23 IKEA Standing Desk Hacks With Ergonomic Appeal
Have you ever tried to get things done while standing? In other words, wouldn’t you love to have an IKEA standing desk in your home so you can better concentrate on the task at hand, burn calories and maintain a nice posture at the same time?
We have 23 great designs for you to try and they’re all featuring pieces you can buy from IKEA.
Ingenious IKEA Desk Hacks
IKEA hack standing desk.
Remember to build your desk with the perfect working height. For that you’ll need a sturdy and tall base. This one seems just right. To make a desk like this one you’ll need the following things from IKEA:
- Vika Artur trestle
- Vika Amon (the table top)
- Ekby Alex (wall shelf)
- Lack wall shelf
- Capita bracket
IKEA Utby Underframe.
You can build a personalized desk by maybe a shelf underneath for the printer or one for documents and other supplies. Try this version. You’ll need the following:
- Utby Underframe
- 2 Vika Furuskog solid wood tops
- Capita legs
IKEA Expedit desk Hack
A large standing desk like this one should provide enough storage for all the basic items and should be comfortable enough even for a tall person. Build the desk using
- two 2×2 Expedit shelving units
- two 5×1 Expedit shelving units
- one Lack shelf
Use the two smaller units as the base and lay the third one on top. Attach the shelf with brackets and that’s all.{found on ikeahackers}.
IKEA TV console hack.
If you’re a beginner at DIY desk projects, then star with something simple. For example, a cubby desk like this one. First, get your supplies:
- a Lack TV unit
- Galant A-frame desk legs.
Build the frame and then simply attach the desktop. You’ll need to drill a few holes but this shouldn’t be a deal breaker.{found on spacekat}.
Lagan countertop.
Don’t you just hate it when all the cables and wires and sticking out and looking ugly? They totally ruin the appeal of your desk. Well, not with this one. Just look how simple and straight-forward this standing desk is and how neatly it hides everything. All you’ll need from IKEA is:
- a Lagan countertop
- a simple IKEA board.
Wall-mounted table.
If you want your standing desk to be as small as possible and yet to still be functional and practical, consider mounting the monitor on the wall. You’ll save space on the tabletop. Another great idea is to have a desk that folds down. This way you can use the extra space for other purposes when you’re not working.{found on apartmenttherapy}.
- IKEA Norbo wall-mounted table
Tabletop.
Combine the elements you find at IKEA with pieces of furniture you already own. For example, this standing desk is a combination between a tabletop from IKEA and a mid-century modern credenza the owner already had in the house. The two look great together.{found on flickr}.
$22 IKEA standing desk.
This desk has a visible DIY charm that makes it look extra comfortable and homey. The red shelf also makes it pop a little and it’s a nice way of customizing the design. To build a standing desk like this one you’ll have to get two main items:
- a Lack side table
- a Viktor shelf
Stack them one on top of the other and secure them with brackets. Then add your own spin to the design with a colored accessory.{found on yahoo}.
Lack.
Here’s a somewhat similar design. This one was made using:
- the Lack side table
- the Ekby Viktor shelf
- Ekby Valter brackets.
The desk is all one color but you can feel free to make yours look however you want. Adjust the height until you find the perfect one for you. You can use a book to raise your laptop if needed.{found on thehappinessinhealth}.
Adjustable angle drawing table.
This design is a little more complex. First, the supplies you’ll need:
- a Vika Blecket table top
- two Vika Artur trestles
- four Ekby Stilig brackets.
Build the trestle support, fit the pegs, drill the holes, finish the support and then everything will start to fall into place. You just built yourself ad adjustable angle standing desk.{found on instructables}.
Height-adjustable Alle desk by Staffan Holm
You won’t find the Alle desk at Ikea. It’s designed by Staffan Holm and made of solid wood. It has rounded edges and height-adjustable legs. It also features a hidden compartment for cable management and storage.
Motorized standing desk
Height-adjustable desks offer lots of flexibility and are super versatile. They can however get pretty expensive compared to a regular desk. You might think they’re very complicated and you wouldn’t be able to put one together yourself but that’s actually not true. You can make a basic motorized standing desk using a pre-built frame and adding an Ikea top on it. Check out this video tutorial by Just Vlad to see exactly how it’s done.
Budget standing desk
Some of the furniture pieces you can find at Ikea are super versatile and ideal for a lot of custom home projects. For instance, if you want to build a standing desk the Lack side table is basically perfect for that. This stylish desk featured in the tutorial by Liron Segev makes use of the following pieces:
- 1 x Lack side table
- 2 x Ekby Valter brackets
- 1 x Ekby shelf
Small Ikea standing desk
Here’s another DIY standing desk design which can also be made using pieces from Ikea. It’s small and versatile and it has a simple and beautiful desk which allows it to fit in a variety of different decors and contexts. To make one like it you’ll need the following parts:
- 1 pack of 6’’ Capita legs
- 1 pack of 4’’ Capita legs
- 1 small Lack coffee table
- 1 small Ekby Jarpen shelf
You can find the tutorial for it on instructables if you’re interested in finding out the details.
