Floating Gaming Office Desk
Build a 4 ft or 6 ft floating desk from scratch on hidden steel brackets. No legs, a clear floor and room for two rigs. You can do this build, and the free Roadmap walks you through it.
About this project
A 4 ft or 6 ft floating desk for an office or gaming setup. One edge-glued spruce top rides on two hidden FastCap SpeedBrace steel brackets screwed into the wall studs, so there are no legs underneath. Floating it off the wall clears the floor and makes a room feel more open, and the 6 ft top has plenty of space for two powerful computer rigs. The full step-by-step build is in the free Roadmap.
Finished size: 48 in or 72 in long x 30 in deep x about 1.5 in thick, top surface 29 in off the floor
Wall gap: 2 to 4 in off the wall, with room for cables behind it.
Skill level: Intermediate (you find the studs, pre-drill pilot holes for the lag screws and chamfer the edges)
Build time: A weekend, though it can run longer without much experience or if you need extra drying time between the stain and the topcoat
Materials list
Some links below are Amazon affiliate links (paid links). As an Amazon Associate, CorpsThree earns from qualifying purchases.
1 x RELIABILT 1-1/2 in x 30 in x 6 ft stain grade edge-glued spruce project board, 72" x 30" x 1.57"
2 x FastCap SpeedBrace 21" x 28", black (SB-21x28BL), 12-gauge steel L-brackets
6 x FastenMaster HeadLOK 2-7/8" structural wood screws, 3 per bracket into the studs
20 x SPAX #8 x 1-1/4" Wafer Head T-STAR HCR-X screws, 10 per bracket into the top
Minwax Gel Stain, Oil-Based, Coffee
Minwax Polycrylic, Satin, water-based
For a lighter, natural finish: Osmo Polyx-Oil 3043, Clear Satin. It soaks into the wood instead of sitting on top like a plastic film, brings out the grain with little color change, doesn't yellow light woods, resists water and spills, and can be spot-repaired. It replaces both the stain and the Polycrylic as a one-product finish, and goes on with a cloth, pad or brush. The smaller can is probably enough for one desk or a pair of shelves.
Gear and optional extras
Microphone boom arm (Samson MBA48)
USB microphone (Blue Yeti, Blackout, example mic)
Microphone shock mount (Auphonix Pro, for the Blue Yeti)
Dual gaming monitor arm (AVLT RGB, on the desk)
Single monitor arm (VIVO STAND-V101H, used 2, mounted upside down under the shelf)
4K smart monitor (Samsung 32" M7 M70F)
Computer leveling feet (Blissfuhue height adjustable, 4 pack, lifts the PC so cords run underneath)
Tools you need
Impact driver (Metabo HPT 18V MultiVolt WH18DC)
Circular saw (Metabo HPT 36V MultiVolt 7-1/4" C3607DB, for the corner cuts)
Router kit (Metabo HPT KM12VC 2-1/4 HP fixed/plunge)
Chamfer bit (Freud 40-114, 45 degree, 1/2" shank)
Random orbit sander (Metabo HPT SV13YST 5", corded) or cordless (Metabo HPT MultiVolt 18V 5")
Stud finder (Franklin Sensors ProSensor M210)
Tape measure (25 ft, decimal inch)
T20 star bit (comes with the SPAX) and spider drive bit (comes with the HeadLOK)
4 ft level, tape measure and pencil, clamps
Safety gloves, safety glasses and hearing protection
Option 2: Floating Command Center Desk (18 ft), Roadmap coming soon
Want a longer desk? Join three of the same 6 ft RELIABILT boards end to end for one 18 ft top. Each seam gets biscuits, glue and two connector bolts that pull the boards tight, so the top stays flat and strong from end to end. You can do this build.
Finished size: 216" long (18 ft) x 30" deep x 1.57" thick
Seams: 72" and 144" from the left end
Top height: 29 in
Wall gap: leave at least 2.5" between the desk and the wall (2.5" to 4" works)
What you need for the 18 ft desk
-
3 x RELIABILT 1-1/2 in x 30 in x 6 ft stain grade edge-glued spruce project boards
-
20 x #20 wood biscuits plus wood glue: 10 per seam, in 2 stacked rows of 5
-
4 x AIYOTAR countertop connector bolts, 2 per seam
-
4 x FastCap SpeedBrace 21" x 28", black (SB-21x28BL), on 16 inch studs, 48, 64 and 48 inches apart
-
12 x FastenMaster HeadLOK 2-7/8" structural wood screws, 3 per bracket
-
40 x SPAX #8 x 1-1/4" screws, 10 per bracket, through the bracket into the desktop
Extra tools
-
1-1/2 in Forstner bit for the connector bolt pockets (check the AIYOTAR package for its pocket size first)
-
Biscuit joiner and long clamps for the glue-up
-
Everything else is the same as the tools list above
How to join each seam
-
Print the free seam template at 100%, check the 1 in scale box, and tape the pages together.
-
Lay two boards upside down with the ends touching. Tape the template across the seam with its front line on the front edge.
-
Cut the biscuit slots at 3, 9, 15, 21 and 27 in from the front, in two rows. Set the joiner fence 7/16 in and then 7/8 in down from the top face.
-
Drill the connector bolt pockets at 12 and 24 in from the front with the 1-1/2 in Forstner bit, then cut the small groove that joins each pair.
-
Glue the slots and the board ends, push in the biscuits and clamp the boards flat.
-
Drop in the AIYOTAR bolts and snug them up so the seam pulls tight and flush, then let the glue dry.
-
Repeat for the second seam at 144 in.
Wall gap: Leave at least 2.5 in between the desk and the wall. Up to 4 in is fine and gives you room for cables.
A wall-mounted desk that does double duty for work and play. Floating it off the wall clears the floor and makes a room feel more open. The desk sits a couple of inches off the wall, and the shelves above it are spaced the same way. All four corners on both shelves are cut, giving them the same slightly octagon look as the desk. The desk gives plenty of space for two powerful computer rigs, with cables kept out of sight. It's a clean, sturdy workspace that works for a nine-to-five and a late-night gaming session alike.
Monitor tip: I flipped my monitor mounts upside down and attached them to the underside of the shelf, so the arms hang down and the monitors float over the desk.
Tech changes fast, and monitors and webcams come down to taste. This list gets you started; then pick the big items that fit your setup.
Some links below are Amazon affiliate links (paid links). As an Amazon Associate, CorpsThree earns from qualifying purchases.
Optional extras:
Dual gaming monitor arm (on the desk)
Single monitor arm (used 2, mounted upside down under the shelf)
The finished 6 ft x 30 in floating desk, mounted and ready.