I get a ton of questions on our school room, and so I thought I would do an update on our Ikea setup.
So to answer your questions…
- YES, we still love our desks!
- YES, they’re still white! (They clean very easily with some water, Windex, or for certain marker spots I used Clorox Cleaner)
- YES, my kids have survived the swivel chairs!
I also get a LOT of questions on how our desks are set up so I thought I’d show you more detailed pictures of the setup. I moved the drawers out to the ends this year so there was room for the chairs to push all the way in. In order to do that, I had to get a piece of board to help make the desk tops more steady.
I found a piece of 4×8 peg board at my local home depot ($8) and had the nice man there cut it in half for me. (I’ll show you what I did with the rest of it later ;o)
I put the board on top of the drawer units to help stabilize the desk tops. I think it would work better if I’d had one that was 5’x’ 5’ but you work with what you have.
EDITED: To prevent slipping, I have since purchased a set of 4 flat metal brackets. I used them to screw the two desktops together so they don’t move apart. I also added a rubber rug mat (the kind to keep small area rugs from sliding around) in between the peg board and the desktops. Works like a charm!
My school room is about 11′ x 14′, the total size of the desk is about 5′x5′.
What are the specifics?
- 4 – Vika Alex Drawer units
- 2 – Vika Amon Table Tops (I purchased two 2.5′ x 5′ table tops and put them together for a 5×5 table, I’ve updated this link the table tops are now called “Linnmon” but they’re the same as mine.)
- 1 Expedit Wall Shelf (I have a 5×5 Expedit/Kallax shelving unit)
- 4 Jules Jr. Swivel Chairs (Update: Swivel chairs are working well, they’ve gotten over the spinning, so it’s all good now.)
- 5 DRÖNA Storage boxes
Here’s a close-up of the drawers and chairs for you. I turned them all in a pin-wheel pattern so that one set of drawers is facing each student. I’m strongly considering getting a glass top cut for this to protect all my whiteness, but that’ll have to come later as budget allows. I am also thinking of securing the desk tops to the drawer units with screws just to prevent slipping.
EDITED: I also added a rubber rug mat (the kind to keep small area rugs from sliding around) in between the peg board and the desktops. Works like a charm!
Here is the completed unit, the openings are now wide enough for the chair to slide all the way in.
And here it is completely put together:
I am trying to find these exact tables at Ikea but when I click the link it does not give those exact tables. I tried looking it up by measurements but it says they do not exists. Has the name to the table tops changed? If so what is the new name of the table tops?
She answers this above, but the Lennmon table top looks like it would work.
Yes, the renamed it to the Lennmon. They’re basically the same thing 🙂
Is it ok that I copied your desks almost exactly? :). Even down to the chairs. Except now they have limnon table tops with hardware to combine two together that we are going to try & use. And I’m included in the 4 sides (I have 3 kiddos), so my Alex drawer is a drop file one and with a different chair. :). You are an inspiration!
Does the seam in the tabletops bother the kids who are sitting there? Thinking of purchasing this today but not sure how that works
Never mind, just saw above
No, they seam to be fine LOL 😉 Haha! But seriously, it doesn’t seem to matter to them.
I was loting for the visa table tops and all i see is something called Linnmon. Is this the same thing? And just to clarify for the actual desks you just use the storage units and table top with peg board underneath right?
Yes, they just changed the names. And yes, the table tops are put together as indicated in the post, and set on top of peg board just for more stability. The drawer units are holding the entire thing up.
Erica, are your Ikea drawers, shelves and table tops simply white or high gloss white. I do not know if glossy is better, because the price difference is quite high.
No, they’re not the high gloss. I just have the regular white. They are kind of a matte finish.
Thank you so much for posting about the 4 station desk and including pictures. I copied your fantastic idea and it turned out great. I changed a couple of things to make the table a little sturdier. Instead of using the 4 ft. x 4ft. pegboard, I used 4 X 4 birch plywood, which cost about 5 dollars more. Also in between the seams I bought two 4 feet by 1 inch by 3/16 inch thick metal bars. I put them on top of the Alex bookshelves by the edge so the seams would not sag.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/The-Hillman-Group-4-ft-x-1-in-Hot-RolLED-Weldable-Steel-Slotted-Metal-Flat-Bar/3053695
Thank you again for posting about your homeschool room.
Great idea!
This looks great! Where did you find your pencil caddy that’s in the center of the table. I assume it swivels like a lazy susan?
Hi Janie,
I found mine at Michael’s. It’s the Recollection Desktop Carousel. Here’s a similar one on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2f6FoHK
Hi Erica! What ages are your kiddos this year, and do they still use the desk? My sons are ages 10, 9, and 4, and all big for their age (Daddy is 6’4”!). I’m curious as to if three big boys plus me could all fit with this desk. Are the leg holes somewhat roomy? ☺. Thoughts? Thanks!
HI Brooke, they are 8, 11, 13 and 14 and yes, we still use these desks! I did re-arrange them when we moved to the basement but they’re all still the basic set up. The leg area isn’t super large, but it fits my kiddos just fine. I guess it may depend on how big your boys are 😉
I only have one child. Do I need all 4 drawers to make up the table?
No. You can do 2 drawers and 1 table top for a rectangle table instead of the square table.
I love the dea of this workstation/homeschool desk! I am just trying to figure out height wisen would an adult be able to sit comfortably at the table? The height on the Alex drawers are about 17 1/2″. That seems like a low table. For growing kiddos and mom.
Sorry for the typos. I didn’t proof read.
*idea *work station *wise
Nevermind. I was looking at the wrong specs. Thank you for posting this.
Thank you for this. My daughter saw this and strongly advises me that I truly NEED to do this. I will be trying to complete this project.