Large desk with stand
This is a pretty big desk, with plenty of workspaces, lots of room for various devices and accessories and also a raised stand for the monitor. It also has a shelf for the keyboard below the top. You can find out all about this custom desk on instructables. It was made using a combination of items some of which include a few finds from Craiglist like a small bookcase, a hollow wooden door and a piano shelf. Others came from Ikea:
- Capita brackets
- Keyboard drawer
- Cable management accessories
Gersby standing desk
If you don’t need a big desk and you prefer to be standing while using it, you might be able to get away with repurposing a bookcase. Some of the models that you can find at Ikea would be perfect for that.
Check out this standing desk featured on ikeahackers for instance. It has plenty of storage on all the open shelves and it’s pretty good for a laptop which you only use occasionally. To build one just like you’ll need the following materials:
- 1 x Gerbsy bookcase from Ikea
- 1 piece of plywood
- 1 x scrap laminated clipboard
- 8 x corner braces
Lack table standing desk
As mentioned before the Lack tables from Ikea are super versatile and really great for making custom furniture combinations. They’re also very affordable which makes this particular standing desk design from ikeahackers that much more inspiring. It uses the following parts:
- Lack coffee table
- Bergshult shelf
- Granhult brackets
It’s also possible to make a smaller version using the Lack side table instead in case you need to save space.
Standing desk using a TV unit
Another really great piece that you can use if you want to make a standing desk is the Lack TV unit from Ikea. It has just the right shape and size and you can combine it with a few other parts to customize your new standing desk and to make it just right.
If you like the one featured in this tutorial from ikeahackers you’ll be happy to know it’s all made using Ikea parts. It even has some built-in LED lights which add a cool vibe to it. To make one just like it you’re going to need these items:
- 1 x Galant leg system for desks
- 1 x Lack TV unit
- 1 set of Capita shelving legs, Ekby Jarpen wall shelf
- 1 Dioder LED kit
Norbo standing desk
A freestanding desk has its advantages, even if it’s small. There are lots of different ways in which you can make something really practical yourself and to make the whole process easier you can use some of the parts and pieces available at Ikea. They’re basically made for this.
This standing desk from ikeahackers has a really slender metal base and a wooden top and could fit pretty nicely in a variety of different spaces and decors. What also makes it pretty cool is the fact that it’s made using cymbal stands. It’s a pretty short and simple list of materials:
- 2 x cymbal stands
- 1 x Ikea Norbo top
Adjustable craft table
It’s not just desks that can be built using the various parts and pieces that Ikea offers but also various other pieces of furniture like craft tables for example. A simple craft table can be made using the Ikea Trofast system.
The one featured on feelingnifty is nice and slender and really great for small spaces. You can pair it with a simple chair and decorate the space around it and you’ll have yourself a lovely crafting area. Be sure to add some storage as well for all the different tools and supplies you usually keep around. You can make something like this using the following materials:
- Ikea Olov table legs
- Linnmon table top
- vinyl wrap (optional)
- Raskog cart
Wall-mounted standing desk
A wall-mounted desk is super easy to make because it’s basically nothing more than a floating shelf. There is however the issue of potentially having lots of cables dangling down and ruining the entire minimalist look of the desk.
This particular design from ikeahackers solves the issue by adding a simple panel with a cable management system attached to the back. The desk is made using an Ikea Lagan countertop and a separate board attached to the underside to hide all the cables.
It’s a very simple and clean way of maintaining a nice and clean area underneath and around this small standing desk and also something that you might be able to apply to other types of desks as well.
FAQ
Are standing desks good for you?
Standing and moving around has a positive impact on your health and standing desks help you achieve this. Alternate between sitting and standing for best results.
How high should a standing desk be?
Set the height of the desk in such a way so when you type on the keyboard your shoulders hang naturally and the arms rest comfortably. Your hands should be just below your elbows.
How tall is a standing desk?
Standing desks don’t have a fixed height. They’re height-adjustable, usually between 27’’ and 45’’.
How long should I stand at my standing desk?
Spending the entire workday seated is not good but standing all day is bad as well. You should do both. Alternate between sitting and standing every hour or multiple times each day.
Is standing at a desk better than sitting?
Yes, standing is better than sitting. However, you should monitor how much you stand throughout the day. Stand when you’re doing casual activities and sit when you’re typical or concentrating.
Where to buy a standing desk?
You can buy a standing desk from local physical stores or online. It’s best to check the reviews or try the desk out before you buy it to make sure it fits your needs.
Are standing desks worth it?
It depends on the individual and the situation. Standing desks are not suited for all types of jobs. They have lots of benefits but in the end everything is variable.