Up-cycled Corner Desk

With limited space corner office desks are sometimes a necessity for those of us who work at home. Corner desks can be built of virtually any material and can be made to disassemble in minutes if necessary. Up-cycling is a term used by crafters and do it yourself enthusiasts to describe converting an item to be used as something slightly or even totally different. Up-cycling is popular and something I try to do whenever possible. It was up-cycling that made this guide possible and has helped several of my friends find the space in their small homes to have their own home office space.


To build an up-cycled corner desk you will need:

Used large corner cabinet or shelving unit.
Screwdriver, hammer, nails, drill, and optional circular saw.
Sliding keyboard drawer (you can buy this or you can up-cycle one from another desk).

Step 1 – Find the perfect corner cabinet to up-cycle.

Large corner cabinets or shelving units can be found at used furniture stores, antique stores, craigslist, and if you are lucky enough being tossed out by someone who doesn't know the value of up-cycling. . Bakers racks or curio cabinets can also be used for this project depending on the size of your computer. An example photo is shown above to give you some ideas.

Step 2 – Up-cycle that cabinet!

The first step to up-cycling is to fit and mark where everything will be. Slide the monitor and tower into place. Shelves should not need to be adjusted since ideally measuring would have been done prior to purchasing the cabinet. Mark the areas for wires and cord hole drilling. Don't forget to mark areas on other shelves if you are using additional devices like speakers and modems. Install the keyboard drawer. You may have to cut it to fit but it should be placed right under the monitor.

Step 3 – Install the computer, cords, modems, etc.

With the drawer in place and properly installed it's time to drill the cord holes. You may need a small circular saw to get the holes just right for proper cord access. Place the tower in the bottom area of the cabinet and attach your cords. Run the cords as needed through the drilled holes. With everything in place turn your computer on and test all of your attached devices. For an added touch you may want to attach your grounded power strip to the side or back of the cabinet for ease of use and availability in case of a storm or electrical issue.