DIY Wooden Laptop Stand
Wooden Tech Accessories
Rather than letting our tech devices be an eyesore, we look for ways to blend their appearance with our home decor. This allows us to introduce new technology into our home without cramping the interior’s style. For anyone looking to follow in our footsteps, we recommend starting with device accessories. They’re affordable to make, small in size, & don’t require any knowledge in electronics. Since computers are some of the largest tech devices that can’t simply be stored away, we suggest tackling this device first. In this article, we’re going to walk you through a DIY wooden laptop stand that matches both classical & modern styles.
Laptop Stand Materials
Fortunately, this is a fairly inexpensive woodworking project. In terms of hardware, you only need 8 screws in total. If you’re using a transparent finish, we’d recommend pairing it with decorative looking hardware. Of the 8 screws, 4 should be between 5/8″ to 3/4″ in length. These will be used to fasten the outside corner molding to both the legs & the frame. To attach the quarter round molding to the frame, we’ll need 2 screws in 1-1/4″ length. Lastly, we recommend at least 1-1/2″-long screws for securing the frame to the legs.
If you already have the hardware and a finish, then this project is only going to cost you about $10. The stand uses two different styles of trim that total less than $4 for both pieces and only needs 3 feet of board which will add another $6. To get materials in these exact dimensions, Home Depot sells both trim & hardwood by the foot (in-store only).
Laptop Stand Dimensions
In our example, the laptop stand is designed for 14″ & 15″ screen sizes. Thus, you may have to alter the plans a bit for a 13″ or 17″ screen size. Just check the dimensions of the pads on the bottom of your laptop to see if they’ll fit on a 10″ x 12″ frame. With the wooden laptop stand in our example, the two trim pieces are easy to cut. Both the outside corner molding & quarter round molding should be cut to 12″ in length.
Wooden Stand Supports
Unlike the trim pieces, the frame and the legs require a little geometry. The frame (i.e. boards supporting the laptop) is made of two boards both cut to about 11″. One end of each board should be cut to a 30 degree angle to allow the stand to have flat front. Similarly, we’ll need two legs from the same board that both measure 4.75″ in length and also have a 30 angle on one end.
DIY Laptop Stand Assembly
Once all of the wood parts have been cut to size and sanded, we can proceed with screwing them together. Since all of the boards are narrow, pilot holes are crucial for preventing the wood from splitting. At a first glance, drilling the pieces together can appear intimidating. However, we have found that small spring clamps can aid in holding the boards in place while drilling. While it’s tempting to jump into fastening the screws, we need to also countersink the screws to ensure that the screws sit below the wood surface.
Benefits of Using a Laptop Stand
Still need reason to build an inexpensive wooden laptop stand for your desk? We’ll convince you. While it may seem like laptop stands are just another piece of home decor, there’s more to them than just good looks. By elevating the laptop, the airflow beneath the device is improved. This allows for your laptop to cool more efficiently and with less stress applied on the fan. Additionally, laptop stands offer some space savings as well. In our example, the user gains 12 more square-inches in desk space as a result of the stand decreasing the depth needed for the device. If that’s not enough, the raised height also provides better access to ports and drives located on the side of the laptop. Thus, you won’t need to whip out your tweezers just to disconnect your USB cord.
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