You can quickly transform an inexpensive desk purchased from an office supply store into a thing of beauty. Make an eye-catching wooden piece over the existing top and have a quick desk upgrade.
Start by edge gluing ¾” thick boards together. Once the boards are glued, you will want the resulting panel to be about two” oversized, both length and width, to allow for trimming and to accommodate the apron, which you will add later.
- Tip: We used a Freud Glue-Line Rip Blade on the table saw to cut the boards to width, leaving an edge perfect for gluing, eliminating the need for biscuits or other reinforcements.
Next, make an apron by cutting two-inch strips using the same type of boards used for the top. Use a miter saw to make 45-degree cuts on the ends of the strips. Glue these strips under the desktop, around the outside edge of the panel. The strips form an apron on the underside of the panel and meet each other at mitered corners. This apron allows you to place your new desktop over the old one.
Then, we added a decorative edge. This edge will transform your joint boards into a professional-looking finished project. (We used a chamfer bit in a hand-held router to create a 45-degree angle.)
Finally, add a finish to make the grain pop out on your desktop. Ensure you apply a final coat of protection, such as polyurethane, for added durability.
