How to Build a Media Wall and Desk

From 3/4-inch-thick MDF and pine, cut the desk rails (A), cross rails (B), top (C), inside panel (D), outside panel (E), and panel cleat (F) to size (Project Diagram, Cutting List and Cutting Diagram). The pine parts can be cut with a miter box and handsaw, a circular saw, or a miter saw. For the MDF, use a circular saw and straightedge or a table saw. Sand the parts with 120-grit sandpaper before assembly.

Cut a notch at the back corner of the inside and outside desk panels (D, E) to fit around the baseboard in your room. (The notch does not need to be a perfect fit.)

Cut the fixed shelves (J), support shelves (K), and the floating shelf (L) to width and length from MDF (Project Diagram, Drawing 4). Cut the fixed rails (M), support rails (N), the floating rails (O), and the shelf cleats (P) from pine boards.

Mix equal amounts of water and wood glue to make sizing. Brush the sizing on all exposed MDF edges. Fill any visible screw holes that were made for installing the desk with wood filler using a putty knife. When the sizing and putty are dry, lightly sand the parts.

Paint the desk components, the cabinet shelf parts, the cabinets, and the shelves. Prime each part, lightly sand with a fine-grit sanding sponge, then add two coats of paint.

There are optional wall brackets (S) for securing the shelf brackets to the wall (Project Diagram, Drawing 7 and Drawing 8); if you choose to use this method, cut the parts to length.

At the end opposite the desk, attach the filler cleat (Q) to the wall. Cut the filler (R) to fit and nail the filler to the cleat and the edge of the cabinet.

To install the desk (Project Diagram, Drawing 1 and Drawing 2), place the desktop assembly on the cabinet against the walls and place the desk panel in position on the opposite end of the desk. Drive screws through the back desk rail (A) into a stud for support and through the cross rails (B) into the outside panel (E). The panel cleat (F) also needs to be screwed to the wall. A bead of construction adhesive on the back face of the panel cleat will reinforce the cleat/wall connection.

Cut the cabinet rails (G) to extend from the desk to the opposite wall (Project Diagram, Drawing 2) as they rest on the cabinets. Screw the back rail to the wall at the studs. Then screw the front rail to the top of the cabinet face frame.

Glue the cabinet shelf (H) to the rails with the left end against the desk top. Then cut the filler shelf (I) to fit between the end of the cabinet shelf and the wall, and glue it in place.

Place the brackets under the shelves, mark the screw hole locations on the wall and install hollow-wall anchors (Project Diagram, Drawing 7 and Drawing 8). If you are installing the optional wall brackets, screw them to hollow-wall anchors. (The shelf and wall brackets are designed to be centered under the shelf cleats (P) built into each shelf.)

Secure the brackets to the wall to support the front edges of the shelves and set the floating shelf on two support shelves where the shelf cleats extend from each end. You may need to cut the floating shelf to fit the space between the support shelves. Secure the floating shelf to the support shelves with 1-1/4-inch flathead screws. Then secure the back rail of the floating shelf to the wall studs.

Drive the screws up through the shelf brackets to fasten them to the shelves (Project Diagram, Drawing 6).

Sand any cut edges that have been exposed and touch up the surfaces with paint.  Along the wall at the top of the cabinet shelf, desk, and the desk panel, caulk the joint with an appropriate color to match the finish.