Nurse Practitioner of Ergonomics

Right now I am in school full time at DeSales University; I have been spending many hours sitting at my desk in front of a computer. After some research into standing desks, it didn’t take too long on Google to find the obvious benefits of standing over sitting all day. 

So, I decided that I wanted one for myself. I like a big desk, room for all my books and room for painting (see my current, messy, garage-sale-purchased, 5-year-old, Ikea desk below left). I set out searching the internet for a Nurse Practitioner-Artist standing desk. Turns out, they aren’t cost friendly at all! I looked at UpDesk ($1050), Geek Desk ($1160), and my favorite NextDesk ($3350). Unfortunately, $1000+ was a little out of my budget for a desk. 

Through my Google searching, I found this AWESOME website called IkeaHackers. The “hackers” use various items purchased at Ikea to make unique pieces of furniture. Turns out, there are many Ikea hacks for cheap standing desks: one for only $22!  So I perused the IkeaHackers website and then spent too much time on the Ikea store website. I doodled out a design (shown below right). After I finished, I realized that my design is nearly identical to Sharon’s on IkeaHackers. So she gets the credit for the amazing standing desk (below right). 

The height of a standing desk should be the distance from your elbows to the ground (see ergonomics above). I am 5’4″ with 37″ from my elbows to the ground, so I build this desk to fit me perfectly. This desk can be made 35″-39″ in height. The height of this desk without legs is 30.375 inches. I used the Ikea Capita 6″ legs to make this desk fit my height. These legs also come in 4 and 8 inches if you are a little shorter or taller than me.  This desk can be built for $143. I spent $169 because I bought the drawer and turquoise insert. It can also be made in black instead of white. You’ll need a phillips and flat head screw driver, drill, pencil, and possibly a friend to carry the heavy Ikea parts up to your 6th floor apartment.

Parts From Ikea 

1. Linnmon 78″ Table Top (802.511.41) $45
2. Kallax Shelving Unit (602.758.12) x2 at $35 = $70
3. Capita (4, 6 or 8″) Legs (000.545.64) x2 at $14 = $28
4. Kallax Drawer Insert (702.866.45) $20
5. Drona Turquoise Storage Box (102.448.99) $6

After trekking outside of the city and once again being amazed with the monstrosity that is Ikea, I made it home, had lunch, and started constructing. The process of putting the entire desk together took about 3 hours, and it can be done independently (with the help of a drill). If you haven’t put together Ikea furniture before, they give you great instructions with all the screws and such that you need. 

First, I constructed both Kallax shelving units.   Then I put together the Kallax drawer insert. Next, I flipped the Kallax shelving units over and added the Capita legs using a drill. Finally, I deconstructed my current desk. I scooted all the new Ikea parts into my office and spent a some time aligning the two Kallax book shelves. I have 19.5″ in between them in case I want to use a stool and have my feet hang down. Next, I set the Linnmon table on top of the two shelves. There is a a 2″ overhang in the front, 1″ overhang on each side, and about 7″ overhang in the back.

I did purchase L-brackets from Lowe’s to fasten the table top to the shelves. Turns out, the desk is very sturdy without the brackets, so I am going to use it without for a few days and see how it works. And that’s it! Now I have an awesome Nurse Practitioner-Artist standing desk. Feel free to email me or comment with questions.