DIY laptop table 500 photos, master classes

If at work we carefully arrange our workplace, then at home the laptop often travels from room to room, and even ends up on the user’s stomach.
That is why many manufacturers offer functional designs, including those with cooling systems.

What to look for first when buying a laptop table?

Which models are popular and have good functionality?

We compiled the rating based on customer reviews, expert opinions and official information from manufacturers.

How to make a cooling system

For most modern technology, it is necessary to purchase additional equipment. For example, laptops often require an auxiliary cooling system. This is especially true for digital equipment that is used quite often.

To build cooling yourself, you will need an old computer or a couple of coolers from the system unit. Based on old units, you can build an effective cooling system that will run from a USB cable.

The cooler can also be installed in the table itself. Installation is carried out from the reverse side of the tabletop. Air will flow to the bottom of the laptop case through a specially prepared hole of a certain diameter. This design can be used both on the bed and in any other place.

To do this you will need to make markings for the cooler. The hole should be aligned with the laptop's ventilation grille. If you use 2 coolers, you should visually divide the tabletop into 2 sections and cut out one hole in each. The cut areas are carefully sanded and also treated with a protective compound. To install the cooler, you can use small self-tapping screws.

How to choose a table for a laptop?

When choosing a table for working with a laptop, pay attention to the following details:

1. Portability . The folding mechanism and low weight greatly simplifies the storage of the product, and in some cases allows you to take it with you.
2. Cooling . It can be passive, in the form of holes in the tabletop, or active, which uses a system of two coolers. You should not ignore this feature, especially if your laptop is not the latest in terms of release date.
3. Adjustment . We are talking about the height and inclination of the tabletop. Ensures comfortable work, regardless of your position.
4. Material of manufacture . It is better if it is wood or metal, but it is better to avoid plastic, since such tables are of worse quality and heat up the laptop case much more.

Assembly drawings and diagrams

Type on the Internet in any search engine the query “do-it-yourself laptop table, drawings, diagrams, sketches, design” and you will be pleasantly surprised by the abundance of varieties of such tables. And in the vast majority of cases, any of them is not too difficult to make with your own hands.

First you need to print out the “drawings” of the future product and transfer them with a pencil to the wood.

Let's take a closer look at some types of laptop tables and their distinctive features.

Folding model

A distinctive feature of these models are folding legs, which allows for compactness during storage or transportation. As a rule, the tabletop of a folding table is divided into 2 parts: a smaller fixed right part, intended for a mouse, mug, etc., and a left part for a laptop, which can be raised and fixed at the angle of inclination you require.

The thing is multifunctional and portable, can be used as a tray, coffee table or just as a place for drinking tea.

To make a folding version of the table, in addition to the materials indicated above, you will need hinges, hinges or other fasteners that allow you to move and fix individual elements in certain positions.

A folding transforming table for a laptop is a modern approach to organizing work and leisure.

Transformer

Transforming tables differ from folding tables in larger sizes due to their varied functionality. Some models may have folding parts such as armrests and cup holders. Even a tabletop can consist of several parts, which, when unfolded, form one flat surface.

A folding transforming table for a laptop is a convenient device that allows you to work with a portable device in any position and anywhere.

Often the transformer is equipped with its own coolers for additional cooling of the laptop, and USB hubs that allow you to increase the number of peripheral devices connected to the laptop.

Most models are equipped with fans or special openings to remove heat from the device.

Bed

The bed table is a classic monolithic option that has no moving parts except a tabletop with an adjustable angle. This rigid design allows for good stability even on soft and uneven surfaces.

A laptop table for a bed is a very convenient piece of furniture.

Table-chair

A table-chair is a model that combines 2 pieces of furniture at once. As a rule, the chair is equipped with a foot step to provide additional comfort. On the working surface of the small table there are recesses that allow you to fix your laptop.

In addition to the usual models, you can choose a chair-table for a laptop.

The table attached to one of the armrests can be moved to the side and adjusted in angle. This is also a disadvantage of the model, since over time this mechanism becomes loose and is not securely fixed in the working position.

Often similar tables and chairs are equipped in classrooms intended for lectures or seminars.

Side or bedside

The bedside table is not as popular as other models, as it is a rather bulky design. In most cases, they are shaped like the Russian letter “P” lying on its side. At the same time, the upper side is a working surface that serves as a stand for a laptop, and the lower side is a platform that has wheels and ensures the stability of the structure.

A side table for a laptop is an extremely necessary furniture option for people working at home.

