DIY Folding Craft Table or Foldable Desk
Build a folding craft table or foldable desk with storage! Inspired by the IKEA Norden gateleg table, this folding desk is a great option for a small craft space or home office. Better yet, it can be built using only scrap wood!
For more space-saving furniture for small rooms, build a ladder chair folding step stool or corner shelf and cabinet. Also, learn how to install a pocket door or rolling barn door to free up floor space.
I have a been working on building a few different things the past few months. One of the projects was this handmade FarmHouse Table with Apron and Corner Brackets, and my today’s post – Folding Craft Table with Storage.
If you don’t follow my blog over at Oh Everything Handmade yet, I encourage you to stop by and check out my DIY Gallery or my Shop.
Re-using most of the wood I work with is very important to me, and wood is a great material to work with – I always find a way to reuse boards or smaller cuts. But of course, you can buy lumber to build this foldable desk, too.
Folding Craft Table with Storage Shelves
Inspired by the IKEA Norden gateleg table design, this folding craft table has 2 folding gateleg table sections, with a center fixed section that features 2 easy-slide storage shelves. The shelves fit most sewing machines, making this a great sewing room table for those who use a spare room or guest room as an office or craft room!
Dimensions & Features
The gateleg desk overall dimensions are: 66 1/4” W x 26 1/2” D x 29 1/2” H
This folding table with storage features 2 – 26 ½’ gateleg drop-down table sections with a narrow 2-shelf 13 ¼” wide storage area in the center that will fit most sewing machines.
The shelves use a support with the plywood shelf set on top — this method will give you the great “no edge” look – perfect for sliding things in and out!
Cost
I made this foldable craft table from scrap wood only, all I spent on this project was $5.00 for the hinges. Everything else I had already, or received for free. See below for tips on using scrap wood to build this desk and save money!
If you were to buy all the needed material and hardware, this folding desk would only cost about $90 in materials — making it a great option for a DIY desk under $100!
Using scraps and leftover pieces of wood is a great way to reduce the cost of your DIY folding desk while also reducing the size of your scrap pile.
The 26 1/2″ square gateleg table pieces are a great size to use leftover plywood scraps, and the 1×2 and 2×2 materials for the table frame can be scraps from other projects.
You can also create your own 1×2 and 2×2 boards by ripping down 2x4s and other wider lumber using a table saw.
Read tips for ripping your own 1×2 and 2×2 lumber here.
Skill Level
This project is somewhat advanced, but I am pretty sure that even a beginner will pull this off by using my printable PDF woodworking plans.
Necessary skills to build your own folding gateleg table:
- Basic woodworking skills, including how to read a cut list/diagram, how to measure and cut accurately and how to check/adjust for square
- How to use a pocket hole jig to attach boards
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Materials Needed
This material list is also included in the printable PDF woodworking plan for your convenience. The 10-page plan also includes a detailed cut list and assembly instructions.
Note: This material list assumes buying all new lumber, but this is a great project to use scraps of plywood and other lumber. Frame boards (2×2, 1×2, and ¾” boards) can be ripped from wider lumber using a table saw. See tips for ripping boards here.
- (1) 4×8 sheet ½” plywood (can sub ¾”)
- (2) 2x2x8’ pine boards (actual 1 ½” x 1 ½”)
- (2) 1x2x8’ pine boards (actual ¾” x 1 ½”)
- (2) ¾” x 36” square dowel
- (4) 3-4″ door hinges
- (4) 1″ door hinges + short screws
- (4) 1″ corner or L-shaped brackets or corner braces
- (6) furniture feet sliders (optional)
- (4) casters (optional)
- (2) door stoppers (optional)
- (1) box of 1 ½” pocket hole screws
- ~ 20 ft of ½” edge banding tape (if you can’t find the 1/2″ tape, you can cut the tape to fit your needs)
- Paint, stain or sealer (optional)
Tools Needed
- Compound Miter Saw (recommended)
- Table Saw or Circular Saw
- Drill and Screwdriver
- Rafter Square
- Tape Measure
- Pencil
- Kreg Jig pocket hole jig
- Household Iron (to apply edging tape)
- Sander (and sandpaper)
Building a Folding Desk or Craft Table
The printable woodworking plan contains all the steps needed to build this IKEA inspired gateleg table. Just download and print the plans from the shop, then you’re ready for a trip to the lumber store to get started building!
