This IKEA hack desk is easy to make with a cheap IKEA desk top and two cube storage shelves. It's perfect for a home office, virtual learning, or crafting. The storage makes this desk perfect for a small workspace!
After we moved into our house, we needed a cheap desk as soon as possible, and this beautiful IKEA desk hack for under $60* was born. I shared this DIY desk tutorial on the blog almost seven years ago, and it has remained very popular. Recently, with the entire world all of a sudden working or learning from home, even more people have been making the desk!
We love DIY projects and making old things new again. This particular desktop has had three lives; a craft desk, a headboard for our guest room, and now it's my desk again but with a shiny, new look!
*This post contains affiliate links.
Above is what the desk looked like after I made it in 2013.
IKEA DESK HACK
Back story: after looking at all of the small IKEA desk options I had some ideas but didn't feel that they were all worth the money, at the time. It's funny because they weren't expensive, but I felt I could do something cheaper with the same amount of elbow grease.
*The Desk UNDER $60
What I ended up deciding was to get two cube storage shelves (these, which at the time were about $18 each) and an IKEA desktop. I never truly loved the gray LINNMON desktop, it just happened to be the one they had in stock and it cost less than $20 so I went with it.
*UPDATE ON THE LINNMON DESKTOP: The desktop I used is 59" x 29.5" x 2". IKEA may not currently sell the Linnmon in the size shown here.
This desk can cost under $100, $60, or even under $50- if you find the right deals on the storage cubes and the desktop! However, prices tend to go up and down.
I re-created the desk in 2020. I found storage cube shelves that I thought looked better (which at the time were $30 each) from Target. Then I decided to use marble contact paper on the desktop which cost $11. The total cost of the new desk: about $90.
I could have done this myself, it was that easy, but in full disclosure, my husband did help me. We like to do projects together.
HOW TO MAKE THIS IKEA HACK DESK
1. Put the desktop face down on the floor
2. Measure where you want the bookshelves to be and make sure they are even.
Place the tops of the bookshelves on the bottom of the desktop.
- Measure and mark four spots on the inside of the shelf where you will drill.
- Center your shelves in the middle of the desktop; measure the sides of your desktop and your shelf to find the centers of each, and mark them. Then line the two centers up.
- Drill pilot holes into the shelves.
- Use a screwdriver to screw the shelves into the desktop.
Carefully flip the desk over.
If you want to, add marble contact paper to the desktop - follow directions on the package.
Style! Add a lamp, bins, books, and office storage items. You now have a great DIY desk with storage to work with!
PRO TIPS
- Choose heavy screws that will be long enough to go through the top of shelves but NOT all the way through the desktop. If you use the exact items we have used, then 2" wood screws or similar will work.
- This desk is great and sturdy to work on. If you plan to move it, we recommend disassembling it. The desktop and shelves are not solid wood and screws can come loose from them.
I've gotten a lot of questions since sharing this tutorial. Here are some of the most common questions and answers.
How tall is this desk?
It depends on the height of the shelf you use. This desk is about 32" tall after it is assembled. The bookshelves I used are 3o" tall and the IKEA desktop is 1 ⅜".
SOURCES:
Cube Storage Shelves:
I have used both white shelves (#1 and #2) to do this desk. I also gathered up a few other colors that are available in this type of shelf. *These are affiliate links.
- White 2 Shelf Cube Storage
- White 3 Shelf Cube Organizer
- Weathered Gray 2 Shelf Cube Storage
- Pink 2 Shelf Cube Storage
- Espresso 2 Shelf Cube Storage
- Cherry 3 Shelf Cube Storage
- White 3 Shelf Organizer (Not Pictured)
Linnmon Desk Top, Accessories & Storage:
- IKEA Linnmon*
- Marble Look Contact Paper
- Globe
- 13" Fabric Storage Bin
- Brass Lamp (Similar)
**UPDATE ON THE LINNMON DESKTOP: The desktop I used is 59" x 29.5" x 2". IKEA may not currently sell the Linnmon in the size shown here.
If you make this desk PLEASE share it with us! Leave a comment and positive review, and tag us on instagram @prettyprovidenceblog so we can see your work!!
DIY IKEA Desk with Storage
Video
Equipment
- Drill
- Drill Bit
- Measuring Tape
- Pencil
Materials
- 8 2" Heavy Wood Screws *read notes about size below
- 1 IKEA Linnmon Desk Top
- 2 Storage Cubes / Shelves shelves between 30"-32" tall are ideal
- 1 roll Marble Contact Paper optional
Instructions
- Assemble the two storage cubes according to instructions.
- Place desk top face down on the floor.
- Measure the width (short side) of the desk and mark the center.
- Measure the width of one side of cube shelf and mark the center.
- Place cube shelf upside down on top of the desk top (which is also upside down) and line up the center markings.
- Measure and mark four spots where you will screw the desk together on each cube shelf. Markings should be evenly spaced around the inside top of each cube shelf.
- Drill pilot holes into each spot, being careful to only drill through the shelf and not the desk top.
- Next, drill wood screws where the pilot holes are. The screw should be flush with the surface of the cube shelf.
- Carefully flip the desk over.
