Whiteboard desk

59 Replies

As I’m an avid fan of “post your desk topics \ workspace ” forum threads, I thought it might be nice to publish a blog article about my own workspace. I always love to see how other people design their work environment and how they customize furniture to suit their needs. Hopefully you can find some inspiration in mine.

Last year I decided to refurbish my home office, to create a space that enables me to do my work in the most optimum way and of course that is pleasing to the eye. The first thing that came to mind was a whiteboard and a really big one. So I needed to build a wall to hang the whiteboard, as the room didn’t have any wall that could hold a whiteboard big enough. After completion of the wall, a 6 x 3 feet wide whiteboard found its way to my office.

Although its 5 to 6 feet away from my desk I realized I didn’t use it enough due to “distance”. Sitting behind the desk while on the phone or just using my computer I found myself scribbling on pieces of paper instead of getting out of my chair and walk over to the whiteboard. So I needed a small whiteboard I could grab and use at my desk, sounds like a plan however I like minimalistic designs where as much “clutter” is removed as possible. I needed to come up with something different, enter the whiteboard desk!

Whiteboard desk
Instead of buying a mini whiteboard that needs to be stored when not using it I decided to visit my local IKEA shop and see what’s available. Besides “show your desk” threads I hit ikeahackers.net on a daily basis. While looking at tables, I noticed that the IKEA kitchen department sells customized tabletops. Each dimension is possible in almost every shape. I decided to order a 7 feet by 3 feet high-gloss white tabletop with a stainless steel edge. The Ikea employee asked where to put the sink, she was surprised when I told her that the tabletop was going to function as a desk.

I chose to order the 2 inch thick tabletop as I need to have a desktop that is sturdy enough to hold the weight of a 27” I-mac and a 30” TFT screen. The stainless steel edge fits snug around the desk and covers each side; it doesn’t stick out and is not noticeable when typing. It looks fantastic however the downside is the price, it was more expensive than the table top itself. The alternative is a laminate cover that looks like it will be worn out easily, while spending most of my time behind my desk I thought it was worth the investment of buying the real thing.

The high-gloss finish acts as the whiteboard surface and works like a charm with any whiteboard markers. I left notes on my desk for multiple days and could be removed without leaving a trace.

The tabletop rest on two IKEA Vika Moliden stands, due to the cast of the shadow its very difficult to notice that the color of the stands do not exactly match the color as the stainless steel edge.

The whiteboard desk is just an awesome piece of furniture, when on the phone I can take notes on my desk while immediately drawing diagrams next to it. It saves a lot of trees, saves a lot of time scrambling for a piece of paper and a pen and decreases clutter on the desk. The only thing you need to do when building a whiteboard desk is to banish all permanent markers in your office. :)

It would be awesome to see what your workspace looks like, what you love about your workspace and maybe show your own customizations. I would love to see blogs articles pop up describing the workspace of bloggers. Please post a link to your blog article in the comment section.

59 thoughts on “Whiteboard desk”

  1. Rick Vanover

    NICE! I enjoy the brightness of the room, I remember the pictures- you remolded the entire room yourself, right? How great that must be to know you did it all.

  2. Frank Denneman Post author

    Thanks. I love the brightness, it gives me energy and clarity. Still not finished though, but it’s getting completed at a steady rate.

  5. Jake

    I’ve heard of people using crayons on whiteboard surfaces too. Doesn’t get accidentally wiped off as easily, but the downside is of course…it doesn’t wipe off as easily. :D

  7. Scott Lowe

    Very nice, Frank! I love the idea of combining your whiteboard and desk. I personally find it helpful (usually) to get up and go to the whiteboard; somehow, the act of getting up and moving to the whiteboard helps me clear my thoughts. Still, the most important thing is finding the right solution for your own workflow, which is exactly what you’ve done. Keep posting this sort of stuff!

  11. Jason Boche

    Great looking desk Frank. I think I’d like a whiteboard desk (if for no other reason to get rid of the paper), but like Scott, I also like getting up.

  12. Simon Long

    Frankster, I LOVE this!! I am just about to start working more from home and I will be looking to build myself a home office. I think the whiteboard desk is an awesome idea!! I also find that once I’m at a desk, I very rarely move even if it is only 6 feet to the whiteboard.

    Thanks fro sharing mate.

  14. Frank Denneman Post author

    Hi Dan,

    I have this chair 7 years now and it still rocks! The chair adapts to your body due to body heat, you do not feel the chair anymore after 5 minutes. Its really perfect. Buy it if you can.

  15. Dan

    Thanks for the info!
    I’m thinking about the model that you have or the Embody. Have you sat on both?

  16. Simon Gallagher

    +1 for the Aeron chair – I’ve had mine for 6 years. and it was 2nd hand when I got it.

    Excellent chair – check eBay and you can often find a reasonably priced one if you can collect.

