• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Me
    • New? Start Here!
  • Projects
    • DIY & Crafts
    • Decorating Ideas
    • Furniture Makeovers
    • Power Tools 101
    • Seasonal Decorating
    • Outdoor Projects
    • Parties – Ideas & Decor
    • Cleaning and Organization Tips and Ideas
  • Free Printables
  • Travel
  • Gift Ideas

Rain on a Tin Roof

DIY and Home Decor Blog. Fly Your Freak Flag.

You are here: Home >> DIY Projects >> DIY Chippendale Desk

March 13, 2018 By Jenna 49 Comments

DIY Chippendale Desk

25669 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
DIY Chippendale Desk - an easy diy desk idea that looks high-end but is less than $100.

I almost gave up on this idea no less than 10 times.

I mulled over tons of different options and ideas for how to build this chippendale desk for weeks.

Nearly every idea I came up with seemed to eventually hold up a bright red STOP sign.

I would go back to the drawing board. Sometimes, I would even go straight to my computer and start searching for a desk I could buy because I just didn’t think this idea was going to work out.

But I kept coming back to it. I just couldn’t leave the vision I had in my head of this chippendale beauty behind.

And then magically, it was like it all came together. It was more than a light-bulb moment.

Actually, it was just a hell of a lot of back and forth in my head, troubleshooting, mulling over all the different ways it could possibly be done and then making Grunt be my sounding board for all the above.

But I did it.

Yes, I.

I built this little baby all by myself.

DIY Chippendale Desk - an easy diy desk plan that has a high end look but costs less than $100 to make.

At first glance, that might seem like a big deal, but I assure you if I can do this, anyone can.

And don’t fret – you don’t have to make those chippendale panels yourself…

DIY Chippendale Desk

This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Supplies & Tools Needed

  • 2 Readymade Chippendale Panel Inserts – mine are these, these also appear to be the same ones on Amazon.
  • 1 sheet of 1/2″ Sanded Plywood
  • 1 – 1″ x 4″ x 6′
  • 1 – 1″ x 2″ x 6′
  • 12 – 3/4″ Corner Braces
  • 4 – 1 1/2″ Corner Braces
  • Wood Glue
  • Circular Saw
  • Drill
  • Finish Nailer or Finish Nails and Hammer
  • Caulk / Caulk Gun
  • Primer – I used Kilz 2
  • Paint of Your Choice – I opted for oil-based paint because it is the toughest paint out there and my desk gets some hard use. The color is Bit of Sugar by Behr in Semi-Gloss.
  • Good Paint Brush and Roller

Cut List

• Using your circular saw, cut the sheet of plywood into two pieces:

  • 1 piece should be 29″ x 48″ – this is going to be the front panel of your desk.
  • 1 piece should be 29 7/8″ x 48″ – this is going to be the top of your desk.

• Using either your circular saw or a miter saw, cut the 1″ x 4″ x 6′ into two pieces that each measure 28 3/4″ long.

• Using either your circular saw or a miter saw, cut the 1″ x 2″ x 6′ down to 46 5/8″ long.

If you don’t want to do the cutting yourself, then usually your local hardware store will cut them for you.

Steps

Step 1

First, you’re going to need to reinforce your chippendale panels. When I first pulled my panels out of the wrapping, I quickly noticed that some of the fretwork wasn’t super secure. To keep all the fretwork in place, you want to put wood glue between all the joints.

How to Make a Chippendale Desk from readymade chippendale panels - an easy desk plan idea.

Just squeeze a little bit of glue where every joint is, as noted above, then rub your finger over the joint to push the glue into the joint. Once that side of the chippendale panel is dry, flip it over and do the same thing to the other side. It might not seem like this is going to make a huge difference, but it really does. Wood glue is serious stuff.

Do this with both chippendale panels, front and back. Let the glue fully dry before proceeding to the next step.

Step 2

Now, you’re going to be attaching feet to the chippendale panels.

Lay both chippendale pieces down with the inside facing up. You’ll also need both of your cut 1″ x 4″ pieces (the 28 3/4″ long pieces) now too.

DIY Chippendale Desk - easy DIY desk build.

