DIY Upcycled Computer Desk | JenuineMom.com

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You can turn a broken table into an amazing computer desk with just a little wood and paint!

Have you ever seen a piece of old furniture left on a curb and wondered if you could make something amazing out of it? Well, our neighbor was moving out several years ago and he put out a broken foyer table (some folks also call this a console table). In its glory days, it was pretty wood mission-style table. It sat on the curb many days, scratched and broken, but we resisted. What did we need with an old, broken-down table? We eventually gave in to temptation and it came to live in our garage. And then I found myself in need of a new computer desk, and Greg suggested we make a new DIY computer desk from the broken table. Really?

Yes, really! Many of you may have heard me speak of my amazing computer desk over the years, and I keep promising to tell you its story. I was finally inspired to share the tale with some encouragement from my friends over at HomeTalk.com, which is a DIY home community that loves to share DIY projects. So here is one of the greatest #MyDIY projects!

DIY Upcycled Computer Desk | JenuineMom.com

So you may be wondering what the table looked like after we rescued it from the curb. Here it is:

DIY Computer Desk From An Old, Broken Foyer Table | Upcycling | JenuineMom.com

What was wrong with this table? The drawers were jammed, the surface was scratched and marred, and one of the legs was broken and ready to come off. I think the poor thing had been thrown at one point. Oh, and it was too tall to be a desk—it was meant for a foyer. I was skeptical, but Greg thought it would work for me as a computer desk. I was getting a new computer with a large monitor, so my desk had to be able to accommodate two large monitors side-by-side. And both keyboards. In a keyboard tray that did not exist yet. We could do this!

How We Transformed the Table into a DIY Computer Desk

Because my new computer was coming in few days, we had to work fast. Thus, I took very few in-progress photos of the table’s transformation into my DIY computer desk. So sad! But here’s what we did to it:

Greg removed several inches from the bottom of the table legs to bring it down to computer desk height. He also added some non-scuff caps to the legs.

DIY Computer Desk From An Old, Broken Foyer Table | Upcycling | JenuineMom.com

Greg repaired the poor broken leg.

We removed the drawers completely, along with center support between the drawers. (We left the support bar under the drawers.)

Greg sanded the top of the table to remove all of the old finish, and then applied a new, lighter oak finish (to match our hardwood floors).

DIY Computer Desk From An Old, Broken Foyer Table | Upcycling | JenuineMom.com

We installed two plastic cable grommets on the back edge of the desktop so the cables from both the computer and monitor could be funneled down out of sight.

DIY Upcycled Computer Desk | JenuineMom.com

I painted the rest of the table with a red chalk paint and distressed it slightly. I used Valspar HydroChroma Cherry Pickin’ CI221 mixed with Calcium Carbonate (also known as Plaster of Paris) to make my own chalk paint (when I made this, chalk paint wasn’t available for sale in the stores like it is now). I distressed it with sandpaper after it was dry.

DIY Computer Desk From An Old, Broken Foyer Table | Upcycling | JenuineMom.com

Greg built a keyboard tray and installed it where the drawers used to be. He also added LED lights under the desk so my keyboards were lit!

DIY Computer Desk From An Old, Broken Foyer Table | Upcycling | JenuineMom.com

Greg made a privacy panel to go on the front of the desk, as the desk faced outward into the room. I painted the panel red, then mod-podged real and fake travel posters onto it. The posters were all of places I’d actually visited.

DIY Computer Desk From An Old, Broken Foyer Table | Upcycling | JenuineMom.com

You can just barely see it in the above photo, but I also put a large map in the center of the panel. By the way, all 14 of the travel posters and a high-resolution image of the map (Design #11) are in my resource library (you can get the password to it by subscribing to my weekly newsletter at the bottom of my blog). Posters include America, Barcelona, Canada, Japan, London, Mexico, Paris, Rome, San Francisco, plus special ones like Space Mountain, Epcot, Disneyland, Dalaran (WoW), and the Knowne World (SCA).

DIY Computer Desk From An Old, Broken Foyer Table | Upcycling | JenuineMom.com

I stenciled the words “TRAVEL DESK” above the front panel. (I’m a travel writer, after all.)

DIY Computer Desk From An Old, Broken Foyer Table | Upcycling | JenuineMom.com

Presenting My DIY Computer Desk

Here’s what we changed that broken table into…

I’ve been using it for two years now and it’s my favorite computer desk ever. The keyboard tray that fits BOTH keyboards is a really big deal, as I spend a lot of time at my desk and it’s important I don’t develop health issues from a poorly positioned keyboard. And the desk not only holds my computers/monitors, but also gives just enough space for whatever I’m drinking and a book or two, but not so much space that I clutter up my working area.

