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Crafting Table and Desk Ideas

Date

May 25, 2024

Time reading

11 minutes
craft desk with variety of art materials

If you love diamond painting but don’t yet have a comfortable space set up to work on projects or store your craft supplies, we have some great news for you! (And if you still don’t know how to diamond paint, use our guide to join the fun crafting community!). Creating the perfect diamond art workspace is an easy do-it-yourself project, and it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. You can put together a comfortable and functional crafting space in as little as an hour, even if you don’t have any special tools or skills. No space? No problem! Whether you have an entire room to dedicate to crafts or need a much more compact solution, craft desks can be created to fit in spaces of any size.

Building a DIY craft table lets you customize it to your needs and ensures you have plenty of room for working on projects, storing diamond painting kits that you have not started yet, and more. Why settle for a pre-built, one-size-fits-all craft table when you can create a customized space to meet your needs instead? 

We’ve put together this list of some of our favorite DIY craft desks to get your creative juices flowing. Whether you follow one of the tutorials below or take bits and pieces from several of these DIY projects to create a completely custom workspace, these awesome craft desk ideas are sure to provide the inspiration you need! Read on to discover several DIY craft desk ideas that are easy enough for even beginner crafters.

Beans and Brew

Why You Need a Dedicated Workspace for Diamond Art

While not everyone has space in their home for a dedicated crafting room, it is important to have a designated area where you can comfortably work on your favorite hobbies, including diamond art. A specific workspace also allows you to store your works-in-progress (WIP), supplies, and more. 

Make Sure You Have All the Necessary Diamond Painting Supplies

Now, let’s explore some craft room ideas and organization ideas to transform a spare room (or even just an unused corner) in your home into the perfect new craft room!

Bookcase Crafting Table

When you need a place to work on diamond art but don’t have a lot of money to spend or access to tools, making a desk out of bookcases is a great option. With two small bookcases, a desktop, and some liquid nails, you can create a functional and visually appealing place to work on your latest project. Plus, the bookshelves themselves provide storage. Check out this bookcase hack:

bookcase crafting table

You can simply order two identical bookshelves from Amazon or head to your local IKEA. They do not need to be anything fancy and should cost around $25 to $30 each. Just make sure they are tall enough for the tops to sit roughly at counter height. Then, you will need a top to use as a work surface. IKEA also has affordable tabletops that work great for this purpose. Alternatively, you can purchase a piece of countertop from a local building center in the desired length. 

Assemble the bookcases and set them up as the “legs” of your craft desk. The shelves should face outward for easy access. Then, use liquid nails to glue the work surface to the top. That’s it! Let it dry, and your new craft room desk will be ready. Add baskets or storage bins to the shelves to create the perfect spots for storing all of your diamond painting supplies

Hideaway Craft Desk

If you live in a tiny apartment or small home with no room for a permanent desk, consider building this Murphy-style craft desk in your living room, bedroom, or even your laundry room. Like a Murphy bed, this desk folds up when not in use, making it ideal for tight spaces. There is room to store some tools and accessories, too. Basic building skills are required, but the project is simple enough for novices. Check out the full tutorial (including detailed plans) here

Additionally, Diamond Art Club® offers canvases and crafts in a variety of sizes that work with your space. For those with smaller crafting spaces, consider our Lil Diamondz™ collection, which features smaller canvases. We also carry diamond painting stickers and greeting cards that are ideal for cozy craft corners.

Four-Station Crafting Table

Is crafting a family activity in your home? Or do you love working on diamond painting kits with your friends? Or do you just need ample space for work surfaces and craft room organization? If so, building a four-station crafting table is a fantastic way to create space to enjoy your favorite hobbies with those you love. With four desk bases and two tabletops, you can create a large table that provides storage and work surfaces for four people. Having four workstations also works well for crafters who enjoy working on several different types of projects. You could have a sewing machine at one workstation, work on diamond paintings at another, make jewelry at one and keep your Cricut on the last station. The options are limitless!

four station crafting table

If you know your way around a woodshop, you can build desk bases for this project. Alternatively, you can purchase four modular nightstands or filing cabinets. To take this approach, you will want to find nightstands/cabinets that are around 30 to 35 inches in height. Be sure to choose nightstands or cabinets that are sturdy, too. They’ll need to support the weight of two tabletops, plus whatever supplies you keep on each. 

Arrange the stands in a square so there is one set of shelves/drawers facing outward on each side. Make sure there is adequate space between the stands as this area is where a person will sit. 

Attach two tabletops to the tops of the stands to create a large work surface. Countertops or plywood work, too. When you are finished, you will have a large craft station with plenty of work and storage space for four people to use simultaneously. 

Easy Built-In Craft Table

If you have an unused nook in your home or a home office that is too small for a large piece of furniture, it could be an excellent spot for a built-in desk. You could even turn an unused closet into a functional place for working on diamond art and other crafts. 

crafts desk built into closet

Making a built-in desk is a highly versatile project, and it is an excellent way to turn wasted space into a functional spot for working on arts and crafts. And the desk created with this tutorial has plenty of storage space below the desk. That means you can keep your WIP,  kits you have not started working on yet, diamond painting tools, and more close at hand. 

Measure how much space you have to work with. Since your table will be built-in, the work surface can extend from one wall to the other. You can purchase a tabletop, desktop, countertop, or even a piece of plywood to use as a work surface. Whatever option best suits your budget and taste is perfect. 

Next, you will need to find a way to support the work surface. If you have enough space, cubby organizers are a great option, providing loads of space for storing supplies. If space is tight, you can use shelf brackets to mount the top directly to the wall. 

