Ikea Hack – BESTA Sit-Stand Murphy Desk (BESTAmus Prime)
This one was a doozy… lots of different steps were involved to I split this up into more chewable chunks (3 videos):
We love the Ikea BESTA cabinets due to their modularity and customizability. The entertainment centers in my last two places were made out of them! This project on the other hand was a bit more… non-standard.
We needed a desktop/workstation for my wife’s work from home set-up after she returned from maternity leave but didn’t really have space for it. She frequently takes calls so we couldn’t share the same room… but our stair landing was looking pretty spacious… hence BESTAmus Prime was born!
The BESTAmus Prime is my Ikea Hack to turn Ikea BESTA cabinets into a transforming, hidden, flip-down style murphy desk that:
- is super minimal and only sticks out around 10″ from wall when closed
- moves up and down to use as a stand-up desk
- has programmable memory positions for desk height
- plugs into a laptop with only a single USB-C cable that hooks it up to two monitors, keyboard, mouse and webcam AND charges the laptop
- has accessible power outlets/USB charging
- can host staircase dance parties (thanks to individually addressable LED light strips)
- plays Hedwig’s Theme (from Harry Potter) when moving up or down to memory positions, because why not?
It’s not code compliant, but we love it! Just have to make sure not to use a chair that can roll…
- 4′ x 8′ 3/4″ plywood
- 2″ x 4″ x 8′ (2)
- 4′ x 8′ 1/4″ hardboard (for decorative cover panel)
- 2 1/2″ width MDF trim (for decorative cover panel)
- Linear actuator
- Drawer slides
- Linear rail slides
- Monitor mounts (2)
- Drop-down hinges (I do NOT recommended these specific ones as mine didn’t open flush — see the part 2 video for details and my fix)
- Unfortunately I also can’t recommend any other ones because I haven’t used any
- Magnetic cabinet door catches
- Round, countersunk magnets
- BTF Lighting WS2812B LED strip (5m 60 leds/m)
- Muzata “spotless” LED channel with diffuser (deeper than most channels for better light diffusion)
- 100 degree soft-closing cabinet door hinges (restricted opening so the door doesn’t hit the wall)
- Soft-open drop-down gas springs
- Stainless steel mending plates
- Extension cord with right-angle plug
- Surge protector brick with 3 USB ports
- USB-C docking station hub
- 100W USB-C PD power adapter
TOOLS USED (major-ish tools — not all of these were necessary but I used them since I had them):
- Mitre saw
- Circular saw
- Circular saw straight cutting guide (DIY’d)
- Oscillating multi-purpose cutter
- Drill and impact driver
- Handheld trim router
- WORX Pegasus folding work table
- Kreg pocket hole jig
- Orbital sander
- Soldering iron
- 3D printer (Prusa i3 MK3S+)
SMALLER TOOLS/ASSISTS
- Pocket-hole clamps
- Wood clamps (various)
- Milescraft Portable Drill Guide (HIGHLY recommended as a drill press substitute)
- Spirit level
- Forstner drill bit set
- IRWIN Universal, self-adjusting wire stripper (friggin’ LOVE this thing)
CONSUMABLES
- 1 1/4″ Pocket screws (recommended size for 3/4″ material)
- Pocket hole plugs (to cover up the holes)
- Wood glue
- Wood filler
- J-B Weld wood repair epoxy
- J-B Weld SteelStik epoxy putty
- Caulking
- Gorilla brand super glue (with brush and nozzle appllicator)
- Zinsser BIN shellac-based primer (Tin)
- Zinsser BIN shellac-based primer (Spray) (Can’t recommend the spray version because I ended up with a speckled mess — could have been my technique though)
- Spray paint (Satin French blue – for decorative cover)
- Spray paint (Gloss white)
- Sand paper
- Construction adhesive
- Acrylic paint markers
- Gorilla double-sided mounting tape
ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS (Instead of all this the actuator can be controlled with a simple toggle switch like I had originally planned)
- ESP32 starter kit (really helpful for beginners such as myself)
- ESP32 board (used this for the project)
- 0.96″ OLED display
- 12VDC 20A power supply
- Step down voltage buck converter
- Motor controller/relay (BTS7960)
- Multi-color 18 AWG silicone wire
- Lever wire connectors (no name)
- WAGO lever-nuts
- Time-of-Flight distance sensor
- Copper plate (used for touch buttons)
I won’t be doing a full write up because that would be a novel, so be sure to check out the videos. If you have any questions, feel free to drop a comment on the video directly, or here on this page.
For full disclosure, note that I earn a small commission when readers/viewers support me by purchasing items through my Amazon affiliate links. Thanks for your continued support!
2 Comments
Without meaning to, I got sucked into watching all three videos. Your ingenuity and meticulous habits are inspiring. Plus I learned about a lot of little doodads that might come in handy down the road. Nice production quality, and entertaining, too.
Thanks so much for the kind words and I’m glad you enjoyed the videos!