This platform and the work surface are connected by a height-adjustable leg. If it is necessary to use such a table, the platform slides partially under the bed, as a result of which the working surface appears above the bed.

The laptop table is a floor-standing model.

In most models, the angle of inclination is adjustable and it is possible to move the working surface in a horizontal plane. The design is short-lived due to the large number of mechanisms that become loose over time and no longer lock in place.

It can be in two modifications: with a fixed support height and adjustable.

Features of bedside rolling tables for laptops

A feature of such models is ergonomics, which will allow you to work with maximum comfort. The product can change the angle of the tabletop to choose the most comfortable position.

Thanks to its stylish and modern design, this bedside laptop table will easily fit into your interior.

Its use will not cause difficulties even for a child.

The product is made from reliable materials, which ensures a long service life.

This piece of furniture is multifunctional. In addition to its direct purpose, it is also used for breakfast or a light snack.

For freedom of movement, you should choose a rolling model that is equipped with casters.

Making a countertop

The tabletop consists of two parts:

• movable, size 490x300 mm;
• fixed, 260x300 mm.

Both parts need to be made from furniture board. Then they should be closed with slats on the end sides. It is recommended to round the edges of the tabletop with an electric jigsaw, then process it around the perimeter with a router. The product can be equipped with a support bar that will prevent the laptop from sliding off the table. Recommended plank size: 260x20x10 mm. Instead of a strip, you can use removable dowels inserted into blind holes.

Assembling the legs

At the next stage, you need to make 4 legs 295 mm long and 4 legs 184 mm long. Each pair of legs is connected by two legs, one of which is installed along the edge of the structure, this increases the stability of the table on soft surfaces.

The legs and legs are connected using dowels or screws. In the second case, to improve the aesthetics of the product, special plugs are used to cover the unsightly screw heads. In the places where the fasteners are installed, blind holes with a diameter of 10 mm and a depth of 5 mm are drilled, screws are inserted into them, and then closed with plugs made from the same wood from which the legs are made. The plugs are attached using glue. If the edges of the plugs protrude above the surface of the legs, they should be carefully cut off with a chisel.

The holes for connecting the legs to the frame are drilled at a distance of 14 mm from the edges of the legs, and the edges themselves are rounded. Thanks to this, the legs can be easily folded and unfolded. In the frame for attaching the legs, holes with a diameter of 6 mm are drilled at a distance of 20 mm from the inner edges. The outer edges of the legs are cut at an angle of 65 degrees, which ensures the stability of the table on a flat surface.

Installation of the structure

When all structural elements are ready, you can begin installation of the product. The legs are movably connected to the frame using bolts and washers. If the skill level of the furniture maker allows, then submerged holes can be drilled for the bolt heads and the bolts can be hidden in the wood of the frame.

Then the tabletop adjustment and fixation unit (window clamp) is attached to the supporting structure; it is attached to the central crossbar of the frame and fixed at a distance of 300 mm from its inner edge. The finished product is processed with a grinding machine or sandpaper, and then coated with a primer and acrylic varnish for wood. The dimensions of the table when unfolded are 760x300x280 mm.

Frame - types

Non-separable models are made from one type of material: wood, chipboard, MDF, plastic. Their appearance makes them easy to combine with other furnishings.

Transforming structures are more functional. In their production, aluminum profiles are mainly used for the frame, which ensures lightness, compactness and reliability. It is easier to equip products with a metal frame with adjustment mechanisms.

There are several types of supporting elements.

• A central post ending in three beams, a round or rectangular plate, a platform with wheels, and a wide bar with side crossbars. Height adjustment occurs using a gas lift.
• Telescopic legs have holes that allow stepwise changes in the position of the working surface relative to the floor.
• Curved "L" shaped design.
• X-shaped supports are mainly installed on folding models.

Loft

This year the style remains in demand. It is often used to equip kitchens combined with a living room. This combination gives more free space, which will only emphasize all the details of the loft.

For example, stylists play with brickwork, wires or concrete walls. The photographs clearly show how successful it can look like a living room that is combined with a kitchen. For loft, rough and heterogeneous surfaces and rough materials are selected. In apartments decorated in this style, wall lamps are installed. In this case, the light is directed along the walls. Due to this, shadows fall so that uneven surfaces look three-dimensional. At first, loft was viewed with caution, but it quickly became popular. Designers do not hide finishing materials and even fake them. To imitate a concrete surface and smudges, decorative plaster is used.

Photos of laptop tables

Recommendations for the design of ready-made tables

To ensure that your creation is not only functional and reliable, but also attractive, you can follow some tips. They will help to put a stamp of individuality and style on your table:

After cutting the tabletop, it is recommended to process it on all sides. If you lose sight of this detail, the edges may lose their original appearance after some time.