Run wood glue along the inside edge of the chippendale panel that is 28 3/4″ long. Be sure you are gluing on the right edge – the chippendale panels are not perfect squares!.

DIY Chippendale Desk - easy DIY desk build.

Place your cut 1″ x 4″ pieces along where you just ran your glue and secure it with a finish nailer or with finish nails using a hammer.

DIY Chippendale Desk - easy DIY desk build.

Stand your panels up.

Easy Desk Idea - build a chippendale desk from readymade chippendale panels.

Let this dry completely before moving on to the next step.

Step 3

Now, you’re going to attach the front solid panel of the desk.

Stand both chippendale panels up on their feet. Attach corner braces along the sides and foot of each panel as shown below.

How to Make a Chippendale Desk from readymade chippendale panels - an easy desk plan idea.

You’ll use single hole corner braces, the 3/4″ inch ones along the chippendale panel and one double hole corner brace, the 1 1/2″ ones, where the foot is.

Place the 29″ x 48″ piece of 3/4″ plywood in front of the brackets, then attach the brackets to the plywood panel.

An important thing to note – before attaching the brackets to the plywood panel, make sure the screws aren’t too long and won’t go through the front of the plywood. Some brackets come with longer or shorter screws than others. If your screws are going to be too long for the plywood panel, then just go to the hardware store and buy shorter screws that have about the same size screw head as the ones that came with your brackets.

How to build a chippendale desk for less than $100.

Step 4

Now, you’re going to put on the desk top.

Start by attaching four single hole braces (3/4″ braces) along the top edge (shown below) of the front panel of plywood you just attached.

DIY Chippendale Desk

Attach two more single hole braces (3/4″ braces) to each chippendale side panel along the top, as shown below.

DIY Chippendale Desk

Lay your 29 7/8″ x 48″ piece of plywood on top of the front panel of plywood and the side chippendale panels making sure everything is even and squared up how you want it, then just like you did with the front plywood panel, attach the top plywood panel to the corner braces you just installed.

Easy Desk Ideas: How to build a chippendale desk from readymade chippendale panels.

Step 5

Now, for a little added support in the back of the desk, you are going to attach your cut 1″ x 2″ wood piece that you cut down to 46 5/8″ long just along the inside top at the back of your desk.

DIY Desk Idea - Make a chippendale style desk easily.

Place it so that it meets up with that inside frame of the chippendale panel.

Easy DIY Chippendale Desk

Attach the 1″ x 2″ to the desk using the 1 1/2″ double hole corner braces on each side as shown in the image above.

Step 6

Caulk any gaps in the desk to give it a nice clean finished look. I caulked all along the places where the plywood met the chippendale panels.

Step 7

Prime and paint the desk.

I opted to prime my desk before painting it so the raw wood wouldn’t soak up too much of the paint. I was very glad I did because it allowed me to only need one coat of the oil-based paint, which we all know isn’t great fun to work with.

DIY Chippendale desk - priming.

That was after the primer coat.

And the finished DIY Chippendale Desk….

How to Build a Desk: Easy DIY Chippendale Desk Plan

Desk Chair / Leopard Print Rug (similar) 

Isn’t she a beaut? It is the perfect size for my smaller office with the perfect touch of interest.

Easy DIY Desk Plan - How to Build a Chippendale Desk

So – do you think you’ll give this easy desk plan a whirl?

You might also want to see…

How I DIYed those Built In Cabinets:

DIY Built In Office Cabinets

The Full Office Makeover:

Home Office Makeover with Budget-Friendly DIY Projects: An Office Makeover on a Budget with lots of Office DIY Decor

Budget-Friendly DIY Office Makeover

Really great list of 12 Stylish and Comfortable Office Chairs - most are very affordable as well! Great desk chairs!

12 Stylish and Comfortable Office Chairs

If you want to come back to this project later, just pin the image below!

DIY Chippendale Desk - an easy diy desk idea that looks high-end but is less than $100.

25669 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

Filed Under: DIY Projects Tagged With: chippendale, desk, office

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Meaghan says

    March 13, 2018 at 9:13 am

    This looks so nice! Way to go!!

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      March 13, 2018 at 10:30 am

      Thank you, Meaghan!