This table is fairly lightweight and easy to move, and you can make the table even more portable by attaching leg casters to the bottom of the table base and to the gateleg support frame(s) left and right. Use these Slipstick floor protectors or Soft Rubber Swivel Plate Caster and these for the side frame > Kick Down Doorstop.
For a nice finishing touch, I used Birch wood edging tape to hide all the ugly edges from the table top (if you can’t find the 1/2″ tape, you can cut the tape to fit your needs).
Get this folding craft table / foldable desk plan HERE
More ways to build your own space-saving table and storage:
- add a storage platform and wheels to a dining table for a rolling workspace
- turn an old cabinet into a slim console table with storage cubbies
- build a folding portable table — a great workstation!
I would be very grateful if you would also share this tutorial on Pinterest or Facebook.
Like to see more from Betty:
HOW TO BUILD A FARMHOUSE TABLE UNDER $250
WEATHERED WOOD AMPERSAND SIGN | HOW TO TUFT/BUTTON YOUR IKEA KARLSTAD CUSHIONS
Published 26 Aug 2015 // Updated 4 Jun 2020
This turned out amazingly Bettina! What a great thing to have around the house…I have very little work top space. 🙂
Thank you Ursula, so glad I got to use up all my scarp wood and save major $$$.
Thank you for sharing the plans & great pictures. Any thoughts about how to add wheels to this foldable table? I need something that not only folds but can be moved easily by one person who has chronic pain problems. Thanks again, Laura
I actually just added wheals to mine, and it is so much easier to move the table now — especially after adding a sewing machine, bins and other crafts in it.
Craft Table on rolls
Great way to use a foldable table. The table’s design is almost exactly the same as Ikea’s Norden gateleg table though!
Awesome – thank you! I’m using it to utilize unused space between my washer and dryer.
Does it wobble when using sewing machin?
Yes, I would like to know this as well.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS!!! It is exactly what I need 🙂
Hi! I love this table and want to make it this weekend. Are there printable plans? Thank you!
We just updated the post with the printable plans for you 🙂 Happy building!
Thank you for making available the plan for this wonderful idea – just what I was looking for. Would you have a version with metric measurements, and with wheels?
Hi Wan-Hea,
We don’t have a version like you suggest but you could definitely make one! That’s the great thing about DIY 🙂
Hi,
thank you so much for the DIY, I was searching for something like this for so long!
I want to use it as a dinnertable with storage for cutlery and plates and am trying to convert it to my needs.
The only thing I do not understand is, why is the table top center board 13.25″? I thought it would have been 12.75 bc of 9.75 of the front board and each 1.5 of the table legs.
Am I missing something? I have been thinking about this for a few hours and would be very glad to know the answer 🙂
Best wishes from Germany!
For those that have built it, do you have a cost estimate for the parts?
This can be done out of 1 4x8ft plywood sheet. Just depends on the wood type.
how much would it roughly cost if you had to buy all the material
Hi I love the idea and it’s exactly what I want but if you have the measurements in centimeters It will be much easier for me cause the wood company where they sell woods they do cuts also and it will be easier for me to do the rest thank you
Just finished this project and it was pretty simple. It can be made from scrap, but I recommend a sturdier wood for the legs at least, just for more durability. I would also recommend a thicker plywood for the table top. 1/2 inch is okay, but try to locate a furniture grade that is at least 3/4 of an inch, this will provide more desired strength especially if you have a heavy sewing machine. Please note that if you want wheels on yours you will have to add a few inches to the outside edge of the sideframe in order for it to reach the ground and be stable. So if you think you want wheels make the decision before you cut the wood, otherwise you can’t turn back. The table top, when extended is surprisingly stable and can hold a minimum of 25 pounds on the far edge of the extended table. I would also like to say that the corner brackets are extremely difficult to find and a great alternative are these Everbilt corner brackets from home depot. Very cheap and give you the correct contact points for the table assembly. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-2-in-Zinc-Plated-Heavy-Duty-Corner-Brace-2-Pack-15442/202034088
Overall, it was a straight forward project and is very high quality when finished.
Hello. I’m from Brasilia, Brazil, and I really liked your table. Simple and easy to build. Thanks for the post.
Hello,
I’m trying to print the instructions for the table made from scrap wood. The aren’t printable anymore :(. Would you be able to send them to me or re post? Thank you. I so excited to put my unused wood to use!
Hi Amy,
We’re switching printable delivery services so we have a few that are not working right now 🙂 Drop me an email at [email protected] and I’ll hook you up!
What a great idea!!