- Apply marble contact paper according to package directions if you have opted to do that.
Notes
Sarah @ Pretty Providence
Yes! This is almost the same as the shelf I used: http://bit.ly/UG75Yp -it looks like the exact one is not in stock anymore, but this is similar and they are even cheaper!
Genie
No longer available! :( Can you tell us what height the shelves you have are so we can look for something similar?
Sarah @ Pretty Providence
I think they are about 31"
DIY newbie
I love this idea and would like to try it but I can't seem to find the right bookshelves. I keep finding the more rectangular ones, not the square ones. I looked at target too and couldn't find them. Could you post the link where you found them?
Emily
I really love the "Like A Boss" banner and am wondering how you made it or where you bought it. What material is it made of?
Sarah @ Pretty Providence
Thanks Emily! I just printed the letters out on regular paper from my computer & cut them out, then taped them onto some baker's twine. The simplest! :)
Emily
Excellent! so simple :) thanks for the details!
Jem
Hi, Could you tell me what font the Like a Boss sign is in? I really love this font?
Thanks =]
Sarah @ Pretty Providence
I am pretty sure it's Gill Sans! Sorry it took me so long to try to figure it out. I couldn't remember but I just used that font again and I think that's the one. If not it's very similar. :)
The 5 Dreamcatchers
Its very beautiful!!
I love it!
I picked your idea in my blog:
http://thefivedreamcatchers.blogspot.com.es
I hope you visit and like it!
Thanks!!
Xx
Lilian
Sara where did u get the "like a boss" sign?
priscilla
can't find the book shelves at target...any clue where else I can get them at?
Leticia Villarreal
Loved this! I just bought all the pieces. I went with the high gloss red top for the pop of color in my boring apartment.
Meghan Nicole Menke
Do you know the dimensions of the top? I really want to make this!! Also, are the bookshelves centered in the middle of the top?
Sarah @ Pretty Providence
The dimensions and other info is all right here: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00240241/
and I didn't center the bookshelves because I wanted them to be closer to the front - but the weight is almost even. It just depends on how you want to do it! :)
Lex
What kind of plant is that?
Sarah @ Pretty Providence
That is a fake plant from Ikea! haha I have no idea what kind it's supposed to look like :)
Morgan
Love your banner! it will definitely be added to my office that is slowly coming together. What would you recommend for someone that doesn't have an Ikea near them as the top? i'm in the same predicament of not being able to find a desk that I want!
Sarah @ Pretty Providence
Yes actually! Before we decided on the IKEA desk top, we were looking at Home Depot and they have doors there, big unpainted slabs of wood basically. They were totally flat too. We were about to get one of those and just paint it! I think they were $20 or $30.
Sarah @ Pretty Providence
It's a good printer, the quality is good for how inexpensive it was. The only thing I don't love is how small the ink cartridges are. I feel like they run out way faster than they should, and they aren't cheap! (I haven't gotten them refilled yet, just replaced them, but I hear that helps cut costs a lot.)
Adrienne Smart
Does it wobble? I have that table top and the legs are small so it wobbles. I have basically just dismissed the desk for a while and started piling stuff on top instead of using it... but this looks like a good solution.
Sarah @ Pretty Providence
Actually no it is as sturdy as an oak. Something I should have mentioned in the post is that these particular shelves make the desk a few inches taller than average, but I hardly notice, it's still comfortable to work at.
Sara@SewLOVED
What a great idea, I love it! You did a fantastic job creating an office space on a small budget! Also I need to ask you about your printer...we're are thinking of buying what looks to be the same one you have. Would you recommend it?
Lynnette Beste
Sarah, that turned out so nice! I love what you did! Good job girl!!
Rachel Kathryn
Looks great! That banner is adorable too
Sarah @ Pretty Providence
Thanks Rachel!
Sarah @ Pretty Providence
Thank you Pam! :) I'm so excited to party at SNAP!
Hanna Caldwell
Love the desk! I've been really into the color gray lately so I'm glad you decided to go with that even if it was just for the price ;) The final result is so cute.
Sarah @ Pretty Providence
Thanks Hanna!! I know now I feel silly for doubting myself because I just love it and it really allows me more freedom than even the natural wood might have!
Lauren
I would never think to do that. I would be all "Ikea top, where is the Ikea bottom?" This looks so good and modern. And it was cheap. Only my husband and I are incapable of measuring so if I wanted to do this, can I borrow you guys? I will pay you in fist bumps and BBQ.
Sarah @ Pretty Providence
Yes you can definitely borrow us. My husband loves BBQ and I love fist bumps!
Jessica
Oh my gosh Sarah I seriously LOVE this! I think it turned out great and you could make it work in basically any room in those colors. By the way, I totally burst out laughing when I first saw the "like a boss" banner. I am totally adding that to my future office somehow. Thanks for sharing!
Sarah @ Pretty Providence
Thanks girl. I am glad you appreciate the banner. I always have to add some weird pop culture thing to my rooms and some people are probably like "wth!?"
Pam from Over the Big Moon
Looks great Sarah! Very cute and clean!! Love it! -
Pam
http://www.overthebigmoon.com