Free DIY Furniture Plans // How to Build a Dawson Large Desk (The Design Confidential)

Showcase: Built From These PlansI am so honored each and every time one of you fine friends builds from these very plans! If you have built this piece, please take a moment and showcase your build! We are dying to see your fabulous hard work!

By special reader request, these fabulous Free DIY Furniture Plans to Build a Dawson Large Desk and perfect for those of you who need a wide solid work surface! I can see this in so many different and gorgeous finishes and with the flip of a drawer pull, this beauty will transform from rustic to vintage and even to modern! Can't wait to see what you do! Xx... Rayan

1 – 1x2 at 4’
4 – 1x3 at 8’
1 – 1x4 at 6’
3 – 2x4 at 8’
2 – 4x4 posts at 6’
3 sheets of ¾” plywood

Edge banding will be applied to the exposed edges of the plywood prior to assembly.

Cut the pieces for the legs, the side frames, and the side panels. Set the Kreg jig for 1-1/2” material and drill pocket holes in each end of the frame pieces. Attach to the legs using glue and 2-1/2” pocket hole screws. Orient the pocket holes on the top frame piece so they face up, and the pocket holes on the lower frame piece will face down. This way, they will be hidden and won’t have to be filled.

Set the Kreg jig for ¾” material and drill pocket holes in all four edges of the panels. Secure the panels to the legs and the side frames using glue and 1-1/4” pocket hole screws. The front face of the panels will be located 1” back from the outside face of the legs.

Cut the pieces for the upper and lower drawer spacers, and drill pocket holes in each end. Secure to the legs as shown using glue and 1-1/4” pocket hole screws. The back face of the spacers (the side with the pocket holes) will be flush with the inside of the legs.

4 – 4x4 posts at 30-3/4” – Legs
2 – 2x4 at 19-1/2” – Side Frames
2 – ¾” plywood at 17-3/4” x 19-1/2” – Side Panels
2 – 1x2 at 19-1/2” –Upper Side Drawer Spacers
2 – 1x3 at 19-1/2” – Lower Side Drawer Spacers
1 – ¾” plywood at 20-3/4” x 61” – Back
1 – 2x4 at 61” – Lower Stretcher
2 – 2x4 at 15” – Lower Drawer Frame Side
2 – 2x4 at 17” – Lower Drawer Frame Bottom
2 – 2x4 at 3-1/2” – Upper Drawer Dividers
1 – 1x4 at 61” – Upper Stretcher
2 – 1x3 at 22-1/4” – Inner Drawer Spacers
2 – 2x2 at 22-1/4” – Inner Panel Frame
2 – ¾” plywood at 16-1/2” x 22-1/4” – Inner Panels
1 – ¾” plywood at 26-1/2” x 68” – Top
2 – ¾” plywood at 14-1/2” x 22-1/2” – Large Drawer Box Bottoms
4 – ¾” plywood at 11-1/2” x 22-1/2” – Large Drawer Box Sides
4 – ¾” plywood at 11-1/2” x 16” – Large Drawer Front & Back
2 – ¾” plywood at 14-1/2” x 22-1/2” – Smaller Drawer Box Bottoms
4 – 1x3 at 22-1/2” – Smaller Drawer Box Sides
4 – 1x3 at 16” – Smaller Drawer Box Front & Back
1 – ¾” plywood at 21-1/2” x 22-1/2” – Center Drawer Box Bottom
2 – 1x3 at 22-1/2” – Center Drawer Box Sides
2 – 1x3 at 23” – Center Drawer Box Front & Back
2 – ¾” plywood at 13-1/4” x 16-3/4” – Large Drawer Fronts
2 – ¾” plywood at 3-1/4” x 16-3/4” – Smaller Drawer Fronts
1 – ¾” plywood at 3-1/4” x 23-3/4” – Center Drawer Front

Cut the piece for the back and drill pocket holes in each shorter edge. Secure to the legs using glue and 1-1/4” pocket hole screws. The outside face will be flush with the back face of the legs.

