Learn how to build this DIY A-frame desk with drawers. This simple yet stylish wood desk is easy to make and makes any home office pop! Plus it uses only 4 power tools!
This desk has been a long time coming.
I built my daughter a desk with storage for her 5th birthday (she will be 10 in a couple of months).
It is safe to say, she outgrew that desk a long time ago and has been waiting for her mom to build her something.
Mom has been trying to come up with a design that would be fun, functional, and something that would grow with her.
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This design is very simple to build and uses a sheet of plywood, a few 2×2 boards and some other boards for the drawers. The total cost came to about $100!
Plus it used only 4 power tools so anyone can easily make it!
In fact, I am partnering with a bunch of other talented ladies to bring you more projects that can be built with 5 basic tools or less. Be sure to take a look at them at the bottom of this post!
Material needed –
- Lumber per the plans
- Circular saw
- Kreg Rip Cut
- Miter Saw
- Jig Saw
- Power Drill
- Kreg Jig
- 18″ Drawer Slides
- 1-¼″ pocket hole screws
- 2-½″ pocket hole screws
- 1-¼″ finish nails
- 1-¼″ finish screws
- Wood filler and Joint compound
- paint or stain of your choice
DIY A-frame Desk Plans –
You can download the step by step 3D model and build plans by clicking below.
DOWNLOAD A-FRAME DESK PRINTABLE PLANS
How to build the desk –
The full video showing how I built the A-frame desk is below! Full step by step written instructions follow below.
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Step by step tutorial-
Step 1 – Make cuts
Cut the plywood per the plans using a circular saw and a straight edge guide. I like using the Kreg Ripcut for this. It makes it really easy to make repeated identical cuts.
Cut the 2×2 boards on the miter saw. The legs and a few supports are cut at 10-degree angles. I like to set the saw once and make all the cuts so the angles are completely identical.
Step 2 – Build top frame
Make pocket holes in the plywood and build the frame for the drawers. Remember plywood has a special setting for the Kreg Jig. Read all about it here.
Step 3 – Build and install drawers
Build the two drawers using 1×3 boards. Be sure to check out my guide to building drawers for beginners!
Install the drawer slides in the top frame and install the drawers.
Step 4 – Attach top
Once the drawers are in place, go ahead and attach the top using wood glue and 1-¼″ finish nails.
Be sure to mark the location of the center supports so you can add nails accordingly.
Step 5 – Build legs
Build the two A-frame legs using wood glue and 2-½″ pocket hole screws per the plans.
Make sure the pocket holes are facing down on the bottom rails and inside for the top rails.
Step 6 – Assemble base
To assemble the base, I decided the best approach was to do so around the top frame so everything was aligned and fit well.
- Place the top upside down on a workbench.
- Using 2×2 boards are spacers on both sides, place the A-frame legs.
- Attach the supports under the top using pocket hole screws and wood glue.
- Attach the back bottom support. To do this I found it easier to move the leg frame to the floor on its side.
Step 7 – Attach base to top
Bring the base back to the workbench and attach it to the top using 2″ wood screws.
Step 8 – Add drawer faces
Secure the drawer faces using finish nails and wood glue from the front and then attach with finish screws from the back. I decided to cut out the top of the drawer faces using a jigsaw, then attached it.
Finish on the desk –
I decided to go with a dual-tone – warm brown and white to match the rest of the furniture in my daughter’s room.
Since it is dual-tone, I finished the legs and top separately before attaching.
I was going to paint the top but to be cost-efficient, I used sanded plywood which isn’t very smooth. To get a smooth finish, I coated the entire top with joint compound and sanded it back. Be sure to read my full tutorial on how to paint plywood for a smooth professional finish.
The legs were stained in my current favorite “Nutmeg” gel stain.
As a special surprise, since my girl loves color, I painted the insides of the drawers in turquoise and pink!
She loves it and I do too…
Be sure to download the printable plans by clicking below!
DOWNLOAD THE A-FRAME DESK PLANS
And now, here are my friends with their projects using 5 basic tools or less –
- Addicted 2 DIY
- Spool bed bench by My Repurposed Life
- Simple side table by Jaime Costiligio
- Modern shiplap hall tree bench by The Awesome Orange
- Rustic Wooden Bench by At Charlotte’s House
DIY desk accessories –
Here are some ideas to make your desk more awesome to use –
DIY A-Frame Desk
How to build this DIY A-frame desk with drawers. This simple yet stylish wood desk is easy to make and uses ONLY four power tools!
Materials
Instructions
- Cut the plywood per the plans using a circular saw and a straight edge guide.
- Cut the 2x2 boards on the miter saw.
- Make pocket holes in the plywood and build the frame for the drawers.
- Build the two drawers using 1x3 boards.
- Install the drawer slides in the top frame and install the drawers.
- Once the drawers are in place, go ahead and attach the top using wood glue and 1-¼" finish nails.
- Build the two A-frame legs using wood glue and 2-½" pocket hole screws per the plans
- Place the top upside down on a workbench. Using 2x2 boards are spacers on both sides, place the A-frame legs.
- Attach the supports under the top using pocket hole screws and wood glue.
- Attach the back bottom support.
- Bring the base back to the workbench and attach it to the top using 2" wood screws.
- Secure the drawer faces using finish nails and wood glue from the front and then attach with finish screws from the back.
- Paint and stain the color of your choice.
Reader Projects
Charlotte
I LOVE this design! It’s the perfect combo of sleek and storage. Also… joint compound to smooth out plywood is genius.
gail
I love your a frame desk Anika! I had a drawer section similar to this once. Now I wish I had put it up on legs like you did with your diy version.
I use joint compound 99% of the time with my wood projects. It’s so economical. 😉 In other words, I’m cheap!
pinned!
gail
Jaime Costiglio
Perfectly simple, functional with storage and pretty! Love those contrasting angled legs.