Part of the problem with moving to a smaller space is putting all the things you have accumulated into order once the move is finished. I’ve come to the realization that I need more shelf space for my computer and camera gear, and there’s none to be had without knocking out a few walls and building an addition on to the house. Even buying new bookcases is out, as there’s no available wall space to put them. It looks like I’m going to have to build up, not out.

I’d already been thinking about building myself a proper computer desk for a number of months. At the moment, I’m using a folding card table as a work surface. It’s sturdy, it works, but it’s a pain. It’s the wrong height for me to work at and it’s not wide or deep enough for my needs. What I’m looking at building will be nearly 7 feet long and 4 feet deep, with under-mounted wire management. If I keep it really simple, I’m looking at at least $70 in wood costs. If I build it out a little more, to handle the stereo and the printer, and possibly the speakers, the cost doesn’t go up too much, but the need for a solid plan does.

The desk is Phase 1. Phase 2 is to build a lofted bookcase above the desk. Two or three shelves high, running from wall to wall (leaving a space for the door, of course). That will have to come later, but I need to do enough design work on the desk to make the bookshelf a possibility later. It wouldn’t be a good thing to have to take the desk apart and rebuild it a few months after I assemble it, just to make the bookcase fit. So, it’s off to the bookstore to look at how to design and build desks and shelves, and time to learn how to properly operate woodworking tools.