Are you tired of your keyboard and mouse taking up valuable space on your desk? If so, it may be time to add a keyboard tray! Keyboard trays are an easy, inexpensive way to maximize the usable area of any workspace. DIYing your own is even better because you can customize it to fit exactly what you need. In this article, we’ll explore some great ideas for creating your very own DIY keyboard tray.
The first step in making a DIY keyboard tray is deciding which type will best suit your needs – do you want one that slides out from under the desk or hangs off the side? This decision should depend on how much room you have available and what kind of items you plan to store there.
Once you’ve decided on the style, it’s time to start gathering materials. You might opt for wood scraps and some basic tools if going for a simple design; however, if you want something more intricate, then consider purchasing metal rails or other specialized hardware pieces.
No matter your approach, with these inspiring DIY keyboard tray ideas, setting up a functional workspace will be easy peasy! Read on to learn more about each project and find instructions tailored specifically for both beginner and experienced makers alike.
1. When It’s Too Expensive Diy (A Keyboard Tray)
Most of the rooms’ tables have very limited space and there is lots of stuff which we are using in our day today life. Therefore, Managing the limited space in a most effective manner is very important. This is one of the most effective and pocket friendly keyboard trays you can make yourself easily.
You just need variable height keyboard platform slides, wooden tray, and a drill to fix the platform slides to the table. Any of the planks can be made to a tray by sanding, painting, and cutting to the preferable dimensions.
Try this yourself and click Yellow Brick Home for step-by-step instructions.
2. Dressing Table To Hidden Keyboard Tray Desk
Everyone likes to arrange their living space much smarter and where it is easy to work. If you are looking for a hidden keyboard tray desk, make it on your hand with a law budget. You will definitely enjoy this Ikea hackers hidden keyboard tray desk that upgrades your lifestyle.
If you are having kids and toddlers in your home this is one of the most protected ways for your keyboard.
3. DIY Walnut and Leather Keyboard Tray
This is a very attractive and comfortable keyboard tray that can be made with banal materials. Have you ever felt the discomfort when the working table is not set with your body? It may cause long term back pains and arm pains as well.
This walnut leather keyboard tray resolves the above issue and makes your working time most comfortable and happy. Visit the Instructables for instructions and make your own walnut and leather keyboard tray that makes your life easier and smart.
4. Keyboard/Mouse Tray
Keyboard/mouse tray is also one of the most effective keyboard trays that can be made by hand with minimum cost. This is a super easy DIY project which helps you keep your mouse and the keyboard at the proper height. Make an amazing keyboard/mouse tray with this simple Instructables idea.
5. DIY Slide Out Keyboard Tray
Are you looking for a smooth slide out keyboard tray for your keyboard, but it is too expensive in the market and can’t be affordable? Don’t worry this is the way you can make your own DIY slide out keyboard tray with KC Sounds.
6. Diy Midi Keyboard Tray
Are you working with Midi Keyboard and need a customized midi keyboard fix with your keyboard dimensions? Make it on your own only with a $30 budget. Adil Constantine here you can get guidelines for DIY Midi keyboard tray.
You can keep the Midi keyboard under the table and slide it out only when you need to work with it. This way increases the effectiveness of the utilizing the space and also protectiveness of the Midi keyboard.
7. Build a Keyboard Tray with Reclaimed Hardware
Building an accurate size keyboard tray will be a small issue but at the same time cause serious damage to the overall look of the table.
In such times it is very easy if we build the keyboard tray using a reclaimed or old keyboard tray. You can refer to our video tutorial for building a keyboard tray using reclaimed hardware.
8. Live-Edge Keyboard Tray
Live edge is one of the trending furniture styles. Now you can create yourself a live-edge keyboard tray as well which will add an additional natural beauty to your workplace.
Do you have a piece of salvaged wood that can not be used for any other conventional wood workings? That’s it, Convert it into an awesome Live-edge keyboard with Popular Woodworking
9. DIY: IKEA Micke Desk Keyboard Drawer Conversion
DIY your IKEA Micke desk into a most convenient one. Customize the main drawer to hold the mouse/keyboard with a wrist rest.
This may help you to prevent arm pains and back pains when you are working with your computer for a long time of the day. Click Reddit for more instructions.
10. Ergonomic Keyboard Tray
Work the whole day in comfort and reduce fatigue with an Ergonomic keyboard tray. You can make your own ergonomic keyboard tray which can turn up each side as you comfort with.
The cushioned palm rest will give a rest to your arm. Try this DIY keyboard with PC Addicts and definitely it may make your work bein.
11. Building a Keyboard Tray for MIDI Controller
Are you looking for a keyboard tray for your MIDI keyboard, but it is too high priced in the market!
Create your own one at your customized height which can be slide out and work too. This may save your room at the workplace and reduce fatigue and pains. Another benefit of this is additional protection gives to your MIDI. Music Player Network, this will guide you to create your own DIY keyboard.
12. How to Make a Keyboard Tray Out of a Desk Drawer
Most of the houses have a broken desk/desk drawer which can be useful for non at the same time not thrown away. Do you have one? This is the best way to reuse it. Convert it to a superd keyboard tray and surprise your family.
Here we give easy instructions to make a keyboard tray out of a desk drawer click the link to find out more.
13. DIY Keyboard Tray for Ikea Besta Desk
The Ikea Besta Desk is a very well-designed desk having a separate cable tray under the back of the desk, the only issue we are facing is the lack of keyboard tray. We can buy keyboard trays in stores but they do not always fit on the desk.
So, we are building our own tray to our desk, it’s an easy and less costly option compared to other options we have. Here is the complete guide on attach the keyboard tray to Ikea Besta Desk.
14. Swivel Keyboard
In typical desktop setup we place the monitor in the middle of the desk. It always reduces the usable space of the desk, in such time we place the monitor to the corner of the desk.
Keeping the idea of placing the monitor to the corner of the desk, we create a better solution to that design is a Swivel Keyboard. It is very easy and a fresh look to our desktop desk. Check out the step by step guide to give the new look to your desk.
15. Ikea Micke Desk, With Keyboard Tray
Ikea Micke Desk is the best desk for small spaces in terms of size and price. If we use that as a desktop computer table we have issues on keeping our keyboard and the viewing distance.
As a solution for that we designed a very simplified and cost-efficient keyboard tray to the problem.
16. DIY Studio Desk with Keyboard Tray
It’s always a challenge to have the best studio desk setup because of the variety of gadgets we need to access simultaneously and the easy transition to those gadgets.
That’s not a challenge anymore, because we are building the best design for a studio desk. The main advantages of the design are it includes the space for the full PC setup, space for full keyboard and the option to close fully, lifted Speaker holder for better sound experiences and so on. Check out the design and Step by step guide on YouTube.
17. 4Ux2 Computer Desk
Computer desk, when we listen or read computer desk our mind obviously imagine a small table containing a shallow space for a keyboard and flat table for monitor and server/CPU. But that thought will change after you check this amazing and more futuristic computer desk 4ux2.
In short, a 4Ux2 computer desk gives a better space for keyboards so we can use high end gaming keyboards without any issues, further the desk gives a unique design for better viewing angle, more space and easy ways for cable management.
