*Space-Saving* DIY MURPHY DESK
Hey DIY friends! Big changes are happening over here—it’s the end of an era! We’re officially saying goodbye to my cozy home office as I hand it over to my husband, Geoff. I’m moving my work setup into my studio, while we transform the old office into a multipurpose dream space. This updated room will double as an office and a home gym, featuring a custom DIY Murphy Desk build and workout equipment. It’s going to be the ultimate utility room for work, workouts, and more! Read on for all the DIY details and tips for creating the perfect dual-purpose office space.
Shop this Episode:
Head over to my shopmy for items featured in this episode!
Speciality tools used:
Plunge saw with track (no plunge saw? Easily swap this tool with a circular saw!)
Jig saw
Palm Sander using 100-320 grit sandpaper
Drill
Pocket-Hole Jig w/ Pocket Hole Screws
*SPACE SAVING* DIY MURPHY DESK FOR OFFICE
The original office featured a butcher-block desk that was nested in the middle of my gothic inspired bookshelves. This layout was perfect for an office but this space needed to serve dual-function moving forward, and I needed to get crafty with it’s solution!
THE SOLUTION:
I needed a solution that would allow work during the day, but could tuck away and provide space for workouts in the morning or evenings. The answer: MURPHY DESK!
Let’s add a MURPHY DESK instead!
DIY MURPHY DESK
To save on resources and money, I opted to repurpose my old butcher-block desk to build my DIY Murphy Desk . My bookshelves already featured a section in the middle, so this was the perfect spot to fit it.
The murphy desk would feature a small permanent ledge in the back for a recessed plug and a hole for cords.
Using my Festool Plunge Saw, I cut my old desk into 5 pieces:
The shelf for the back
A small cleat that attaches under the ledge that allows me to secure my ledge to the wall
Two legs for the front
The Desk
Before I prepped my wood, I clamped my cleat to my shelf bottom and pre-drilled holes with a counter-sink for attaching with screws later.
I removed the original finish using my palm sander. I worked through my grits starting with a 80 to remove the finish, then worked my way up to 300-grit.
Once finished, I cut a hole for my recessed plug system with my jigsaw—because no desk is complete without built-in power access!
I gave the wood a facelift with my favourite warm brown wood stain: Jacobean from Minwax. When dry, I added a satin finish as a protective top coat.
I screwed the cleat to the ledge using my pre-existing screw holes then using my kreg pocket-hole jig, I drilled holes on the outside of my two legs so that I could secure the legs to the shelf without the screws being seen.
To secure the shelf to the wall, I found the studs and drilled through my cleat into the studs.
I added 20” Murphy brackets at the top of the legs so that my desk would align with the ledge in the back when in the extended position.
Finally, I mounted the upcycled desktop onto the Murphy extenders, and voilà! We now have a fully functional, space-saving DIY Murphy desk. It’s the perfect addition to our multipurpose office/gym space, combining utility, creativity, and style!
ADDING ACCESSORIES
I had to say goodbye to my lovely pendant wicker light from Article that was hanging in my old office. While beautiful, it’s no longer practical for the space, especially to workout in the room! I replaced it with an open light system using two very bright daylight bulbs to give our multipurpose room as much light as possible for working, and working out!
Computer Chair:
When I did Vanessa’s fantasy library/home office makeover, we found the PERFECT comfy computer chair. I bought the same one for our new multipurpose office, but purchased it in black leather to bring a more masculine feel to the space.
The Monitor:
Geoff wanted a second monitor for his dual-screen work setup, and we also needed it to double as a way to watch YouTube videos during workouts. The solution? I installed a monitor on an extending arm, making it easy to adjust and view from anywhere in our multipurpose office and gym space—so practical and versatile! To enhance the setup, I added battery-operated lights above the monitor, providing a cozy, warm glow that's perfect for both work and workouts.
The Gym:
With the office side of our multipurpose room complete, it was time to tackle the workout area! Using exercise equipment we already owned—like our fold-up treadmill and punching bag—I rearranged the space to maximize practicality and create an open, functional layout. To complete the setup, I added a standing mirror from Amazon, perfect for checking posture and form during workouts.
With a touch of DIY creativity, we pulled off a simple project with big rewards! The result is a multipurpose office and home gym that offers plenty of space to focus on both work and workouts, exercising our brains and muscles alike. I’m so happy with how it turned out and can’t wait to make the most of this dual-purpose room!
