DIY Corner Desk (For Under $150)

Last year I built a custom sliding barn door for the back room in my parents’ house. While the door is holding up great, the room itself is beginning to lose it’s identity. It’s currently a catch-all for my dad’s work stuff and also a pseudo-mud room (without the benefits of being set up as a mudroom)… and with everyone needing a home office space at the moment, my dad has been feeling a bit lost. So, to help him get organized, I transformed a cluttered corner in the back room into a smart and efficient home office and smart home hub with a custom DIY corner desk that I built for under $150 in lumber!

How To Build A DIY Corner Desk For Under $150

This project is sponsored by Xiaomi and includes affiliate links. For my full disclosure policy, click here.

Want to see this build in action? Check it out on YouTube & please subscribe to my channel!

My mom is going to be so mad at me for sharing this space. But, this is what this corner looked like before:

And, here is what it looks like now!

A desk like this makes it so easy to transform an unused corner into a home office. Even cooler, it was a super easy project that cost me under $150 in lumber! Pair it up with some smart home products, and you’ve got a fully functioning work from home space!

Here’s how I made it happen.

What I Used:

Tools
Miter Saw
Table Saw/Circular Saw
Drill/Driver
Pocket Hole Jig
Sander & Sandpaper
Paint Supplies
Wood Clamps
Carpenter’s Square
Tape Measure
Safety Goggles

Materials
(3) 1 ¼ x 6 x 6′ boards
(3) 2 x 4 x 8′ Boards
(cut into 1 ¼” square strips)*
2 ½” Pocket Hole Screws
2″ Wood Screws
Wood Glue
Wood Stain
Polyurethane
Paint (optional)

Cut List*

1 ¼ x 1 ¼” Boards
(6) Legs @ 28 ¾”
(6) Short Base @ 14″
(3) Long Frame @ 33 ½”
(3) Medium Frame @ 30 ¼”
(5) Supports @ 14″

6″ Wide Boards
(3) Long Desk Top @ 36″
(3) Medium Desk Top @ 31 ½”

* For comprehensive plans and cut list, check out my printable plans!

* If you do not have a table saw, you can substitute this for 2 x 2 x 8′ boards. If you do this, please be aware that you will have to adjust the measurements for the base build.

The Steps:

1. First, I cut and assembled my two desk tops by gluing up my 6″ wide pieces into two panels (I made these wider than they needed at first so I could trim them later). I glued them together using wood glue and clamps. I allowed them to cure overnight before cutting them to their final size.

2. While the panels dried, I cut the materials for the base. I decided to trim my 2x material into 1 ¼” square boards for a slimmer look. But, this is totally optional (if you choose to go for a beefier base, you will have to adjust my cut list to match your build).

3. Since the l-shaped desk was too big to fit through the door, I assembled each side separately and then attached them together in the final space (you can see this in action in my YouTube video & illustrated in my printable plans).

4. Next, I finished sanded and then painted my desk base and stained the tops.

5. I then assembled the two sides of the desk in place in the space and attached the tops using wood screws from underneath the supports.

That was it! Not bad for a custom desk for under $150!

The only other thing I wanted to do in this space was add a few smart home items for my dad to use in his new space. Luckily, I was able to partner up with Xaiomi to help make his space more efficient with some key smart items!