This DIY lap desk makes it easy to work from the couch! Here’s how we made it for a fraction of the cost of buying one at a home store.

1. PREPARE: Always work in a well-ventilated area and cover your workspace with a drop cloth to protect it from drips and overspray.
2. CUT: Using a table saw, cut a small, L-shaped groove in the top of each MDF board. This is where the plywood top will attach to the legs.
3. STAIN: Thoroughly sand the plywood top, beginning with 120-grit sandpaper and working your way up through 150- and 180-grit sandpaper. Wipe away the sanding dust with a tack cloth after you’re finished with each grit. Thoroughly stir or shake your can of Varathane Premium Fast Dry Wood Stain (we used Sunbleached). Then, use your lint-free cloth or paint brush to apply a generous amount of stain onto the wood, moving in the direction of the wood grain. Let the wood stain sit on the surface for a few minutes, and then wipe away the excess with a clean cloth —  again, working in the direction of the wood grain. Once the entire board is stained, set it aside to dry for one hour.
4. POLYURETHANE: Thoroughly stir your can of Varathane Triple Thick Polyurethane with a stir stick. Then, use your paint brush to apply an even coat of polyurethane to the plywood board. To get a smooth, even finish, apply the polyurethane in the direction of the wood grain in one thick and uniform coat. Set the plywood aside to cure for 48 hours.
5. PAINT: Shake your can of Rust-Oleum Universal Matte Spray Paint (we used Robin’s Egg) for one minute after the mixing ball starts to rattle. Then, follow the directions on the can to apply two light coats to the front and back of each MDF board. Let the boards dry completely for 24-48 hours before applying painter’s tape for the next step.
   
   Once the boards are dry, use painter’s tape to mask off stripes on each MDF board. Then, apply two even coats of Rust-Oleum Universal Metallic Spray Paint (we used Titanium Silver) to the MDF boards between the strips of painter’s tape. Let the boards dry for at least one hour before handling.
6. BUILD: Glue the MDF boards (legs) to the plywood (top) with wood glue and let dry according to the label’s instructions. Then, use L-brackets to secure the boards together from underneath.
7. FINISH: Flip the lap desk back over and enjoy!