      Reply
  2. Shirley says

    March 13, 2018 at 11:22 am

    Your desk looks great! What a lovely bright room to work in.
    I love the Dolly candle. St. Dolly of Parton -hilarious!?

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      March 15, 2018 at 2:41 pm

      Thanks, Shirley! Isn’t that candle just everything?! I want to buy all my friends one!

      Reply
  3. Heidi says

    March 13, 2018 at 11:50 am

    Well done! I wouldn’t have guessed this was a DIY desk, good job! Now you have my wheels spinning…

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      March 15, 2018 at 2:40 pm

      Thanks so much, Heidi!

      Reply
  4. Pam says

    March 13, 2018 at 11:50 am

    It, for sure, is a beaut!! But no, I probably won’t be attempting this. I just live vicariously through YOU!! LOL

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      March 15, 2018 at 2:39 pm

      Oh, Pam!! I know you could do it though!!

      Reply
  5. Marty Oravetz says

    March 13, 2018 at 2:03 pm

    I love this, so petty and your tutorial is amazing.

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      March 15, 2018 at 2:39 pm

      Thank you so much, Marty!

      Reply
  6. Stephanie S. says

    March 13, 2018 at 3:12 pm

    Jenna awesome tutorial. I use our old dining room table. About the same size. One dog likes to change out under neath when I am not banging around. Nice top and thought about redoing by painting it.
    Have a good hump day. LOL Interview today.

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      March 15, 2018 at 2:39 pm

      Thanks, Stephanie! I hope your interview went well!

      Reply
  7. Susan the Farm Quilter says

    March 13, 2018 at 5:51 pm

    And here I was thinking you made those sides from 2x2s!!! Either way, love the desk. Makes me wish I needed a desk, but I would need one with lots of drawers that I could fill up with the crap I need RIGHT NOW but didn’t want to clutter up the top of the desk…cuz ya know just 1 pen or pencils just won’t work! I need more room for other crap to make the desk top invisible!! My dad wants to build/buy a “thing” to go on the top-back of his desk so he can fill it with crap that is on his desk so he can put more crap on his desk!

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      March 15, 2018 at 2:40 pm

      Girl, you have too much faith in me! I don’t have enough patience to make those side panels myself!! And I totally know what you mean about storing crap – that’s why I put in the built-ins in my office!! Gotta hide the clutter somewhere!

      Reply
  8. Michelle says

    March 13, 2018 at 7:59 pm

    When I read the subject, I honestly thought you made a desk with pictures of Chippendale dancers on it!!

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      March 15, 2018 at 2:38 pm

      hahahahaha!!! Well, you never really know with me!

      Reply
  9. Kari Wagner Hoban says

    March 14, 2018 at 8:09 am

    I am learning so much from your blog, the first of which is that style is called Chippendale.
    Not anything like a nude male dancer.
    I love what you did and I love that you made me think I can do this too (I can’t).

    But what is funny is that we bought a coffee table off of Facebook Marketplace this week with that same design on the sides and now I can use my new big word!!

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      March 15, 2018 at 2:38 pm

      hahahaha!!! Happy to be of service! Don’t you just love Facebook marketplace?! I’m addicted!

      Reply
  10. Maria says

    March 14, 2018 at 3:30 pm

    Wow! Great job on your desk…

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      March 15, 2018 at 2:35 pm

      Thanks so much, Maria!

      Reply
  11. Audra @ Renewed Projects says

    March 18, 2018 at 7:54 pm

    Wow! That is incredible! You have mad skills!

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      March 20, 2018 at 5:41 pm

      Thank you, Audra!

      Reply
  12. Roseann Hampton says

    March 20, 2018 at 9:24 pm

    That’s quite impressive – even with the premade panels! Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday! Can’t wait to see what you link up next week! Roseann from This Autoimmune Life

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      March 27, 2018 at 11:14 am

      Thanks so much, Roseann!

      Reply
  13. Leanna says

    March 20, 2018 at 10:02 pm

    Your desk is gorgeous!! I want one. I also like the storage cabinet behind your desk. Pinning and thank you for the inspiration.

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      March 27, 2018 at 11:11 am

      Thank you so much, Leanna!