Sawhorse Craft Desk

If you are looking for a simple, minimalist desk you can make in less than an hour, this is the one! As a bonus, the height of the finished project works well, whether you like to sit or stand while working. The only downside to this type of craft desk is that you’ll need to get creative with storage ideas that are functional and aesthetically pleasing. 

sawhorse craft desk

Head to your local home improvement store and purchase two unfinished wooden sawhorses. They should stand about 32 inches tall and be 33 inches in width. You will also need a tabletop or a piece of plywood, four 3-¼” screws, a measuring tape, a handsaw, a pencil, and an electric drill. 

If you purchase a pre-built tabletop, it will likely be around 29.5 inches in width. For the sawhorses to fit below correctly, they must be cut down a bit before assembly. Use your handsaw to trim the horizontal surfaces of each sawhorse to make them the appropriate width, and then assemble them according to the manufacturer’s instructions. 

Drill a hole six inches from each end of both sawhorses, for a total of four holes (two for each sawhorse). Next, flip the work surface upside down so you are looking at the underside. Find the center of the short side, measure nine inches, and make a mark. Repeat on the other end. These marks indicate where you will center the sawhorses

Set your sawhorses so they are parallel to each other and about 38 inches apart. Center the work surface on top and adjust each sawhorse to align with the marks you made. Place a screw in one of the holes you created in the sawhorses and use your drill to screw it up into the work surface. Repeat with the other three holes. 

Finally, flip the desk over and you are ready to start crafting! If you’d like, you can paint or stain the sawhorses to personalize your craft station. The desk should stand about 34 inches high, making it perfect for a stool rather than a standard chair. Because of its height, this desk is a good option if you like to stand while crafting, too. 

Wall-Mounted Craft Desk

Building a wall-mounted craft desk could be a great solution when you have plenty of wall space but very little floor space. While it will not disappear into its own little box like the Murphy-style desk mentioned above, it will allow you to have a spacious and well-stocked crafting area without taking up a lot of valuable square footage. You can modify this project, too, to create a workspace for one, two, or more people. 

wall mounted craft desk

Start by going to a home improvement store and purchasing metal twin tracks, shelves, and shelf brackets. You will also need wall anchors, screws, a tape measure and level, a drill, and a piece of plywood to use as the desktop. Depending on how you want the finished project to look, you might also want to pick up some spray paint for the shelves, brackets and tracks and wood stain for the plywood. Start by screwing/anchoring the twin tracks to the wall vertically, separated by as much space as your tabletop allows. Consider installing a pegboard above the desk to use for craft storage, too, to make the most of your wall space.

All those supplies might make this project sound challenging, but it is a piece of cake for anyone with minimal home improvement know-how. With patience and creativity, this project is endlessly customizable. Plus, it is a great solution for anyone who wants a roomy craft area with plenty of storage space

Easel

A tried and true solution for your diamond painting craft space is using an easel. You can lay your canvas at an angle, which helps alleviate any crafting neck and back pain. While a standard art easel can work, consider a puzzle easel that includes drawers so you can lay out your drills and pens next to the board. Many diamond painters that use easels hold the tray, since laying the tray at an angle causes the gems to fall. That is why a puzzle easel is a great solution for keeping your tools organized and freeing up your hand from holding the tray full of drills.

If you already have a desk you love, try a tabletop easel that can sit on top of the surface. That way, you can easily remove the tabletop easel whenever you’re finished working or switch back and forth between your desk and the easel whenever you please.

Transforming Your Craft Area into a Perfect Diamond Art Workspace

Building a desk is just the beginning of creating the perfect crafting space. Once you have worked out the basics, it is time to customize it for diamond painting. Start by making sure you have plenty of light. Ideally, you should have a light that shines down on your work surface and a diamond art light pad you can place under the canvas you are working on. 

Browse Our Diamond Painting Kits to Find the Right One for You

You will also need a spot to store your in-progress paintings. This is especially important if you have pets or kids. Leaving your work sitting out on your desk could lead to a disaster, so you need to make sure you have places to store them. The easiest option is making a DIY portfolio by stapling two pieces of cardboard together. Leave one side open so you can slide your WIP inside. Then, make sure there is a shelf or cubby in your craft area where you can store your creation until you are ready to work on it again. 

Your craft desk should include storage solutions for tools and supplies, too. If your crafting setup features shelves, baskets are ideal for storing diamond placers, extra wax, and other tools. For diamond drills, purchase or make an organizer. Organize and label all of your drills by color, separating round and square drills, and store them away neatly when they are not in use. Several options exist for storing tools, drills, kits, and other supplies. Check out our diamond painting storage tips for inspiration

When searching for storage solutions, don’t overlook discount stores like Dollar Tree! They have bins, baskets, containers, and more — and they’re all super affordable. You can also score some great deals on home decor and storage products at thrift stores.

Make sure your crafting area is comfortable, too! Invest in an ergonomic chair that provides proper support for your body. If you plan on crafting while standing, buy an anti-fatigue mat. Be mindful of how much time you typically spend working on a project, and make sure your craft area is set up in a way that allows you to enjoy your hobby without straining your body. 

Don’t forget to decorate! Once you’ve built your desk and implemented effective storage solutions, it’s time to personalize it even further. You can make your craft area match the rest of your home decor or browse other decor ideas for a unique touch.

Cherry Blossom Tree

Closing Thoughts

Creating the perfect diamond painting workspace does not need to be complicated or cost a lot of money. In fact, it can be an easy DIY project that yields incredible results. With the ideas above, you can put together a comfortable and functional space even if you are a complete DIY novice. When you are finished, you will have an inspiring area to work on diamond paintings (and other craft projects) with ease.

 

Image Credits

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