IKEA Hack: Dual Monitor Stand

A while ago I got fed up with my monitors and peripherals hogging so much space on my desk. Not only that, but it made my desk looked cluttered as fuck which does not sparkle joy. I wanted to be able to fit my Arturia MiniLab, PC keyboard and mouse, USB amplifier, a drawing tablet and 2 game controllers, while also fitting with the color of my desk. Looking around for pre-made monitor stands I couldn’t find any that fit these overly specific needs but didn’t felt like going full DIY like with my underbed storage solution. introducing, a new IKEA hack:

Requirements:

• 1x LACK wall shelf, 110x26x5cm. €9.99.
• 2x 2-pack STUBBARP legs, 10cm. €10.00 total. (You can swap these with other legs if you want)
• Tools: hand saw (optional), electric drill, 8mm wood drill, a ruler, wood glue.

Let’s begin!

First off, I measured just how much I wanted to raise my monitors and how tall the space underneath had to be in order to fit my stuff. I found 12.5cm to be perfect for me, which meant shortening the STUBBARP legs by 2.5cm each. For this, I used a wood saw and a mitre block to make sure I sawed the legs in a perfect 90 degree angle.

Note: STUBBARP legs have metal inserts glues into the wood on both sides that are 2cm in length. Remove them (good luck), or shorten the legs by at least 2cm if intend on doing so.

Next, I drilled a hole using a 8mm wood drill in each leg, centered on the freshly cut side. This allowed me to reuse the threaded metal bars included with the legs for a more secure connection. A simple X drawn on the freshly sawn side will help you find the right place to drill. Using glue I secured the bars in place. I then took a piece of paper to draw a drill template for use on the shelf. This helps you to find the exact spot to drill in the LACK shelf.

Using the template I drilled the 4 holes in the LACK shelf, 1 in each corner. Take it slow, these shelfs are hollow and you’re only drilling through a thin layer of wood so it’s easy to accidentally slip through the entire shelf. After a dry fit, I added wood glue on the legs and threaded rod and inserted them into the hole. Press tight, remove any excess glue and make sure the legs are aligned properly with the shelf. Next, flip the shelf and place some heavy books on top them. This will ensure a proper glue connection. After 30 minutes, you’re done and ready to use the stand as intended!

Quick note after the fact: using the metal bars and with it the drilling drilling likely was a bit overkill. The glue connection alone would had been enough to keep the thing intact. If anything it only made the stand slightly better at withstanding sideway forces like when sliding or being bumped against.