The boys bedroom is almost done! Wahoo! The writing desk and a bookshelf are the last two projects needed to complete this room. Well, and then I have to get them to actually clean it. I gotta say, this room is really coming together with custom barn wood dressers, a forest accent wall and an awesome starry night wall. I’ve also taken down old utility shelves, painted the ceiling, revamped the headboards, added lighting and more. Even after that stuff, the boys really needed a space to study and do homework. I wanted something simple and sturdy that would blend into everything else going on in the room. I shopped around for a while but the desks I found were either wobbly, expensive or just not the right style. With IKEA’s help it was DIY to the rescue:
The writing desk came in just under $100 dollars. Materials were easy:
- 1″Alder wood, $8
- IKEA “Alex” drawers, $79
- IKEA “Adils” legs, $4 each
- black walnut wood stain (I had on hand)
The desk top was by far the funnest part. I made it with solid Alder wood. Most of the knots in the wood (which Alder is known for) are on the underneath side of the desk. After gluing four boards together I ran the piece through the planer a few times and sanded it well to make sure it was smooth enough for homework. It is finished with a black walnut stain and three coats of lacquer (so pretty!). It measures 24″ deep and 48″ wide. Wood cost, $8.
The drawers are from IKEA and I couldn’t love them more. They were easy to assemble and they provide great storage. The legs, also IKEA, attach easily and are sturdy enough for two boys. (Links above)
I’m so happy with how simple the writing desk was to build and how well it works in the room. The guys love it and so do I!
Happy Creating!
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