The second plan in the Madison Avenue Collection is for this small desk cabinet – perfect for an office or craft room desk.  The configuration below includes one large desk cabinet and one of these small cabinets.   You can configure your perfect work space by combining cabinet plans to create optimal storage that will suit your specific needs.

Small Desk Cabinet- 17 1/2″ wide

Materials:

• 1×2 poplar (for painted cabinet) other hardwood (for stained cabinet)
• 3/4″ plywood (cabinet case and top)
• 1/2″ plywood (back panel)
• 1 1/4″ pocket screws (for 3/4″ plywood)
• 1″ pocket screws (for 1/2″ plywood)
• pocket hole jig

Step 1: Build Carcass

• Use 3/4″ plywood for the cabinet case.
• Use 1 1/4″ pocket screws with all screws on the inside of the case.
• Refer to how to build a cabinet using pocket hole screws for more details and help with this method if you are new to it.

Step 2: Secure Cabinet Back

• 1/2″ plywood back panel added INSIDE the cabinet box
• Secure with 1″ pocket screws — holes can be on back or front (if you plan on the back of the cabinet being visible while in use)

Step 3:  Build and Attach Faceframe

• Use 1×2 hardwood for the faceframe
• Poplar (not truly a hardwood but good choice for painted furniture)
• Hardwood that matches your plywood for stained furniture
• Use 1 1/4″ pocket screws to build and attach.
• Refer to How to Build and attach a Faceframe tutorial for more details and help with this step if you need it.

Step 4:  Build Door

• Build a door using my How to Build a Cabinet Door tutorial for help
• For help choosing which kind of hinge to use, refer to my post on Choosing Hinges

Step 5:  Add trim

• Use trim to cover raw plywood edges on top
• Add basic 3 1/4″ baseboard
• Miter corners of both top and base trim
• Trim does not need to cover back unless you plan on having the back visible while in use.

Paint or stain and configure your optimal office or craft room with this and other plans from the Madison Avenue Collection like the bookshelf.