Back to school and homework blues? Ya, me too. Maybe a cute new desk and bench combo for your cute kiddos is just what you need to make homework a little more tolerable.
As with all of our plans, you are building at your own risk and you should have a firm understanding of building in general before you attempt many of our plans (some are easy as pie and perfect for beginners). With that, go forth, have fun, take lots of pictures and share them in a showcase on the site or on social media with the hashtag #builtTDCtuff and we will share our faves! Be sure to tag @thedesignconfidential on Instagram / FB and @thedesconf on Twitter / Pinterest. If you are a blogger and you post about your build, don’t forget to include a link to your post on your showcase here. Don’t forget… for all of our newer plans, clicking on the images will let them expand to enormous sizes with much greater clarity. The older plans may need updating so please let us know if you need one fixed!
Two of these back to back make a fabulous work table or play table, and four of these would be out of this world!
- Tape Measure
- Saw – Jig Saw, Circular, Table, or Miter Saw​
- Drill
- Multi-Square and Carpenter’s Square
- Sander
- Kreg Jig – if you build frequently, invest in this one.
- Nail Gun – optional
- Household Iron if using edge banding
- Half Sheet 3/4″ Plywood or MDF – 4′ x 4′
- 7 – 2×2 at 8′
- 2-1/2″ Pocket Hole Screws
- 1-1/4″ Brad Nails
- Countersink Drill Bit
- Pocket Hole Plugs – Paint Grade, Pine, Oak – optional
- Clamps
- Safety Gear
- 3/4″ Edge Banding – optional
- Wood Filler
- Wood Glue
- Sanding Supplies
- Paste Wax
- Finishing Supplies
- 7 – 2×2 at 32″ – Desk + Bench Rails
- 2 – 2×2 at 29 1/4″ – Desk Legs
- 10 – 2×2 at 10″ – Bench Frame + Supports
- 4 – 2×2 at 16 3/4″ – Bench Legs
- 2 – 2×2 at 18 1/2″ – Connectors
- 2 – 2×2 at 26 1/2″ – Desk Legs
- 4 – 2×2 at 15 1/2″ – Desk Frame
- 2 – 3/4″ Plywood or MDF at 35″ x 13″ – Bench
- 1 – 3/4″ Plywood or MDF at 35″ x 18 1/2″ – Desk
Build the leg unit for the desk portion of this project. Cut the legs and rails to length and drill your pocket hole in the rails (horizontal pieces) with your Pocket Hole Jig set for 1 1/2″ material. Join using glue and 2 1/2″ pocket hole screws.
Build 2 Bench Leg Units. Cut your legs and rails to length and place your pocket holes in the rails (horizontal pieces) with your Kreg Jig set for 1 1/2″ material. Join your pieces using glue and 2 1/2″ pocket hole screws.
Secure all leg units together by attaching the connector pieces to them. Place your pocket holes to the insides so they aren’t as obvious. Create pocket holes in the connectors using your pocket hole jig set for 1 1/2″ material. Join using glue and 2 1/2″ pocket hole screws.
Build the Frame. Create pocket holes on the 10 inch supports to connect to the rails and on the inside of the rails to connect to the leg units, with your pocket hole jig set for 1 1/2″ material. Secure the supports to the rails using glue and 2 1/2″ pocket hole screws. Once your glue has set, secure the rails to the leg units using glue and 2 1/2″ pocket hole screws.
Create the Bench Shelf and Attach the Front Desk Legs. To create the shelf, cut your plywood or MDF down to size, then cut a 1 1/2″ square from each corner using a jig saw, router or table saw. Secure the shelf using glue and 1 1/4″ Finish or Brad Nails.
Create pocket holes on the top and bottom of one edge of the Front Desk Legs using your Kreg Jig set for 1 1/2″ material. Secure in place using glue and 2 1/2″ pocket hole screws.
Place pocket holes for 1 1/2″ material on both ends of the Desk Frame Pieces. Attach the Desk Frame Pieces using glue and 2 1/2″ pocket hole screws in the pocket holes you added to the Front Desk Legs in the previous step and the pocket holes on one end of the Desk Frame Piece that you create in this step. Create pocket holes on the Bench Rails using your Kreg Jig set for 1 1/2″ material. Secure in place using glue and 2 1/2″ pocket hole screws.
Place pocket holes for 1 1/2″ material on both ends of the 10″ Bench Supports and 15 1/2″ Desk Supports. Secure the Desk Rail to the Desk Frame Pieces using glue and 2 1/2″ pocket hole screws in the pocket holes you created in the previous step. Then secure the Bench and Desk Supports using glue and 2 1/2″ pocket hole screws.
Create the Bench and Desk Tops and secure in place using glue and 1 1/4″ Finish or Brad Nails. If you are plan to finish the edges of your shelf and tops, apply edge banding once you have secured these pieces.
Fill any Screw, Nail or Pocket Holes, Sand and Finish as Desired. For Finishing Tips and Tricks visit my Finishing School
// Disclaimer: Some rights reserved. Private use only. Feel Free to link to any of my plans so long as you ONLY use 1 image and provide an ADEQUATE link back to the original source and appropriate plan! Plans from this page are not to be used for commercial purposes or republished without the express written consent of Rayan Turner, The Design Confidential. By accessing or using any part of the web site, you agree to become bound by the terms and conditions of this website as outlined under Terms of Use. If you do not agree to all the terms and conditions of this agreement, then you may not access the Website or use any services. The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by The Design Confidential.com and while we endeavor to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, personal injury or death, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of information or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website. I hope to provide accurate plans, however, I cannot guarantee each plan for accuracy. Not every plan that I post has been built and tested, so you are building at your own risk. It is recommended that you have a clear understanding of how the project works before beginning any project. Please contact me if you find an error or inaccuracy so that I might fix it. The Design Confidential.com is inspired by but does not replicate exact designs, any similarities between these plans and items sold at specialty retailers is coincidental and not endorsed by or related to any said retailers. // Affiliate links are used for tools and materials. The Design Confidential will earn a small commission for any items purchased using these links. Thank you for your support – every little bit counts!