If you’re curious about the space behind my DIY computer desk, it was a closet with sliding doors. We took them off, painted the inside red, and installed our own shelves (recycled from the old boring ones that were there), a built-in bench, and a simple desk. I keep my laptop on the desk behind me. There’s a sweater-covered cushion on the bench, which has a lift-up seat and storage inside. You can read more about the built-in bench here.

DIY Closet Nook with Desk, Bench, and Shelves | JenuineMom.com

My closet office nook is now two years old so it’s hardly a picture-perfect space anymore. But you get the idea!

As it turns out, my dog Hunter loves everything about this office nook area, and he likes to hang out both on the bench and inside it. When he was a puppy, we hadn’t yet installed the desk, so the end of the bench was open still. He’d crawl into the bench and hide in there. So when we put in the desk, we left a little hole in the side of it for him and he still goes in, even though he’s a grown dog now. Needless to say, I don’t use it for storage anymore. He loves to hang out with me while I work. 🙂

Oh, and yes, that bench cushion is indeed covered with old sweaters I stitched together to make a cover. I love playing with old sweaters.

If you have any questions about how we upcycled this DIY computer desk, please comment! 

Love,

JenuineMom.com

Like this tutorial? Pin it!

DIY Upcycled Computer Desk & Office Nook | JenuineMom.com

This DIY computer desk was upcycled from an old table! Learn how I transformed this table with my step by step tutorial. #diy #tutorial #craftroom

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46 Comments

  1. This desk turned out absolutely wonderful! I love the color you painted it and all the art work on the front! It looks completely different.

  2. I love the nook! We live in a four bedroom house but with three kids there is no room for an office. Gonna be checking out every corner of my house for a similar space! And the travel posters on the desk are so creative.

  3. I wish I could see something like this at the thrift store and know exactly what I want it to look like in the end. That is such a talent!

  4. How Fun! You did a great job! Once we move I’ll be hoping to do the same. I’m on the search for the perfect desk! Wish me luck, I’ll be sure to pin this for later!

  5. Wow you did a really great job on this desk! I love seeing free stuff on the curb! I’ll be doing a post about one just like this soon! I love how you added the travel stuff that makes it look so vintage! Goes well with that rustic red color! Great job!

  6. Wow! I am so impressed with your DIY skills. Yes, I thought about “trash” on the tree lawn and what could be done with it. But, I feel like I need more “training” or DIY videos before I take on that task! Your Travel Desk looks amazing!!

  7. You are so crafty! I don’t have time to upcycle. I think I love the idea of being crafty, but whenever I try -it never looks as good in real life as it does in my head!

  8. This turned out amazing. You are definitely very crafty. Where some people may have seen something that was not worth anything you turned it into something beautiful.

  9. I LOVE this desk so much!!!! The travel posters on it just make it too! I never thought to use old furniture in this way!!!

  10. I love how you’ve created such a wonderful workspace and that desk is incredible. You are so creative and I love how you incorporated the map and the travel posters.

  11. Wow! This is so beautiful I love the DIY like this your so creative and talented with this. I wish I have a good talent like yours. Glad you share this with us

    1. Thank you so much, Angela! I am hoping that by sharing what I do, it will inspire others to try as well. We only get good at things when we try and try again. 🙂

  12. This turned out amazing! I was wondering if you could tell me how you made the slide-out keyboard tray? Dimensions, where you purchased the sliders for it? Thank you!

  13. Hi Jennifer,
    I’ve been trying to find the dimensions to the wood used for the built in bench and for the desk that’s inside the closet.

  14. Love your desk! Amazing how you made it yours! I sent you a pic of my white cabinet with lower opening. We purchased it locally from someone online, my husband repaired the leg/foot and I painted it. My craft table (also sent you a pic albeit a mess) was a garage sale find and we have plans to repair the top of it as paint has chipped off.

  15. I too have a weakness for curbside discards! One of my favorite pieces that I have re-done is an old chiffarobe that we found left out in the weather on the side of a dirt road. It was in horrible condition, smelled funky and had to have the drawers rebuilt, but in the end, it turned out great. Love your desk!

  16. That is a beautiful nook area. Your are an inspiration. Keep up the great work and thank you.

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