprons. Use only warp-free, straight-grained hardwood for the legs, as you require utmost durability and strength. Square legs are easier to make, but tapers add more aesthetics.
6. Leg And Stretcher Assembly
Use glue to assemble the legs and stretcher; however, starting with the two sides first makes for a straightforward assembly. Set the apron square to the legs and clamp them firmly.
7. Finish
Sand all the surfaces using fine grit sander; this includes the drawers and top, so you may have to remove the drawers for this process. Sharp edges can pull clothes and scratch people, so it is best to reduce the sharpness by slightly rounding them off. Since unique joinery methods were employed that reduced the need for nails and screws, gauges and the need to cover them were minimized.
How to Paint an Executive Desk?
Painting the desk after building requires careful preparation as you determine the type and color of paint to use. Office desks are usually painted with dark colors, giving them that sophisticated look without drawing too much attention away from other fixtures in the office.
Ensure the desk is clean and has been wiped to remove any dust from the sanding before taking them indoors for painting. Painting indoors with enough ventilation allows the paint to dry evenly. Protect the floor from stains by spreading a tarp and covering it with a rag.
An executive desk is a large project, so a paint sprayer is the best option. Use long smooth strokes to apply the paint to the desk. Brushes suit more intricate corners like the trim, while rollers will effectively paint the wide desk surface. Apply about two to three paint layers while gently sanding and cleaning after each paint coat. The paint may take about a week to dry completely and be ready for use.
4 Best DIY Desk Ideas to Try
If you’re looking for a few ideas for your executive desk, this section highlights some interesting choices. It also includes a brief design description and a link to the detailed plan.
1. Executive Desk With Copper Ring
The executive desk should exude class, and this design does this brilliantly with its copper ring addition. Attention to detail is required to complete the segmented ring and walnut grid work which are the main attraction of this large table.
You’ll also find that having numerous storage spaces is useful when storing many supplies. Each drawer is specially made to house different materials, with a file storage section included. Handles made from walnuts further improve its appeal.
The guide involves a 9-part video series with so many details that even a less experienced DIYer can complete the project. The top is made from a combination of live-edge walnut slabs, giving it a natural look.
2. Executive Desk With Wireless Charging
Here is a thoroughly designed executive chair with more features than your average office desk, as it incorporates a wireless charging station while craftily hiding the wires and its system inside the table. There’s also a hidden drawer compartment to keep documents and supplies safe. The hidden drawer is under the left pedestal and looks unassuming while housing important files.
There’s a power outlet attached to the back of the top drawer. You’ll need to route an access hole on the desk to allow the wire to pass through while creating a small cutout to place the wireless charging setup, which is a major pull for this desk. Other fixtures include knife hinges and other electronics.
While the design is detailed enough, the builder has a special program where subscribers can access even more comprehensive videos on the project. The project will require several stain coats for the natural wood finish.
3. Modern Office Desk
This modern office desk is made predominantly from walnut lumber, giving it the traditional dark brown hue. The style features a curve joining the two pedestals to create a bridge-like design. Drawers provide storage spaces, with this idea featuring several drawers that span the height of the table on either side of the pedestal.
The builder also includes the number of hours it took to complete the project and the total cost, with a cost breakdown. Remember, the time to complete the project will vary based on skill and resources available. It would help if you started by building the base as it guides the other additions.
Build all the drawers and their boxes into the base and add the walnut tabletop. See this link for a full guide to building this office desk, including a pricing guide.
4. The Presidential Desk
The name is the perfect description for this exquisite desk design. Huge, intimidating, and well-detailed are some ways to describe this enormous piece of furniture that would instantly transform any space. The number of details this project requires instantly removes it from the possible projects for new and intermediate-level DIYers. It requires DIYers with expertise in making crafty designs on wood and joining lumbers in the cleanest way possible.
The guide uses visual demonstration in the form of slides to show the building process, which means many details have been omitted. You’ll require prior knowledge of joinery and making detailed cuts to use this idea.
Glue and unique joinery techniques are employed to assemble the numerous pieces of furniture. You’ll need several clamps to secure the desk while the glue sets.
FAQ’s
Extensive furniture projects such as this will likely raise many questions, so we’ve gone ahead to compile popular questions and answer them.
Ans: Use high-quality wood with straight structures to make the legs. The wood should be sturdy and free from warping. It would help to employ appropriate joinery techniques to brace the support system.
Ans: Wood glue and screws are the primary assembling materials for executive tables, as they leave little to no holes in the wood.
Ans: You may need a hidden drawer if you have files or supplies you want to keep out of sight and hidden. This drawer is placed in an unassuming position on the desk so it can go unnoticed.
Conclusion
Executive desks are large and show class, so they can instantly transform a space into a professional office. Building this table requires careful planning as you identify your needs. You should know that this table requires many materials and usually has detailed designs attached for more aesthetics.
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