Considering Ikea hacks are kind of the best, today I'k sharing a DIY standing desk-bound (IVAR Ikea hack) that has completely transformed my workspace at home.

Organic modern office with lots of wood details

After making this DIY desk a while back, I had all these ideas for another. BUT I also already had not i simply Ii desks in my workspace at habitation, so information technology didn't really feel like the 'right' time to add another.

The problem with those old desks though were that neither one of them had whatsoever storage whatsoever, so it didn't take long to realize I needed to come up with a amend solution that would help organize and consolidate the clutter AND expect improve than what I currently had.

That'south where this Ikea hack desk was born. It'south highly functional, with plenty of storage, but doesn't take upwards besides much room. Plus, it'southward the perfect meridian imo between a standing desk and a regular sitting desk. Then you lot can do both! Tuck in a counter stool (or something similar) when yous want to stand and pull it out when your legs need a rest.

Why I love this DIY Standing Desk

Having a desk-bound with storage is a huge game changer for me, when it comes to taming the ataxia constantly popping upwards in my workspace. And unlike my last DIY desk-bound projection (which I also Really dear), the storage on this i has doors! Which means I don't have to constantly keep information technology organized and looking cute in at that place. I simply close the doors and it's magically gone. Haha.

Plus, these cabinets accept A LOT of storage. I tin fit and so much more in each cabinet than I had expected. Some other big bonus, for sure!

Organic modern home office with lots of wood details

This desk volition work in almost any infinite (size or style)

Just what I love most near this IVAR Ikea hack is how customizable it is. You can proceed the pine cabinets and desktop as is, or stain them, or paint them. Yous could even paint the cabinets and get out the desktop raw or vice versa. Lots of options depending on your needs.

The length is extremely customizable, since the cabinets can be spread autonomously more than or less than I did for mine. And considering the IVAR Ikea cabinets come in two different depths, the depth is too (semi) customizable based on your needs.

You tin as well modify the height of this DIY continuing desk from what I have pictured to something taller, past attaching brusque legs to the cabinets before installing. I personally like the final meridian of my desk-bound (which is well-nigh 34 inches), but if you lot're looking for something taller, attaching legs would be a groovy option.

I also considered going a normal desk-bound meridian for this one, which would have meant making some precise cuts and measurements earlier assembling the cabinets. Simply ultimately decided that a standing desk choice was a improve option for what I needed in the space (more storage and something great for doodling, working on minor projects, etc.

And last but non to the lowest degree, you tin also customize how much storage you have underneath, to a certain extent, with extra cabinets if desired. With all of the changes you lot tin make to this one to get information technology to exactly what you need it to exist, this IVAR Ikea hack feels similar a real winner as far every bit DIY standing desks are concerned.

Before photo of desk in home office with boxes on the floor

Materials Needed

  • 2 IVAR Ikea cabinets (xx inches deep)*
  • pine board (or similar)
  • drill with screw bits
  • screws for tabletop part of desk
  • furniture wall straps or similar if securing desk-bound to wall

*There are two depths available for the IVAR cabinets – 12 inches deep and 20 inches deep. I went with the 20 inch deep option for more storage and stability. Only if you have a small space and want a small-scale depth to accommodate, the 12 inch size is an option every bit well. I could picture that 12 inch depth being used as more of a decorative chemical element that provides some storage, rather than a super functional desk-bound infinite.

More about the IVAR cabinets: For a really long continuing desk (with even more storage), you can add additional cabinets and just suit the length of the desktop to adapt.

Building IVAR Ikea cabinet for DIY standing desk

How to Brand a DIY Continuing Desk (Ikea Hack)

Assembling the cabinets

The bulk of this Ikea hack involves putting the IVAR cabinets together. Expert news: Equally far as Ikea cabinets go, these are really pretty easy to assemble without stress. Just if you can take hold of a second person to help, information technology will become soooo much faster. And then, I highly recommend that if possible.

Assuming you like the elevation of my standing desk every bit-is, you lot'd assemble the cabinets exactly according to the Ikea instructions.

Building IVAR Ikea cabinet for DIY standing desk

If yous have a gap in your doors once the IVAR cabinets are assembled

The only thing that I noticed that we had to some adjusting on was fixing the huge gap in betwixt the cabinet doors after the cabinets were congenital. Which y'all can see in the above – look at the afters to run across how much the gap was closed with the below method.

