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This is a lap desk with a hinged top that lifts to reveal a divided storage tray — a spot for pens, paper, a phone — flanked by two open side cubbies. It's a genuine scrap build: a 4-foot 1x12, a 6-foot 1x4, a 1x3, and a short 2x2 cover the whole thing, so it's an ideal way to use up the pile of offcuts that accumulates from bigger projects.
The design is smart in how it stacks. The central storage compartment is a shallow tray box; short 2x2 legs lift it and create the two side cubbies underneath at the ends. Dividers inside the tray keep pens from rolling into one corner, and they're adjustable — set them wherever suits what you'll store.
The one real hardware decision is the hinge. The back edge is a fixed 1x2 strip; the 1x12 lid pivots off it on a pair of standard hinges, so the lid opens toward you and the storage stays put. Nail and glue the box together (glue matters on parts this small and thin), sand the top especially smooth since it's a writing surface, and finish however you like. It makes a good gift.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 1x12, 4 ftTray bottom and the hinged lid. | 1 each |
| 1x4, 6 ftTray sides, front, and back. | 1 each |
| 2x2, 6 ftLegs and top trim. | 1 each |
| 1x3, 8 ftSide cubby parts and dividers. | 1 each |
| Plywood, 1/4 in (scrap)Side cubby fronts and backs. | 1 each |
| Standard hinges | 1 pair |
| Wood screws, 2 in | 1 box |
| Brad nails, 1-1/4 in | 1 box |
| Wood glue | 1 bottle |
| FinishOptional. | 1 each |
Overall cost: $. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Storage tray bottom1x12 | 1 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 19 1/2" |
| Tray sides1x4 | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 11 1/2" |
| Tray front/back1x4 | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 21" |
| Legs2x2 | 4 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 13" |
| Top trim2x2 | 2 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 10" |
| Side cubby bottoms1x3 | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 10" |
| Side cubby sides1x3 | 4 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 4" |
| Side cubby fronts/backs1/4 in plywood | 4 | 1/4" × 4 3/4" × 10" |
| Long divider1x3 | 1 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 11 1/2" |
| Short divider1x3 | 1 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 6" |
| Top back (fixed)1x2 | 1 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 24" |
| Hinged top1x12 | 1 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 24" |
Buy 6 boards at 8 ft.
1 board
1 board
1 board
Nail the two tray side pieces to the tray bottom, keeping outside edges flush, then nail the front and back pieces to the sides and bottom. Glue every joint — on thin, short parts the glue does most of the holding and the nails just clamp it. Check the box is square.
Screw the four 2x2 legs to the underside corners of the tray box with 2" screws — these lift the desk and create the side cubby space. Then screw the 2x2 top trim to the top of the tray, and drive through the legs into the end edges of the trim to lock it all together.
Assemble the two side storage cubbies at the ends of the desk. Nail and glue the 1/4" plywood to the backs first, then the fronts. These closed-in ends give the desk small open compartments and stiffen the whole assembly.
Nail the long and short dividers into the storage tray through the tray sides. Position them to suit what you'll store — the layout is yours to set. Dividers keep pens and small items from sliding into one corner every time you tilt the desk.
Nail the fixed 1x2 top-back piece across the back of the desk, outside edges flush. Then attach the 1x12 hinged top to that back strip with a pair of standard hinges, so the lid pivots open toward you and the tray stays put.
Sand the lid smooth — it's a writing surface — and finish. It's small enough that a coat of finish is quick.
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1 board
1 board
1 board
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →