Flip Down Wall Art Desk

Ana, could you be any more clever! This could be adapted to many uses. I think i'll make one for the kitchen area to store random papers or a bill paying station. Thank you for the inspiration!

Love this!

I've been trying to figure out where I could put a desk for Maddie (6y/o) to do homework and coloring in our tiny 930 square foot home. Thank you so much! Now I can put it in her room!

The hinges in the pictures of the one that you built look different than the one specified in the instructions. Are they? Are the ones from your actual pictures strong enough? I would prefer them to the ones that would hang on the sides and get in the way of arms.

I want to point out that this desk is also good for the development of young children. When children cross the mid-line of the body it allows for better brain development and specifically the ability to learn to read. Also children with developmental delays seem to be helped by standing vs. sitting (IE: using the chalk board or an easel.

I was just discussing an idea like this for a "fold out" sewing station. I love this idea, but do you think it could handle a sewing machine? I'm thinking I might be out of luck. Love this idea, though, and will likely implement in our girls' rooms.

Thank you everyone for commenting and reading this post - we really enjoy this desk and I hope you build it! We love it!

This is just so fun.

I think the best part of this plan was the time savings picking up crayons. I spend a good portion of my day cleaning up the art supplies! Wondering if there would be a way to either add or have free-standing legs you could set up to support a longer version of this for a fold-down desktop for three kids?? Any ideas?

LOVE this! this would be perfect for older kids too! Just wanted to add an idea- why not screw down a strip of metal alond the bottom? Not a sharp piece but something that the end of the paper can slide underneath to hold the paper down and then you can use that piece of metal to tear the paper off the roll. Make sense?

This is brilliant. I love this plan and want to build two side by side for my little girls sharing a room. Love it!

I've been wanting something like this for DD's room for a while now, but I haven't had time to sit down and really think through the mechanics. I love your design! Can't wait to find time to bang it out. (I need to finish a loft bed first.)

I love this! For more support, you could hinge the frame at the top to the chalk board so that it forms legs when you open the desk.

I'm completely confused about the hangers, though. How do those hangers work? Have you had any problems with the desk coming away from the wall? I'd be worried about that, then the supplies falling out the back.

Thanks! About the hangers, I only have them on the top, and using the desk actually pushes down on the back, keeping everything in place, rather than pulling it outward. That said, it would be a good idea to put the hangers on the top AND bottom (4 total) with at least one on top and one on bottom into a stud in the wall. Good point!

That's what I have on hand. I am all about this, I am going to do it this weekend with my little boy!

When I first saw this (on ohdeedoh) I thought the front was a cabinet door. It might make an even easier project and it would have hinges (or spots for hinges) already.
I'm just wonder how much wt this would hold. I could see my guy leaning on it and breaking it off

Thanks for the awesome idea.

Anna you are so creative! This will be perfect for my sons room. I was contemplating building a desk but his room is so small that a desk would literally leave him with no room. We have a 4 bedroom house and only 1600 square foot and each room is limited to how much furniture can go in it. This will work perfectly! Thanks so much Anna!!

I just thought about something. Istead of having the external support brackets (that could get caught and yanked by clothing walking, or running, by). Could we instead attach chains to the top corners of the shelves and the fold down shelf to hold it in place?

Just built this desk. I love it. Putting on the support hinges to keep the desk level was difficult for this beginner. Had to cut a notch in the top interior shelf for the hinge to fold into. It would have been much easier to do BEFORE assembling the desk. Don't forget to think about where those support hinges will go.

Hi-
We're about to start this project (beginners.) We think the moulding makes the project, but aren't sure how much to buy or how to cut it or put it together. Is there another tutorial somewhere that explains moulding, or is that just something we need to figure out on our own?
Thanks! We are in 1000 sq ft and our kids are going to LOVE this!

Whats the 1 - 1x2 @ 22 1/2" for? I dont see that in the one in the picture. The hinge supports will not close with the 22.5" peice across at the bottom. I removed the 22.5" peice and the hinge supports still dont seem to work because there is not enough depth when closed.

The 1x2 @ 22 1/2" was originally meant to be put at the top, inset to the back, giving you something to screw the entire unit to the wall. This is an error on my part - when I hung mine and found the unit to be secure without the 1x2, I decided it wasn't entirely necessary for the plans. I will update the plans to reflect this error, and I thank you for writing to let me know. Much appreciated.

For the hinge supports, depending on the type of hinge support, you may be able to place to the outside. Or if your hinge supports are particularly long, you could flip the unit over so your paper roll sits to the top, and then you would have more room for the hinge supports. Another option is to use chain and threaded eye hooks.

Hope this works for you - Ana

although a very cute idea ~my husband a skilled carpenter~ made this per specs and it does not close nor do the side brackets fit without quite a bit of notching etc. and one of the cuts are listed wrong. Best if you use the euro brackets vs side that the directions call for because the desk will not close properly, if at all.

This is a fantastic project! I am going to customize it to be a computer desk-- with two computer screens flush-mounted on the wall inside the case (flip up the desk and voila- no computer)! Also working in a slide-in wireless keyboard hide-away and mouse cubby... I will send pics when done. I am so excited.

Thanks for the idea-- love the site. We are looking at building a house of our own from the ground up soon and love your momplex blog! Thanks again!!!

What a great idea! We are going to be building this for our daughter to put in her "art corner" we are making in the corner of the kitchen.

I do have one question regarding the front panel where you have a chalkboard; do you have any other ideas for what to do with that area? We already have a large chalkboard right next to where this will go and I am having a hard time coming up with an idea of how to "decorate" the front of this. Don't want to do the chalkboard or dry erase and she is too little for a pin board, don't want her to have tacks or anything like that. I was thinking of putting a fun cute fabric? Any ideas would be helpful. Thanks!

make for Pae

Hardware Tree sells a hinge/support for drop front secretaries that would work well for the wall desk. It combines both the hinge and support in compact unit, and they are only $6.35 each.

Just wondering about how much you spent on all of the materials? There is a similar desk at Ikea (59.99) and I was just trying to figure out which is more cost effective.
Although I do like the make it yourself idea better:)

Thanks,
Anne

Hi Ana,

Your blog is such an inspiration! Wondering what your thoughts are on creating a flip down changing table? Good idea/bad idea? How would I alter your plans to support the weight and a cushion/pad instead of the shelves?

Thanks!

I would love to build this for my daughter but she is 11 so would need it bigger. What do you recommend the measurements should be?

I love these. We had one a LONG time ago that was built in the 70's that after the user grew out of crayons (it was deeper) it was used for hair curlers and perfume! We are building a new one into a built in bookshelf in our current home and my husband could not remember what it looked like inside; we have a photo of the outside but that didn't cut it. Thanks for sharing. He's a visual guy and the internet and posts like yours save us from killing each other sometimes!

Ana, Since moving out of our house into an apt Ive been at a standstill on building. And now, im looking at buying a mobile home out in the country, but the bedrooms are teenie! ( My duaghter is not big enough for a loft bed yet! )This is perfect, I could mount it above my daughters bed, or even in the hallway! Thanks for posting another awesome plan! Love it.

My husband and I made 2 of these for our grandkids (2 & 3yrs old). We love having them visit but hated when they just wanted to watch T.V. We wanted them to learn and use their imagination and these desks did just that. They spend lots of time coloring, painting, drawing and writing on the chalkboard. Just wanted to thank you for the inspiration and to let you know that it was just as easy as you said it would be! Thanks again!!

This is going to make my classroom a different place next year! I just hope a beginner isn't getting too carried away to imagine building several of these as centers around my room! Maybe even one for me! I can't wait to try! Thanks you wonderful woman!

I do large scale sewing projects (tall draperies, bed spreads, etc). I have been dreaming up how to convert my guest room with a queen size bed into my work space without getting rid of the bed - for the occasional guest! I'm thinking the storage day bed idea combined with a DIY headboard, which will drop down (&maybe unfold?) that can be used as a cutting table for fabrics. Because of the length:width it would probably need fold out leg supports that drop on either side of the far end of the bed. I can dream it,, just not design it!! Lol. Any suggestions?

I can't wai't to do this in my daughters room!

I would like to use this as a wrapping station as you mentioned earlier. I would like to increase the width to a gift wrap roll size, but I would like to increase the height as well. I know you mentioned not to increase the depth, but would increasing both the height and width cause an issue? I am a rookie who wants all my ducks in a row before I beg my husband to construct this for me!!

I love this.... how could you make if more sturdy to use as a baby change table ? or would it need to be sturdier?

Jen

It seems that you are missing from the cut list 1 - 1x4 @ 22.5" - this increases the 1x4 length required to finish the project from 101" to 123.5".

A question about mounting - how would you recommend attaching a much larger (8' wide by 40" tall) version of this to a studded wall? Any other modifications required? (i.e. hinges or other support mechanisms)

Thanks!