Small Desk Turned Large Workspace

We live in a smallish house, so maximizing every single space is a must. My office/workspace is in our breakfast nook, and I have tried to use every bit of space possible. I started by bringing in some shelving, but was using a smaller table to work on, and it just wasn’t, well, working. I need to be able to spread out, and I needed a little extra space for my printer and sewing machine, so I brainstormed. I had a small desk that wasn’t being used, so I decided to try and make it bigger and add a bottom shelf. I am so happy with the end result and it was super easy, not to mention inexpensive! Here is how my small desk turned large workspace was born…

How to turn a small desk into a large workspace

I started with this little desk that I had painted blue a few years back. I painted it white a few months ago in hopes that it would work as a desk for my husband, but it just wasn’t very practicle, so it’s been living in our garage. Until now. I started by removing the bar that extended from one side to the other on the back of the desk and placed it in my breakfast nook like a table. Next, I measured my desktop. I wanted something just a bit longer, that hung over a little on each side as well, so I added about 8 inches to the length and 4 inches to the width and cut a piece of plywood to use as the desktop.  I used my brad nailer (nail gun) to attach it to the top, then closed off the tiny holes using wood filler. Once the wood filler had dried, I painted the top white to match the body. Next, I measured the width between the front and back legs and the lenght of the desk and cut a piece of plywood that would fit snuggly in between the legs, but extend from one end of the desk to the other, creating a shelf for the bottom. I painted it with two coats of white pain to match the rest of the desk. Seriously…that is it! Now I can work, print and grab my sewing machine on a whim without having to move everything. It’s so nice to have plenty of room to stretch out! As you can see, I’ve got some fun sewing projects coming up…it will be so nice to be able to simply scoot my laptop over and still bring my sewing machine onto my workspace! This project couldn’t have been any easier, and it really opens my eyes up to the possibility creating desks for my son and daughter using small tables from yard sales or thrift stores! Want to see the first project I did using my new workspace? Check out my post on How To Make A No Sew Valance! Don’t you just love taking shortcuts? I know I do!!!  

Published: May 22, 2014Filed Under: Before and After, Contributor, Furniture Building Projects and Plans, How To, Office, Tables Tagged: Contributors, desk, DIY Under $20, Furniture, refinished furniture

About Jessica

I'm Jessica from Mom 4 Real , a mom on a mission to show other women that you can live well without breaking the bank. I like to share the thrifty, creative ways that I make changes in my home in the hopes that it will spark the creativity in someone else! I love to share DIY projects, crafts, simple recipes and cleaning tips too!