If you adhere to minimalism in design decisions, then simply coat the table with varnish to ensure the shine and smoothness of the tabletop. At the same time, you will protect the product from negative external influences.

Combine models, bring in your ideas, add details - your imagination will allow you to create the perfect table! Your hands are capable of creating masterpieces!

DIY sewing machine table

Many people have trouble finding the right table for their sewing machine: dining tables are too high and coffee tables are too low. Here is one way to solve this problem. Making a table for a sewing machine is not that difficult. Buy a cheap folding table at the market, where they sell old things. It is necessary that the legs are installed at angles to the tabletop, which gives the entire table the stability of a triangular base. Now the main task is to make a recessed shelf for installing the machine and at the same time be able to fold the resulting structure. To solve this problem, the author of the project made hinged side parts to fold with a shelf that slides down and hooks the side parts with brackets.

Full instructions, including a list of materials and tools, can be read on the website, everything is described there in great detail. But as for the materials, in addition to plywood, metal strips and hinges, you will need a special bracket, the so-called French tenon. This bracket is a two-piece mounting system used for hanging pictures. Each piece is a z-shaped piece of aluminum with screw holes along one side. One clamp attaches to the wall and the other to the item you want to install. Two clamps connect for a very secure fastening system.

The shelf on which the sewing machine is installed is just a cut piece from the table top. Since the tenons are over two centimeters wide, there is really no room to install a tenon on the edge of a shelf without the tenon interfering with the folding of the table. Instead of using tenons on the side of the shelf, I installed a piece of 3mm by 12mm aluminum rod at the ends of the shelf and cut material behind those rods to allow the tenons to hook under the aluminum bars that would hold the shelf. The first step, assuming you already have a folding table that suits your project, is to create a template.

The goal is to create a very small gap between the sewing machine and the tabletop. The author did this by simply setting the sewing machine on the cardboard and tracing the outline. Cut out the template and check the fit. Make notes on the template to indicate how much you need to cut in the next version of the template. It takes a few tries to get the shape right. Also, be sure to make room for the power cord and access to the switch. Once the template fits on the top surface of the sewing machine, trace the outline onto the table top. Cut out part of the shelf, trying to stay as close to the line as possible. Ideally, you should have a shelf wide enough so that you can use a wide piece with tenons for better stability. Read further on the website, because the instructions are really very long.

Photo source: www.instructables.com/id/Folding-Sewing-Machine-Table/

Simple sewing table

Whether you need a very large sewing table or a very small one, making one is quite simple. Following these recommendations, a simple sewing table can be assembled in any size. It all depends on whether you are sewing curtains or soft toys. Decide in advance on the size of the future table, this will greatly facilitate further work. The materials needed are all very simple, cheap and accessible. The main material is plywood, you will need a standard sheet. Having determined in advance what size your sewing table will be, it is better to cut the plywood in the store and deal with ready-made pieces of the desired size at home. You can also buy the legs ready-made, it’s not expensive, stock up on tape, glue, wood trim and decorative nails. However, the step-by-step photographs below will better tell you about the process.

Photo source: theborrowedabode.com/2012/12/how-to-build-a-sewing-or-crafting-table-with-trim

Multi-level floor

To zone the space, craftsmen install floors at different levels. They advise installing a podium to separate the kitchen and dining room. This option is considered one of the most practical because, among other things, the owners have additional free space where they can hide something. It is convenient to use boxes or drawers for this. Wicker baskets will look good. But such space can remain free.

However, such a design should not be made if there are small children in the family, since the podium can become an obstacle for him. In addition, various floor coverings can be used. They will zone the space between the living room and the kitchen and protect the podium from damage. For example, tiles are laid in the kitchen area, and laminate flooring in the dining room. The main thing is to choose colors and textures and combine the finishes correctly.

Benefits of DIY

Ready-made designs of tables for laptops are durable and reliable. The devices are easy to use and have a long service life. However, there is one drawback - the high price. Quality products are too expensive.

A rational solution would be to make your own laptop table using a ready-made diagram. Several advantages of this approach should be highlighted:

1. Budget savings. Thanks to the competent selection of inexpensive materials, you can significantly save on the design and assembly of the table.
2. Exclusivity of design. Each laptop owner can choose the type and design of the product.
3. Ideal size ratio. Having the drawings, you can choose the optimal size of the structure, which will be convenient to use in any conditions.
4. Ease of execution. Despite the presence of elementary mechanisms and specific structure, any type of laptop table can be built in a short period of time. Even an unprepared person can handle the installation.

