Floating Office Desk

FREE!

Make your own Floating Office Desk using these beginner friendly DIY plans. These plans are for anyone looking for a clean and solid wooden desk, that can be customized to any size. We built this desk using standard construction 2×4’s as they are cheap and readily available. However, you can use any lumber (within reason) that you can source.

These simple to follow step-by-step plans show you how to select and prepare the lumber. How to glue it up and how to create the ‘floating’ effect. Note that you will need at least two walls and a drawer unit (or leg) to achieve the look photographed. Or you can do without the drawer unit if you have three walls available to support the desk from. The drawers are not included in these plans.

Printable PDF plans include:

✓ Step-by-Step instructions
✓ Lots of pictures
✓ Accompanying video tutorial
✓ All measurements are in both Standard (imperial) and Metric
✓ Materials shopping list
✓ Tools list with recommendations
✓ Single-use license, not for resale or professional use

Desk dimensions can be customized to any size you want. Plans also include a handy guide to desk ergonomics to help you choose the best size for you.

The wood panel glue-up technique used in these plans is a fundamental skill for any woodworker. While here it is used for an office desk, it could equally be used for any surface (dining table, coffee table etc).

PLEASE NOTE: This is a digital product, and nothing will be shipped to you. Ensure your email address is correctly entered on the checkout page to receive your download link immediately after completing your purchase. Once the file is downloaded, no refunds can be provided, however if you have any questions whatsoever, please get in contact and we will do our utmost to remedy any questions.

 

YouTube Video

Skill Level

Beginner Project… should be achievable to anyone with access to the tools below. The trickiest step is clamping during the glue up, so take extra care here and you’ll be just fine.

Metric or Imperial Units

The plans are written in both Metric and Imperial units.

Required Tools

Helpful Tools

 

WE ADVISE READING THE PLANS BEFORE PURCHASING ANY MATERIALS.
The items listed below are only approximate.

Materials Required

  • CLS 38 x 89mm lumber (aka 2 x 4’s which confusingly actually measure 1.5″x3.5″).
    • Though any lumber will work that is square and can be glued up.
  • Wood Finish – we recommend using Hard Wax Oil­
  • CLS 33 x 45mm lumber (or something close), (only if wall mounting)
  • Stretcher Plates (only if wall mounting)

Also Photographed

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Are your plans good enough?

Yes, we believe they are! We spend a lot of time ensuring our plans are easy to follow and result in an enjoyable build. Our plans have lots of pictures, alongside clear and concise language. We also try to make the plans as comprehensive as possible, so that we can guide you through the entire build process.

If you have any questions prior to purchase or after purchase, please send us a message. We will be happy to answer your questions and welcome the opportunity to make our plans better for the next person.

If you still aren’t convinced, here is a brief article about our plans and some example pages. Also, please feel free to download some of our plans that are available for free to test us out.

Why do I need to buy on Etsy, why can't I buy here?

All our plans that cost money are sold via Etsy. This is due some very limited laws on the sale of digital products. Since a small company like ours could never justify the required accounting admin for international sales, we will let Etsy do it for us. Hope that’s ok with you!

What is the cost in $ US Dollars or another currency?

If you click through to ‘Buy on Etsy’, the price will automatically update to your country’s currency.

How do I download the plans after purchase?

Your plans will be immediately available for download once payment is confirmed.

If purchasing free plans from our website, you will receive an email with a download link. If you haven’t received an email, check your spam folder. The subject of the email will be ‘Makers Manual Order Complete’.

If ordering from Etsy please click this link and they will tell you how it all works.

Do I have the skill level to complete these plans?

That is a question only you can answer. What we can say, is that we make every effort to make sure our plans are easy to follow for both expert and beginner. We also say above if we recommend the plans for Beginner, Intermediate or Expert, with a short description why.

If the plans come with an accompanying video, we would recommend you watching that first. If you still aren’t sure, maybe test yourself first with one of our beginner friendly projects.

What if I can’t get the same dimension lumber?

We understand that finding the same size lumber can be difficult at times. Unfortunately, lumber sizing tends to vary from country to country and even from store to store. To cope with this, we try to build in wiggle room to our plans wherever possible.

Please read the ‘Materials Required’ section carefully. We try to specify if a dimension is critical or if you can substitute for something close.

Also please read the entire manual before ordering any materials, once you have a good idea of the process, it should all become clear how you might be able to tweak things to suit.

I don’t have all the required tools, what do I do?

The nice thing about woodworking, is that there are many ways to do something. Our plans will often offer alternative methods of completing a step, although for obvious reasons, it isn’t possible to include all the ways in our plans. Usually it isn’t hard to find a workaround.

For instance, we might say you need a band saw, but you could use a jig saw. We try our best to list the tools required, with potential alternatives.

If however there is an essential tool that you just can’t do without. Then I am sorry, this isn’t the right project for you. Or maybe it might just be the excuse you need to buy new tool. ;)

What tools do you recommend?

We have a whole section of our website dedicated to answering that question. Tools We Use lists all the tools we use on a regular basis along with a short review of that tool and links where you can purchase them.

Your video gives everything away, why should I buy the plans?

It’s true we give away a lot of information in our videos, and for some that will be enough. But our YouTube videos are primarily for entertainment and we edit them down significantly to keep them appealing.

Our plans go into much more detail about the various steps, along with various hints and tips we just don’t have time for on YouTube. Also, we believe it’s helpful having a printable document, that can accompany you into the workshop.

For projects that require Specific Dimensions, Templates or DXF or STL files, the plans are essential.

DISCLAIMER: Working with power tools and woodworking projects have inherent risks. While we work hard to ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of the manuals and information displayed on this website, Makers Manual cannot be held responsible for damages or losses sustained or incurred in the course of your project or in the use of the item you create. Please see our Terms & Conditions.

AFFILATE LINKS: Some of the links above are affiliate links. This means we earn a small commission from the retailer on qualifying purchases. It doesn’t cost you anything! We really appreciate you clicking our links, it helps us out hugely and allows us to keep bringing you content, plans and recommendations. Please see our affiliate disclaimer for details.