Before beginning to build, always check in on my site to make sure you have the most up to date set of plans, I occasionally update and change the plans to make the building process easier or to allow for less expensive purchasing of materials! Read through the entire set of instructions and all comments before beginning this project. If you print out or save plans, be sure to check in on my site to be sure you have the most up to date set of plans, as I occasionally update things for ease of building or buying. If you are new to building, read through the GETTING STARTED section and other articles found under the BUILD tab in the menu on my site, it has valuable information about how to get started, tools and techniques. If you are unfamiliar with the finishing process, visit my Finishing school for some tips and tricks for painting like a pro and for special finishing practices. Use glue to secure your joints and Consider Painting or Staining individual sections prior to assembling. This makes the paint application virtually flawless. Coat with a spray on Poly or Wipe on Poly to protect your finish and your piece and it will last for ages. Adhere to all safety standards and guidelines, and be sure you follow safety protocol throughout your build. If you are unsure about whether you are building safely, run a quick online search for the tool or technique you are using, or contact me via email or post to the forum before you move ahead. My contact info can be found in the menu of my site.

Cut the 2x4 piece for the lower stretcher. Set the Kreg jig for 1-1/2” material and drill pocket holes in each end. Secure to the legs as shown using glue and 2-1/2” pocket hole screws.

Cut the pieces for the lower drawer frames. Drill pocket holes in the upper end only of the 15” pieces, and both ends of the 17” pieces. Assemble the pieces in an “L” shape (as shown) using glue and 2-1/2” pocket hole screws. Secure the assemblies to the legs and the lower stretcher using glue and 2-1/2” pocket hole screws.

Cut the 1x4 pieces for the inner drawer spacers and drill pocket holes at each end. Secure to the vertical lower frame pieces and back as shown using glue and 1-1/4” pocket hole screws. The spacer pieces should be flush with the inside face of the vertical pieces to allow for the inner sides to be positioned.

Cut the pieces for the inner panels and 2x2 frame piece. Drill pocket holes in the top and side edges of the panel. Set the Kreg jig for 1-1/2” material and drill pocket holes in one end only of the 2x2 inner frame piece.

Secure the panel to the frame piece using glue and 1-1/4” pocket hole screws. The outside face of the panel (without pocket holes) will be flush with the outside face of the 2x2. There will be a left and a right – the pocket holes in the 2x2 pieces will face opposite directions to secure to the vertical lower drawer frame piece.

Secure the inner panel assembly to the back and the vertical lower drawer frame piece. Use glue and 1-1/4” pocket hole screws through the inner panel, and 2-1/2” pocket hole screws through the 2x2 frame piece. Use a few 1-1/4” brad nails through the back into the back end of the 2x2 frame piece.

Cut the pieces for the drawer dividers and drill pocket holes in one end only. Secure to the top of the lower stretcher using glue and 2-1/2” pocket hole screws.

Cut the 1x4 piece for the upper stretcher. Set the Kreg jig for ¾” material and drill pocket holes in each end. Secure to the legs using glue and 1-1/4” pocket hole screws. Use a few 1-1/4” brad nails through the upper stretcher into the top of the drawer dividers to further secure them in place.

Cut the piece for the top. Secure the top to the desk frame using glue and 1-1/4” brad nails through the top.

Cut the pieces for the drawer boxes. Drill pocket holes in all four edges of the bottom as well as each end of the sides. Assemble the drawer boxes as shown using glue and 1-1/4” pocket hole screws. Install the drawer slides according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions, locating them ¾” back from the front edge of the sides.

Cut the pieces for the drawer fronts. Mark the position for the drawer pulls and drill the holes. Shim the drawer front in the opening – there will be a 1/8” gap around all sides – then drive screws through the holes for the drawer pulls into the drawer box. Open the drawer, and secure the drawer front using countersunk 1-1/4” screws from the inside. Remove the screws from the holes for the drawer pull then finish drilling the holes. Install the drawer pull.

Fill any Screw, Nail or Pocket Holes, Sand and Finish as Desired. For Finishing Tips and Tricks visit my Finishing School

Cher-Ann Texter

// Disclaimer: Some rights reserved. Private use only. Feel Free to link to any of my plans so long as you ONLY use 1 image and provide an ADEQUATE link back to the original source and appropriate plan! Plans from this page are not to be used for commercial purposes or republished without the express written consent of Rayan Turner, The Design Confidential I hope to provide accurate plans, however, I cannot guarantee each plan for accuracy. Not every plan that I post has been built and tested, so you are building at your own risk. It is recommended that you have a clear understanding of how the project works before beginning any project. Please contact me if you find an error or inaccuracy so that I might fix it. // Post May Contain Affiliate Links

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Build Plans Retailer PotteryBarn Type Desks Storage Skill Level Intermediate Collections Dawson Collection Cost $150-$200 $200-$250 Room Family Office Craft Space Entryway Style Vintage Traditional Coastal Industrial Farmhouse Global Modern Tools Circular Saw Drill Nail Gun Table Saw Kreg Jig