Old doors can be reused for a number of home improvement projects, including headboards for beds and dividers in a room. Here’s how you can convert an old door into a writing or computer desk complete with bookshelves and coat rack.
Patch holes in door. Attach brackets. Attach base.
Desk Materials List:
We used a 30” wide door, but you can make the desk from whatever width door is available. If you don’t have a leftover door, you can buy a used one at a salvage yard or reuse store.
- 1 – 30” door
- 1 – 18” x 30” cabinet grade plywood (desktop)
- 2 – 7” x 30” cabinet grade plywood (bookshelves)
- 2 – 2” x 6” x 24” lumber (support feet)
- 2 – 9” x 11” premade wood brackets (desktop supports)
- 4 – 5” x 7” premade wood brackets (bookshelf supports)
- Coarse, medium, and fine grit sandpaper
- Auto body filler
- Primer and paint
Making a Desk from a Door:
- Remove old hinges and lockset from door.
- Fill hinge mortises and lockset holes with auto body filler.
- Hand plane the filler flush with the door.
- Sand the door smooth (wear respirator approved for lead paint and sand outside to prevent lead contamination).
- Cut the desktop and shelves to size.
- Rout a pattern on the bottom of three sides of the desktop and shelves.
- Attach shelf brackets to the bottom of the desktop and shelves.
- Attach desktop and shelves to door using glue, nails, and screws.
- Cut support feet to length and round corners and edges
- Attach support feet to door edges with nails and screws.
- If desired, attach a coat rack or hooks to the back of door.
Watch the video above to find out more.
