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DIY Floating Desk Frame

Fall '22 One Room Challenge - Week 7: DIY Floating Desk Frame

Before reading all about our DIY Floating Desk Frame, be sure to check out our ORC Week 6 post on Staying Motivated through DIY Setbacks!  As well as the other participants who are working to complete their own ORC!

Okay, I am calling this a floating desk DIY but if I am being honest, I want this to be a well loved craft table! 

I love crafts and always remember spending so much time with my Mom making all kinds of fun things.  I wanted to have a space to do just that with my boys!  From holiday crafts, to coloring & painting, to different experiments & homework, I can already picture so much being done here.  

I am very happy with how this frame turned out!  We will have a bit more work before the desk is completed but this post walks through exactly how I made the frame.  This frame is very similar to the floating countertop I built in my laundry room.  However, when building this frame, I knew it would need to withstand climbing toddlers!!

DIY Floating Desk

Step One: Cut 2x4s to Size

My desk frame is made from four 9 foot 2x4s.  I started by cutting two boards at 8 feet 4 inches.  The long boards will make up the front and the back of the frame.  Then cut the center/brace boards.  I wanted my desk depth to be 24 inches; so factoring in the front and the back boards I cut my brace boards at 21 inches. 

I cut a total of 7 boards at 21 inches; two for either end and five in between.  If you have a smaller desk you could use less bracing.  Again, I wanted this to be a very solid strong frame so I choose to add in more. 

Step Two: Attach Back board to Wall

Start by using a stud finder and marking your studs.  Then measure for the height of your desk and mark for the height. 

Using 3 inch screws attach the back brace into the marked studs.  Use a level to make sure you attach the 2×4 level.  I screwed into every stud accross the wall. 

DIY Floating Desk

Step Three: Attach the End Brace Boards

diy wall mounted

I first attached the end brace boards to the back board using pocket holes and pocket hole screws.  Then using 3 inch screws I attached the brace board into the wall stud on the side walls.  

Step Four: Attach the Front Board

Attach the second long board, the face board, to the ends of the two brace boards.  I used 2 1/2 inch screws to drill through the front board and into the brace boards.

diy projects

Step Five: Attach Remaining Brace Boards

DIY Floating Desk

Attach the remaining brace boards between the front board and the back board.  To attach to the back board use pocket holes and pocket screws; to attach the the front board drill through the front board directly into the brace boards.

What's Next!

Up next for this project will be to create the desk top.  I am so excited for this.  The  desk design calls for using locally cut wood slabs.  The slabs have been cut and I am just [im]patiently waiting for the wood to dry.  Once the wood has dried enough, I plan to finish the planks with an epoxy resin.  I have not yet used epoxy resin and I am excited to give it a go!  Be sure to check back as I continue to build our floating desk!

floating desks
DIY Floating Desk

Links

*Disclosure: We only recommend products that we regularly use ourselves and all opinions expressed here are our own. 

Home Depot: 2 in. x 4 in. x 104-5/8 in. Prime Kiln-Dried Whitewood Stud
Home Depot: Grip-Rite #8 x 3 in. Philips Bugle-Head Coarse Thread Wood Screws
Home Depot: Grip-Rite #9 x 2-1/2 in. Philips Bugle-Head Coarse Thread Sharp Point Polymer Coated Exterior Screws
DIY Floating Desk

DIY Floating Desk

4.50 from 2 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Build Time 2 hours

Equipment

  • Miter Saw
  • Drill
  • Level
  • Kreg Pocket Hole Jig

materials
  

  • 3 2" x 4" x 104" lumber
  • 3" Screws
  • 2 1/2" Pocket Screws
  • 2 1/2" Screws

Instructions
 

  • Cut the 2x4's to Size
  • Attach Back-Board to the Wall
  • Attach the End Brace Boards
  • Attach the Front Board
  • Attach Remaining Brace Boards
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3 thoughts on “DIY Floating Desk”

  1. 5 stars
    This is the second time google had landed me on this article. This time I shall comment.

    I have to say you girls are doing a great thing. The project is great and instructions are simple yet complete. The guide for new DIY’rs to help with discouragement is brilliant.

    Keep up the great work!!

    Chris

    1. Hi Tammy! If you head over to our Instagram @well_shetried you will be able to find a few photos and a reel on the completed desk top! We did an epoxy finish on some rough cut lumber from a local lumbar yard. Our full blog post will be coming but there was a bit of frustration and tears shed over the expoy finish, certainly not an easy job! I will reply and link the blog post once its completed. Thanks so much for your interest in our projects!!

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