DIY Built-In Desk: How to Build the Office You Actually Want for $400

A full-wall built-in desk and shelving setup using IKEA components and a few basic tools. Looks custom. Costs a fraction.

The IKEA KALLAX/ALEX built-in desk method has become one of the most popular DIY projects on the internet for good reason — it produces a genuinely custom-looking result with modular components, is achievable in a weekend, and costs 80% less than hiring a cabinet maker. Here's the complete method including the pro tricks that make it look installed rather than assembled.

Contractor Tips

• Scribe the top shelf to the wall rather than leaving a gap. A belt sander and careful measuring makes the unit look built-in rather than placed.
• Paint your IKEA units the same color as the wall to create a seamless, architectural effect that disguises the modular construction.
• Add a wood desktop over the IKEA drawer units rather than using their standard tops — it gives a much more substantial look and feel.