I saw so many posts from people who were building their own furniture, I figured, hey I’m pretty handy I can do this! For a Christmas present I got a Kreg Jig, and I went straight to work building this Farmhouse X Desk! This tool is awesome and makes building furniture so easy for beginners. Here is how I made this custom desk! * Disclaimer* This page has affiliate links to the products I used. These links do not cost you anything and I may make a small commission if you purchase a product using one of these links.
**Update**
I finally created downloadable instructions in a pdf format. This was step by step and the measurements I used to create this desk. You can get the free plans here.
I really needed a larger desk, and since my house is small, custom was really the best way to go. I found inspiration on Pinterest and set out to build the perfect desk. Here is my supply list:
- 2 x 4’s (for most of the legs and structure)
- 2 x 3’s (the x’s)
- 1 x 4’s (the desk top)
- 1 x 2’s (the trim for the desk top)
- Kreg Jig
- Kreg screws
- Wood glue
- Table saw, miter saw, hand sander
I built the top first. This let me make the top the largest possible for the space I needed to fit it into, then I could build the legs to the exact size of the top. You can see I angled the feet to give this a more finished look. I also sand bevels on the feet to smooth the edges and really make it look professional. Every piece is sanded, beveled, glued and then screwed together with the Kreg Jig.
I made 2 ends the same size for the short side of the “L,” only putting an x on one end made from 2×3’s. The other end was made the width of the longer side. I connected the short side together first, then connected on the long side.
It was really starting to come together. And yes I built this in my dining room, it was December and very cold in the garage 🙂
I really like this desk in white, but my furniture and decor in the room was already off-white so I chose a robins egg blue chalk paint.
I trimmed out the top with 1×2’s, and attached it with wood glue and finish nails. Sanded the whole thing down and stained it with a minwax honey stain. Then finished it with 3 coats of minwax gloss polyurethane.
I felt that the paint was a little too bright and perfect, and wanted a worn look. Sanding it alone didn’t give the bottom enough character, so I dampened a rag with the honey stain, and rubbed that into the chalk paint and sanded areas to give it a real rustic look. I love how it turned out!
I also built an matching shelf and plant holder from scrap wood, and matched them with the same stain and poly.