      Reply
  14. Monica Benavidez says

    March 20, 2018 at 11:09 pm

    Ummmm, this is freakin’ fabulous! I may DIY something like this for my living room as a TV stand. My brain wheels are turning…

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      March 27, 2018 at 11:07 am

      Thanks, Monica! You totally could – I still have a slew of ideas for using these panels in other places- they are just too good!

      Reply
  15. Brenda Young @ Unique Junktique says

    March 21, 2018 at 8:53 am

    What a wonderful piece!Even better that the sides came pre cut…..love what you created with the panels I never knew you or could get to these from the hardware store! Beautiful job pinning for later

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      March 27, 2018 at 11:11 am

      Thanks, Brenda!

      Reply
  16. Rhonda says

    March 24, 2018 at 11:17 am

    Wow, I love, love, love the desk. The Chippendale panels are perfect. Oh, the blue cabinets behind it really make it stand out. Great job, and thanks for sharing on Sunday’s Best.

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      March 27, 2018 at 10:54 am

      Thanks, Rhonda!

      Reply
  17. Vanessa says

    March 24, 2018 at 11:35 am

    I love your new desk, it’s gorgeous! Thank you for sharing at Dishing it and Digging it link party. You are one of the features at this Sunday’s party. Thank you again for sharing.

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      March 27, 2018 at 10:54 am

      Thank you, Vanessa! I’m honored to be featured!

      Reply
  18. Tiffany says

    March 24, 2018 at 12:28 pm

    This desk is amazing, Jenna! I agree with Audra…you have mad skills! 🙂 Enjoy your home office..

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      March 27, 2018 at 10:53 am

      Thank you so much, Tiffany!!

      Reply
  19. BonBon says

    March 26, 2018 at 11:36 am

    Hey, thanks for sharing at Inspire Me Monday. I wanted to let you know that you are one of my featured picks this week.

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      March 27, 2018 at 10:49 am

      Awesome!! Thank you so much, BonBon!

      Reply
  20. Michellejames says

    March 26, 2018 at 11:00 pm

    I wanted to let you know I am featuring this great project at #merrymonday this week. I hope you will check it out when you have a chance! Hope you will link up with us again!

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      March 27, 2018 at 10:49 am

      Oh wow! Thank you so much, Michelle!

      Reply
  21. Jann Olson says

    March 29, 2018 at 12:59 am

    I really love how this desk turned out! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

    Reply
  22. Mother of 3 says

    April 5, 2018 at 11:00 am

    A beautiful desk and a great tutorial. I’ve been looking to build a hutch for my dining room and could see a modification of this working in there. Pinned.

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      April 17, 2018 at 10:47 am

      Definitely! This could make a gorgeous hutch!

      Reply
  23. Rebekah Purnel says

    May 5, 2018 at 7:16 am

    How sweet! I have fallen in love with it!!! I’m an avid DIYer and always try to be busy with some new projects! Was searching for a unique idea. Yours made me stop and crazy to do it asap! In a hurry to start. Wish me a good luck Jenna! 🙂

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      May 9, 2018 at 9:16 am

      Oh awesome, Rebekah! Good luck! It’s a pretty easy build though!

      Reply
  24. Barbara Warner says

    June 19, 2019 at 7:22 pm

    Jenna,
    Your desk looks great. I love the crispness of the white paint. My son used the Chippendale pattern to build his deck railing. He did it by hand. I don’t need a desk, but if I did, this one is beautiful and I love white furniture!

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      June 20, 2019 at 12:58 pm

      Thanks, Barbara! Oh wow!!! My hat is off to him – that pattern would be so difficult for me to do by hand. I bet his deck railing looks amazing!

      Reply
  25. Paula says

    June 20, 2019 at 11:36 am

    You are the best! I love this desk and how your brain works! Don’t ever give up. ❤️
    Thanks for always sharing and Congratulations on BH&G!!

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      June 20, 2019 at 12:55 pm

      Thank you so much, Paula! And thanks for sticking around here for so long – you’re a gem!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You have to agree to the comment policy.

Primary Sidebar

Privacy Policy

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Please use all appropriate and proper safety precautions when using tools and attempting projects. All projects and tool usage are attempted at the reader’s own risk.

Copyright © 2023 · Brunch Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · Design by Stephanie Jones

25669 shares