Free Furniture Plans to Build a Hutch for a Desk

Customize This Hutch for Any Desk!

My son inherited my dad’s old desk but he wanted a way to organize papers, folders, gadgets and especially his studio monitors. He asked me to build a hutch for the desk so that he could neatly store his things (he’s a neat freak!) This plan is also easily customizable and can be changed to fit any desk by altering the length or depth.

 

Materials:

• One sheet of 3/4″ plywood
• Half sheet of 1/4″ plywood, lauan, or hardboard
• Edge banding for the exposed edges of the plywood
• 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws (<– affiliate link!)
• 1-1/4″ brad nails
• Glue
• Sandpaper (80, 120, 220 grits)
• Stain or paint and sealer

Tools:

• Saw – Table, circular or jig
• Kreg jig
• Drill
• Hole saw or paddle bit
• Brad nailer
• Sander
• Household iron

Cut List:

• Two – 3/4″ plywood at 11″ x 23″ – Inner Sides
• One – 3/4″ plywood at 11″ x 31″ – Lower Shelf
• One – 3/4″ plywood at 11″ x 46-1/2″ – Upper Shelf
• Two – 3/4″ plywood at 11″ x 29″ – Outer Sides
• Two – 3/4″ plywood at 11″ x 7″ – Cubby Shelves
• One – 3/4″ plywood at 11″ x 48″ – Top
• One – 1/4″ plywood at 29-3/4″ x 48″ – Back

Notes About the Project:

Edge banding should be applied to all exposed edges of plywood before assembly. The tutorial on applying edge banding will be super helpful!

Step One

Cut the pieces for the lower shelf and the inner sides. Set the Kreg jig for 3/4″ material and drill pocket holes in each end of the shelf as well as one end of each inner side. Attach at the spacing shown in the drawing using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket holes.

 

Step Two

Cut the pieces for the upper shelf. Drill pocket holes in each end. Attach to the inner sides as shown using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws through the pocket holes in the inner sides into the shelf.

 

Step Three

Cut the pieces for the outer sides. Drill pocket holes in one end of each piece. Attach as shown in the drawing using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws through the pocket holes in the upper shelf into the outer sides.

 

Step Four

Cut the pieces for the cubby shelves. Attach to the hutch as shown using glue and 1-1/4″ brad nails through the sides into the cubby shelves.

 

Step Five

Cut the pieces for the top. Attach to the hutch using 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws through the pocket holes in the outer sides into the top.

 

Step Six

Cut the piece as shown for the back. Attach to the hutch using glue and 1-1/4″ brad nails. Bore holes for electronics using a hole saw or  paddle bit, if desired.

 

The back is completely optional. He wanted a back added to the hutch just make things look cleaner. Finish the hutch however desired – we chose to use a stain that closely matched the desk.

Have questions about the plans to build a hutch for a desk? Leave a comment below!

Originally posted 2012-08-23 08:00:37.