  19. Frank Denneman Post author

    Steve I don’t know if this wallpaper is publicly available. Gabe mentioned he also got the wallpaper so I assume its available when you sign up for the octopus beta.

    Update, Duncan shared it on Yellow-Bricks.

  22. Pingback: My office « vKnowledge.net

  27. Frank Denneman Post author

    Yeah, all of them. I am collecting the AJs I played on myself. Binned all OGs as they were destroyed by playing on them. Oldest Retro’s I have are the 2000 AJ V’s and VI’s.

  28. Michael

    Great looking desk! What counter top did you go with? I don’t see many options online at Ikea.

    Thanks!

  29. Chris

    Hi Frank, I was just googling for “whiteboard desk” and wow, that’s an awesome desk you have there! Can you give some more information about the exact model of table top you have? Thanks.

  32. Pat

    Hi Frank

    Great post, what was the cost of the desk at the end? roughly…

    Also, what is on the wall where there is your whiteboard? gray wallpaper? or paint?

    thanks

  34. Pingback: This Whiteboard Desk Makes for Quick Notes and Brainstorming | Tips for the Unready

  35. Gustav

    Hi Frank, does the magic mouse work directly on the surface of your table? Glassy surfaces tend to screw with it… Thanks

  36. Frank Denneman Post author

    It works perfect, today the dpi of optical mice are so high, they can detect that they move. I use a magic mouse for the mac and a logitech for the windows machine. Both work great.

  38. Wouter

    Hi Frank!

    Nice desk. I was wondering if your mouse scratches the surface? I only like glossy finishing if it stays scratchfree and well … glossy.

  40. atiba

    echo all the comments about the desk. I also want to add one about your solid collection and display of Jordans (especially the Toro Bravo pack).

  42. Pingback: This Whiteboard Desk Makes For Quick Notes And Brainstorming | Lifehacker Australia

  43. Mike

    Hi Frank. Love this! Wondering how you went about the custom order process of the top. Who did you speak to / what did you ask for (is it counter top)? Thanks!

  44. Nige

    Nice desk! Would never have thought to use a kitchen worktop as a whiteboard :) Just one question, what’s the box under your iMac with the red light on it?

  45. Frank Denneman Post author

    It’s the Magic Mouse charger from Mobee. It’s fantastic, charges the mouse pretty quick and it serves as a great home for the mouse when I’m not using it.

  46. Frank Denneman Post author

    In the Netherlands the kitchen department of the IKEA store have personel helping you design your kitchen, I assume that same concept applies to other IKEA stores in the rest of the world. I sat down with the person and I ordered the tabletop, they have a special program for the personlig kitchen table top. You can provide almost any dimension you want. During the order process she asked where the kitchen sink was placed in this top, when I told her it wasn’t for a kitchen but it served at a desk she kinda looked at me funny ;) .

  49. Clay

    Can you pick where the braces go for the legs?

    I’m currently using a standing desk from IKEA. I used one of the table tops (around 6 feet by 3 feet) with the Vika Byske Legs, so it’s around 41″ high (adjusts by turning the legs). It does wobble a little bit, and after seeing this, I’d like to get a whiteboard.

    So, I’m thinking I could do a similar setup to yours, but add a third leg in the middle back part of the table to make it more stable.

    Thank you in advance! Great setup.

  50. Brad

    Hi Frank,

    Nice desk!
    Did you apply something on your tabletop, so you can write over? Or you just bought it like that?

    Thank you for sharing this project.
    Ps : I don’t speak English very well, so excuse me for my question, if you explained it in the article.

  51. Frank Denneman Post author

    Don’t worry about your english Brad, I’m not a native english speaker and I understand your question very well. So mission accomplished! :)
    The high gloss finish of ikea is so smooth, that you can use any whiteboard marker on it. You do not have to apply anything to the tabletop, its a natural whiteboard cover.

  52. Pingback: Wish I had a whiteboard desk : Virtual-Blog.com test site

  53. Pingback: Wish I had a whiteboard desk - VIRTUAL-BLOG.COM

  54. Ryan

    Hi Frank,

    That is an amazing idea for a desk. I had one question on the price though. You mentioned the stainless steel edge was a majority of the price of the desk, how much was the stainless compared to the desk?

    Thanks!
    Ryan

  57. Frank Denneman Post author

    Hi Brian,

    That surface is not the surface you want. As far as I know, IKEA only sells the smooth high gloss service in the kitchen department itself. As the tabletop is part of their “custom” line.

  58. Tom Wright

    Hi Frank,
    1. I love the whiteboard tabletop idea, and i think your office setup looks pretty ideal.
    2. I am actually looking for a whiteboard like the one on your wall. Who makes it / where did you get it?
    Cheers, Tom

  59. Troy

    Building a sound design/administration work station and this…this is something…a game chan…ITS FREAKING BRILLIANT!!!

    Pricing everything out today and am adding some ikea hacks of my own.

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