Originally, I had planned to add decorative pieces to each door at the gap, to conceal the gap and add a make clean, simple handle for each door. Just after chatting with someone who has the aforementioned cabinets (and no gap) – thanks Molly – I realized the gap could be fixed.

If you have a gap between the doors when you assemble, I would recommend loosening the screws a piddling bit on the hinges to run across if that helps and if not, attempt calculation small pieces of cardboard nether the hinges to push the doors out and more together. The cardboard worked like a charm for me and you tin barely see it at all when the doors are open (and obviously tin't see information technology at all when the doors are closed).

If you adopt a regular elevation desk over a standing desk

If you lot would prefer a shorter / more standard desk top, you can still use the aforementioned cabinets and this tutorial to complete the desk. You will have to cutting downward some of the pieces of the cabinet before they're assembled though.

The pieces that volition need to exist cut are: the doors, the side pieces of the cabinet, and the back. With the exception of the back of the cabinet (which is masonite), everything that would need to be cut is solid wood. Then you don't have to worry about cutting through materials that will completely crumble nether a saw.

Standard desk-bound elevation is 29-30 inches and the cabinets are roughly 33 inches heigh. So cutting a few inches off the doors, sides, and back before assembly will get you down to standard peak. So when you attach the hinges at the end, you'll have to create new holes for the top or lesser set up (depending on where you cutting from), but that's it.

If you take experience with power tools, it's a pretty quick and easy job.

Stacked artwork and a long peg rail in a home office filled with DIY touches

Measuring and cut the desktop

Adjacent is the desktop. Once the cabinets are assembled, slide them to the expanse you are planning on using them in, spacing them out at to the lowest degree 20 inches from one another to permit a infinite to stand in the center or pull upwards a counter stool, etc. Mine are 24 inches apart, for reference.

Once the completed cabinets are in place, measure the length from the end of one cabinet to the end of the other to determine the length needed for the piece of wood that will plough information technology into a desk-bound. And then mensurate the width needed.

I pushed my cabinets as far back to the wall as they could go and then measured from the wall to the forepart of the cabinets to make up one's mind my desired width. I decided to keep the width of the tabletop to just the cabinet base of operations itself, and didn't include overhang to account for the drawers sticking out a trivial farther.

So, the final measurement for my woods desktop piece wasxx inches wide x 87.5 inches long.

Yous can take the wood cutting downwardly to size at the habitation comeback store to make information technology easier. Or cutting information technology yourself at dwelling house. Either fashion, make sure to give the edges a quick sand (I similar to use an electrical sander) to remove whatsoever splinters, etc.

Wood desk idea in light-filled workspace

Securing the desktop to the cabinets

Once the tabletop is resting in place open superlative of the cabinets and up against the wall in the dorsum, y'all can secure it to the cabinets. Just add one screw to each of the corners (even nails tin can work) to continue things from shifting effectually.

Anchoring the standing desk to the wall

If yous have small children, I would recommend anchoring things like this to the wall. You tin can use piece of furniture wall straps or something like. This desk-bound, with the 20 inch deep cabinets, feels quite stable when assembled and has some good heft to it likewise, weight wise, but I would  still recommend anchoring information technology to the wall, every bit I would every slice of piece of furniture in the home, if yous have kids. Just to be safe. *And if you lot opt for the 12 inch deep cabinets instead of the 20 inch, it would be even more than of import to ballast it to the wall.

Raw wood desk idea in eclectic workspace

Organized workspace with lots of raw wood details

Wood standing desk in organic modern home office

How to Make a DIY Standing Desk (IVAR Ikea Hack)

Ikea hacks are kind of the best, right? And then, today I'm sharing a DIY continuing desk (IVAR Ikea hack) that has completely transformed my workspace at home. Information technology'southward highly functional, with plenty of storage, but doesn't take upwardly too much room. Plus, it'southward the perfect height imo between a continuing desk and a regular sitting desk. So y'all can practice both! Tuck in a counter stool (or something similar) when you want to stand and pull information technology out when your legs need a rest.

