Ikea KARLBY worktop, 186x3.8 cm, oak/veneer

Product Information

One of them is used for the main desk where the monitors and PC sit, and the other runs along the wall to the left. Recently, I got a Flexispot E7 frame to convert the main desk into a sit/stand desk, and I’m loving it! ALEX units are well-built and easy to assemble. The instructions are easy to follow, the drawers can tolerate minor assembly flaws and remain sturdy. ALEX units are good for the planet. The particle board for this product is made from sawmill leftovers and scrap wood, so IKEA makes use of whole trees and not just the trunks. I used two legs to support the middle part of the table. Without it, the heavy countertop would bend like a banana.

The IKEA ALEX drawers desk was the perfect solution, as it has a very wide work surface. Credit: Chewbacca319 One of the great things about this desk setup is its flexibility. You can choose almost any countertop type or size and customise it to fit your needs. Quality– Ikea kitchen counter tops are better quality than most of the desk table tops, but be careful if wanting to use with monitors or camera clamps. I think my desk setup with a KARLBY walnut veneer countertop is pretty standard, but it’s cool if you like it!

This desk setup also has the ALEX storage unit and add-on unit, which I think have both been discontinued. I still have to apply some clear caulk between the walls and the counter – I just wanted to wait a few days and make sure I didn’t want to add the side splashes. Nope, I love it this way! I’ll keep you posted on how this IKEA KARLBY counter wears, although I suspect I’ll be able to go a long time without having to oil or refinish it. Especially because this bathroom is so pretty, guests are required to pee outside and wash their hands in the laundry room – I’M KIDDING! A real benefit of this approach is how adaptable and flexible the whole premise is. You can swap the Alex Drawers for any other drawers, Ikea or otherwise. You can even use drawers on one side, and legs or a trestle (Ikea Finnvard) on the other. Don’t like the dark veneer? The Karlby walnut top could be swapped for a number of other counter tops that Ikea do, so you can get the right look for the office you are making. What’s more, as the ‘desk frame’ components are relatively inexpensive, and useful in their own right, changing things up in the future is always an option too; if you like to shuffle your furniture around a lot, this could be the answer for you. The Karlby countertop is a veneered unit. It is not solid wood, but is it better than a standard Ikea desk top? Yes. Standard Ikea table tops are not even MDF, they are cardboard inside, the Karlby is veneered chipboard, as shown below. Will this cause you any issues? It depends. If you are planning on loading your desk a monitor or two (and maybe a monitor stand), a monitor arm or camera clamp, or even just planning on putting any kind of weight on the desk, be very careful. Both videos below highlight sagging of Karlby counter top, despite the only weight being their peripherals! One of the reviewers below also noticed sagging even though he had installed a support beam (using the >2m top). Above: the cardboard inside a Linnmon top, similar to many of the other Ikea desk tops. Below: the chip board found inside the Karlby counter top. With drawers, I have plenty of storage space within arm’s reach for all the things I need, such as documents, accessories, notes, and any other equipment I find handy.

I considered the ALEX drawers mainly because a friend of mine has the same kind and I fell in love with them. So, I decided to get some for my desk setup. Mixing IKEA ALEX drawers and a simple countertop to make a desk? Genius. I loved this idea the first time I saw it.Putting the PC on the floor was not an option either, as the dust would damage its internal components. The only solution was to put the PC on a shelf. It would have been unfortunate if that option was not available. Having a lot of storage is important to me.