Handmade Folding Craft Table or Foldable Desk

Materials and the sequence of the job sit together on this page.

Build a folding craft table or foldable desk with storage! Inspired by the IKEA Norden gateleg table, this folding desk is a great option for a small craft space or home office. Better yet, it can be built using only scrap wood!

For more space-saving furniture for small rooms, build a ladder chair folding step stool or corner shelf and cabinet. Also, learn how to install a pocket door or rolling barn door to free up floor space.

folding craft table walkthrough

I have a been working on building a few different things the past few months. One of the projects was this handmade FarmHouse Table with Apron and Corner Brackets, and my today’s post – Folding Craft Table with Storage.

If you don’t follow my blog over at Oh Everything Handmade yet, I encourage you to stop by and look at my Handmade Gallery or my Shop.

Re-using most of the wood I work with is very important to me, and wood is a great material to work with – I always find a way to reuse boards or smaller cuts. But of course, you can buy lumber to build this foldable desk, too.

folding craft table with storage, gateleg desk with shelves

Folding Craft Table with Storage Shelves

Get the printable folding table plans HERE

Inspired by the IKEA Norden gateleg table design, this folding craft table has 2 folding gateleg table sections, with a center fixed section that features 2 straightforward-slide storage shelves. The shelves fit most sewing machines, making this a great sewing room table for those who use a spare room or guest room as an office or craft room!

Dimensions & Features

The gateleg desk overall dimensions are: 66 1/4” W x 26 1/2” D x 29 1/2” H

Folding Craft Table with Storage, Foldable Desk

This folding table with storage features 2 – 26 ½’ gateleg drop-down table sections with a narrow 2-shelf 13 ¼” wide storage area in the center that will fit most sewing machines.

The shelves use a support with the plywood shelf set on top — this method will give you the great “no edge” look – well fitted for sliding things in and out!

straightforward slide shelves for a folding craft table desk with storage

Cost

I made this foldable craft table from scrap wood only, all I spent on this project was $5.00 for the hinges. Everything else I had already, or received for free. See below for tips on using scrap wood to build this desk and save money!

If you were to buy all the needed material and hardware, this folding desk would only cost about $90 in materials — making it a great option for a Handmade desk under $100!

Using scraps and leftover pieces of wood is a great way to reduce the cost of your Handmade folding desk while also reducing the size of your scrap pile.

The 26 1/2″ square gateleg table pieces are a great size to use leftover plywood scraps, and the 1×2 and 2×2 materials for the table frame can be scraps from other projects.

You can also create your own 1×2 and 2×2 boards by ripping down 2x4s and other wider lumber using a table saw.

Read tips for ripping your own 1×2 and 2×2 lumber here.

Skill Level

This project is somewhat advanced, but I am pretty sure that even a first-time will pull this off by using my printable PDF woodworking plans.

Necessary skills to build your own folding gateleg table:

Basic woodworking skills, including how to read a cut list/diagram, how to measure and cut accurately and how to check/adjust for square
How to use a pocket hole jig to attach boards

pocket holes for an straightforward folding gateleg table or foldable desk with storage

This post contains affiliate links. Learn more and read our full disclosure policy here.

Materials Needed

This material list is also included in the printable PDF woodworking plan for your convenience. The 10-page plan also includes a detailed cut list and assembly instructions.

Note: This material list assumes buying all new lumber, but this is a great project to use scraps of plywood and other lumber. Frame boards (2×2, 1×2, and ¾” boards) can be ripped from wider lumber using a table saw. See tips for ripping boards here.

(1) 4×8 sheet ½” plywood (can sub ¾”)
(2) 2x2x8’ pine boards (actual 1 ½” x 1 ½”)
(2) 1x2x8’ pine boards (actual ¾” x 1 ½”)
(2) ¾” x 36” square dowel
(4) 3-4″ door hinges
(4) 1″ door hinges + short screws
(4) 1″ corner or L-shaped brackets or corner braces
(6) furniture feet sliders (optional)
(4) casters (optional)
(2) door stoppers (optional)
(1) box of 1 ½” pocket hole screws
~ 20 ft of ½” edge banding tape (if you can’t find the 1/2″ tape, you can cut the tape to fit your needs)
Paint, stain or sealer (optional)

use hinges to make folding craft table / foldable gateleg desk

Tools Needed

Compound Miter Saw (recommended)
Table Saw or Circular Saw
Drill and Screwdriver
Rafter Square
Tape Measure
Pencil
Kreg Jig pocket hole jig
Household Iron (to apply edging tape)
Sander (and sandpaper)

Building a Folding Desk or Craft Table

The printable woodworking plan contains all the steps needed to build this IKEA inspired gateleg table. Just download and print the plans from the shop, then you’re ready for a trip to the lumber store to get started building!

This table is fairly lightweight and straightforward to move, and you can make the table even more portable by attaching leg casters to the bottom of the table base and to the gateleg support frame(s) left and right. Use these Slipstick floor protectors or Soft Rubber Swivel Plate Caster and these for the side frame > Kick Down Doorstop.

For a nice finishing touch, I used Birch wood edging tape to hide all the ugly edges from the table top (if you can’t find the 1/2″ tape, you can cut the tape to fit your needs).