Hello Remodelaholic readers! Colleen here from Lemon Thistle, home to DIY, home decor, printables, and parties. I’m thrilled to be back with you today to share my DIY Live Edge Desk. And this baby is totally easy to DIY because it’s an Ikea hack! Don’t you love shortcuts?
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I’m such a sucker for live edge- I know that it’s been a trend for a while but I’m just getting it in my home and it makes some of my favourite pieces in my home. It’s unique, it’s imperfect and it’s so warm. I used it on my fireplace re-do that I shared here a few months ago and I used it for my new dining room table. This desk sits right between the both of those and I love that even though the legs and styles of pieces are completely different, the wood ties them together.
Ready for the DIY?
How to IKEA Hack a Live Edge Desk
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To make this simple live edge desk, you’ll need:
- Live edge planks, totalling 18″ wide at the narrowest point (for me this meant three pieces)
- Kreg jig, power drill and screws
- Wood glue
- Sander with 60 grit, 100 grit and 120 grit
- Varathane Crystal Clear Satin Finish (indoor) with quality brush
- Ikea Lerberg Trestle Legs
The first thing you need to do is track down wood for this project. It needs to total 18″ wide to cover the top of the trestle legs and can be even wider since the base of the legs is wider than the top. The one thing you’ll need to keep in mind is that live edge is not a consistent width. Measure the narrowest part. We did all this in the dark, you guys so please excuse the dark photos.
If you’re laminating a few pieces together, turn them over and use your Kreg jig to make some pocket holes. Add some wood glue and screw your boards together. Let it set for 10 minutes or so (my wood glue is fast set), then flip it over and start sanding! I love the look of the cut lines in the wood so I didn’t sand that all the way down. I started with 60 grit to sand down the uneven parts- I wanted it to be smooth enough to work on. Then I switched to 100 and then 120 to smooth it out.
Let’s talk about bark for a minute. It’s the worst to get off! The best thing that I’ve found is using a paint scraper. It’s a miracle. You can pop some of it right off if it’s loose, or you can scrape it off bit by bit- those things are sharp, it shaves it off.
When it’s looking good, you’re ready to clear coat! Give it a quick wipe down with a damp cloth then apply at least 3 coats of Varathane Crystal Clear Satin Finish (indoor). While that dries, take on the task of assembling those Ikea legs so when it’s dry, you’re ready to lay the desktop on them!
That’s all there is to it! I might drill some holes to screw the table top on to the legs if I find the shifting to be a bit annoying. Right now it’s perfect because it’s easy to move when need be.
I’m so in love with this desk. It gives me a place to get some work done in our main living area without looking like a cubicle. It’s seriously awesome. Tell me- what do you think of live edge? Are you as into it as I am?
- desk chair in photos- homesense
- chair in video – Canadian tire canvas line
- clock – homesense
- daytimer -rifle paper co
- everything else is vintage/ second hand
More DIY desks:
Build a desk with built-in organizer
How to build a mid-century modern desk
Build a farmhouse style two-person computer desk
Love the LIVE edge table, I have a piece of LIVE edge wood just haven’t found the right project: looks like I found it now.
Like the desk very much! Ok I’m new to this and I know this is going to sound ridiculous but what is LIVE edge? Is it just scrap wood you put together and finish by sanding and varnishing? Thanks so much!