Turn A Basic Shelving Unit Into A Perfect Child's Desk With A Simple IKEA Hack

Aside from the shopping experience, a key part of IKEA's magic is the minimalist designs that lend themselves so well to creative overhauls. You could stop building each piece when the instructions end. Or, you can carry on to craft one-of-a-kind furniture that enhances the space in all new ways. Every piece comes with a thousand possibilities, and perhaps no product in the store is more versatile than the KALLAX. There are dozens of cube organizer DIYs that take advantage of its simple design and sensible divided shelving. As TIkToker @do.it.yourself.mum found, it even serves as the perfect desk foundation for your child's bedroom workspace.

Using the KALLAX as a support, you immediately add loads of storage and make the completed desk an easy assembly. Rising to just over 30 inches, the shelf unit is an ideal height for a desk. All you need are a few boards to lay flat on the top and make side supports, and you have a fully functional work surface. Of course, the fun doesn't stop with the basic frame. Fresh paint, extra storage, and some cool new hardware make this an attractive, kid-friendly design that will be sure to boost your child's productivity.

A desk hack is a clever repurposing project for a pre-existing KALLAX unit, or you could buy a new one if you want an easy DIY solution for a custom kid's workspace. The KALLAX collection has several options for starting your design on the right foot. The organizer comes in black, white, and oak effect covers, so you may be able to skip some painting steps if you can get one of the neutral tones to suit the space. Beyond that, you only need hardware, sanded wood boards, and some matching paints and stains for a beautiful aesthetic.

New or reclaimed lumber can work for this project if it has the proper dimensions and is in good condition. With the main desk surface overlapping half of the KALLAX front to back, you'll need to account for the roughly 15 inches of leg space you'll lose. For instance, a board that is four feet long would leave a little under three feet of leg space under the desk. If they're a good length, you can combine boards (using brackets or wood glue and pocket screws) or rip them to get the desired depth. The standard desk depth is around 24-30 inches, but you may want to go shallower for this build. The desk lays perpendicular to the KALLAX shelves, limiting access to storage areas directly under it. By making the desk 15-18 inches deep, one side of the shelf unit will be relatively unobstructed, which could be critical if you want drawers in the cubes.

The designer of this build completes it with wood surfaces on the remaining KALLAX top section and exposed sides. The final construction leaves a level surface around the L-shaped desk. Adding solid panels to the sides provides places to screw in accessories like wire baskets, shelves, hanging hooks, or peg boards. Alternatively, you may make the surface space flexible by adding DIY folding desk sections on the sides. With these in place, your child can choose between more desk space or more floor space when needed. For simple cable management, you can install a power strip on the desk's underside and cut out ports in the surface to feed the cables.

The KALLAX portion of this DIY desk also has tons of potential to consider. The collection contains all kinds of storage add-ons, including two drawer inserts, bins, and door cabinets. Mix and match them to customize the storage based on your child's needs. You can also update the color with a fresh coat of paint, though you'll have to prep the KALLAX surface. With laminated furniture like this, you should sand the surface with fine-grit sandpaper and apply primer to give the paint a consistent surface to grab onto. Choose a color combination to fit the room's personality and revitalize the shelving unit with a brand-new look. After that, you only need to find some fun hardware to finish up a fun, stylish desk your child can enjoy for years.