The only condition is attention to detail. You should correctly calculate the dimensions of the product and adhere to the exact dimensions.

Ease of execution

Budget savings

Exclusivity of design

Rating of the TOP 10 best tables for a laptop in 2022

Popular table models

Laptop desks are similar to each other, but still have some differences. All models can be divided into several groups:

1. Classic monolithic table. To make it, you need to use a board made of beech or other material, the main thing is that the thickness of the tabletop must be at least 20 mm. This table is attached to 4 legs, which are fixed on the underside of the tabletop using self-tapping screws and corners. This model is the easiest to make and is suitable for beginners. The finished table can be used both for working on a laptop and for reading books, eating, and other activities.
2. Table with folding legs. This model is similar to the first one, but it is more convenient. A folding table is suitable for those who like to use a laptop in bed or sitting cross-legged. To make it, you will need a tabletop and 4 standard legs or 2 wide supports, which are attached to the table using screws and nuts (or piano hinges). A variant of this model is a table with a cutout for a mug. This product allows you not only to work comfortably on your laptop, but also to drink your favorite drink.
3. Table with armrests. In the manufacture of this model, an oversized shield is used. Special boomerang-shaped recesses are cut into the tabletop to accommodate hands. This model provides maximum comfort for the user.

Construction and equipment of bedside computer desks

The bedside table for a laptop is a special stand. There is a wide selection of models in construction, design, and material. This makes it possible to choose a product taking into account the overall design style and personal preferences of the user.

The design includes a tabletop and supporting elements. The product can have several types of adjustments to the working surface:

• by height;
• tilt angle;
• degree of rotation around the central axis.

Table equipment includes:

• a limiter that prevents the laptop from falling covers the entire perimeter of the tabletop;
• the cooling system facilitates the removal of hot air, which significantly extends the service life of the device;
• individual light source;
• recess for handle;
• cup holder type device;
• drawer or shelf.

Drawing

Before making a piece of furniture, it is necessary to make a preliminary drawing. It indicates the exact dimensions of the table and the materials used to make it.

If you can’t make a drawing yourself, you can find a ready-made sketch on the Internet, you can contact specialists in this field, or simply use a special program for furniture makers. The last option is the simplest. After you draw or print a finished sketch of the future table, you will need to transfer it to the wooden surface of the prepared materials.

Attention: before making the table, you should once again carefully calculate the dimensions and place control points on the material.

When placing your laptop on a trip, follow these 4 rules:

• The top of the laptop is at eye level (if that doesn’t work, place something under the laptop);
• Feet completely on the floor;
• The arms do not hang down;
• There is support (for example, a pad) under the lower back.

Choosing the color of the laptop table

What color should the laptop stand be? The following colors help you concentrate: light blue and its shades, yellow (on one project, and also helps to do monotonous work), green (gives a sense of harmony and balance, helps when opening a new business). Red will help increase productivity. Orange gives a boost of energy, helps not to be distracted from work, and successfully negotiate.

Will help your eyes not get tired: white, greenish, yellowish colors.

All colors should be pastel so as not to tire.

Soft brown (gives rest to the eyes, relaxes), light gray (in an urban environment it is not recommended to use gray in the interior, it makes you bored and depressed) will help you relax. Light blue and blue-gray reduce noise perception.

The choice of table color depends on your goals:

If you want to increase sales or productivity, choose red and its shades;

Do only work and not be distracted by personal matters – orange;

Your goal is to be inspired by one idea and focus on its formulation or to perform monotonous boring work - the best choice is a yellow desk.

You need to introduce something new, you are opening your own business, you need an incentive to work - prefer green.

If you feel unconfident, want to calm down and always be attentive and focused when you sit down at the table, feel free to buy a blue table.

If you are about to plunge headlong into an idea and feel the need to mentally separate yourself from those around you, a purple table will come in handy.

If you want to nullify any emotions, highlight yourself, be visible and emphasize your honesty and fairness - choose white.

Types of laptop tables

Corner laptop tables are convenient when there is little space, but you want a larger table. Tables also come in glass, plastic, MDF, wood and chipboard.

You won’t find any kind of laptop tables in furniture stores in Moscow. Transformable tables for a laptop, tables that can be placed on other tables, for example, a coffee table. Laptop tables on brackets with variable height and angle of inclination, folding and portable, with or without wheels, on one leg or several. The latter is very important: models with one stand or one leg are not so stable, so if you have to get up often, choose laptop tables with several supports.