How To Make A Custom Map Desk

9 Materials
$100
3 Hours
Easy

My kids are all growing up, two are already at University, and the little one will join them in a couple of years. So we decided we didn't need a playroom anymore and would turn that space into a more adult room.


As part of this room, we wanted a custom computer desk to fit into an alcove with shelves above. We made the shelves out of scaffolding boards and decided to do the same with the desk.

I really love old maps and have made a fabulous map table from an IKEA table in the past. ( You can see it here).


This time I decided to make a map desk but I wanted a design were I could easily change the map whenever I wanted.

I used scaffolding boards to for the top. I cut the board lengths to fit exactly in the alcove. The top was 3 boards in width.

I bought some hairpin legs of Amazon for the desk. You can get them in loads of colours. This colour I chose was called living coral.

I used wooden batons to secure the three scaffolding boards together.

I then screwed in the hairpin legs, one in each corner.

The scaffold board top was then sanded and waxed to give it an aged look.

I carefully measured the top of the desk. Using these measurements I printed a world map to the size of the table top. This map is available on my blog and it's size can easily be adjusted to suit your own measurements. You can easily get the map printed online or at your local print shop.

Due to the fact that printing paper only comes in certain sizes. The map was printed with a white border. So using a rotary cutter I simply cut away the white border.


To protect the map, I ordered a sheet of clear Perspex online. I ordered a piece 5mm thick and the exact size of the table top with four screw holes. One in each corner. Just google and you will easily find a company online you can make a made to measure Perspex sheet for you.

I secured the map to the desk top with a glue dot in each corner. I then lay the Perspex sheet on top.

Remove the protective film of the Perspex and then screw it to the desk.

To finish off I put some nice chrome screw caps on top of the screw heads.

You don't have to have a map underneath. You can of course, use any image you want. There is a great site where you can download loads of maps from all over the world and other fantastic vintage images, such as natural history posters, for free. See it here.


What would you have on your desk?

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Claire at Pillarboxblue
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3 of 10 questions
  • Alice Alice on Apr 02, 2019

    This is awesome. How much would it cost?


  • Debi Debi on Apr 02, 2019

    I have an old school map that is not paper but material? it was a rollup map. Trying to find a way to use it. I do have the roller it came with too. Any ideas?


  • Omega Omega on Apr 03, 2019

    Do you think this will work with other than wood desk tops?


Comments
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4 of 155 comments
  • Jo Anne Gobble Jo Anne Gobble on Apr 11, 2019

    I love it!

  • Katen Katen on Jan 18, 2023

    Who knew the number of maps/atlases that were free at any gas station or atlas for a few bucks. Now have a use. When we had them stuffed in glove box to point of explosion now could be interesting decor item. Can’t beat an old folded road map for a site gag in screwball comedy!

    • Claire at Pillarboxblue Claire at Pillarboxblue on Jan 18, 2023

      Yes, I love to use those old maps in crafts; they add genuine interest to the project, especially if you use maps of places unique to you.

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