Keyword: diy desk, Ikea hack, IVAR Ikea hack, standing desk

Toll: $150-200

  • two IVAR Ikea cabinets xx inches deep*
  • pine board or similar
  • drill with screw bits
  • screws for tabletop office of desk
  • article of furniture wall straps or like if securing desk-bound to wall

Assembling the cabinets

  • The bulk of this Ikea hack involves putting the IVAR cabinets together. Good news: As far equally Ikea cabinets go, these are actually pretty piece of cake to assemble without stress. But if yous can grab a second person to help, information technology will become soooo much faster. So, I highly recommend that if possible.

  • Assuming you similar the height of my standing desk every bit-is, you'd assemble the cabinets exactly according to the Ikea instructions.

If you have a gap in your doors once the IVAR cabinets are assembled

  • The just matter that I noticed that we had to some adjusting on was fixing the huge gap in between the cabinet doors later the cabinets were built. Originally, I had planned to add together decorative pieces to each door at the gap, to conceal the gap and add a clean, simple handle for each door. But after chatting with someone who has the same cabinets (and no gap) - thank you Molly - I realized the gap could exist fixed.

  • If you take a gap between the doors when you lot gather, I would recommend loosening the screws a little bit on the hinges to see if that helps and if not, try calculation minor pieces of cardboard under the hinges to push the doors out and more together. The cardboard worked like a charm for me and y'all tin barely see it at all when the doors are open (and obviously can't encounter information technology at all when the doors are airtight).

If you adopt a regular top desk over a standing desk

  • If you would prefer a shorter / more standard desk height, you tin can nonetheless use the aforementioned cabinets and this tutorial to complete the desk-bound. You will have to cut down some of the pieces of the cabinet before they're assembled though.

  • The pieces that will need to be cut are: the doors, the side pieces of the cabinet, and the dorsum. With the exception of the back of the chiffonier (which is masonite), everything that would need to be cut is solid wood. So you don't have to worry well-nigh cutting through materials that volition completely crumble under a saw.

  • Standard desk height is 29-30 inches and the cabinets are roughly 33 inches heigh. So cut a few inches off the doors, sides, and back before assembly will get you down to standard top. And and then when y'all attach the hinges at the stop, yous'll have to create new holes for the top or bottom set (depending on where you cutting from), but that'south it.

  • If you have experience with power tools, it's a pretty quick and piece of cake task.

Measuring and cut the desktop

  • Next is the desktop. One time the cabinets are assembled, slide them to the area you are planning on using them in, spacing them out at least twenty inches from 1 another to allow a space to stand in the heart or pull up a counter stool, etc. Mine are 24 inches apart, for reference.

  • Once the completed cabinets are in identify, measure the length from the end of one chiffonier to the finish of the other to determine the length needed for the piece of woods that volition turn information technology into a desk-bound. Then mensurate the width needed.

  • I pushed my cabinets as far back to the wall as they could become and and so measured from the wall to the forepart of the cabinets to determine my desired width. I decided to proceed the width of the tabletop to just the cabinet base of operations itself, and didn't include overhang to account for the drawers sticking out a lilliputian farther.

  • So, the concluding measurement for my wood desktop piece was 20 inches wide 10 87.5 inches long.

  • You tin can have the wood cut down to size at the home improvement store to make information technology easier. Or cutting it yourself at home. Either way, make sure to requite the edges a quick sand (I like to apply an electric sander) to remove any splinters, etc.

Securing the desktop to the cabinets

  • Once the tabletop is resting in identify open top of the cabinets and up against the wall in the dorsum, you can secure information technology to the cabinets. Simply add one screw to each of the corners (even nails can work) to keep things from shifting around.

Anchoring the standing desk to the wall

  • If yous have modest children, I would recommend anchoring things like this to the wall. Y'all tin apply furniture wall straps or something like. This desk, with the xx inch deep cabinets, feels quite stable when assembled and has some expert heft to it likewise, weight wise, just I would  still recommend anchoring it to the wall, every bit I would every piece of furniture in the home, if yous accept kids. But to be safe. *And if y'all opt for the 12 inch deep cabinets instead of the twenty inch, it would be even more important to anchor information technology to the wall.

What do you think of this Ikea hack desk? YAY OR NAY? And also… What kind of desk do y'all adopt a continuing desk-bound or a normal one? So curious. I at present take both, so I don't have to cull. Haha.

Update 4/8/20: Since I've received some questions about the peg rail shelf above the desk, I'm included the link hither. It'southward from an Etsy shop chosen Henry + Elle. I ordered ii 12 peg lengths and put them together to create one long peg shelf.