I used two legs to support the middle part of the table. Without it, the heavy countertop would bend like a banana. I did consider some of IKEA’s other countertop/desktop options, but none of them seemed to be made with the same quality in all white or had the right size I was looking for.

I ended up getting two of the IKEA KARLBY countertops so I could create the corner desk. Measurements of each countertop before being cut I also chose the ALEX drawers because they have plenty of room for both work and hobby items. Now, I can dedicate one side to work and the other to painting. 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 browsed the Internet for some desk setup inspiration and came across various IKEA-based desks that were affordable and looked good at the same time.

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. I considered other drawers/units from IKEA, but the ALEX units met all my criteria and provided a lot of storage. The Alex drawers are 70cm high, the same height as pretty much all Ikea desks. Their sit/stand desks often go down to 70cm. Is this ideal? Remember the Karlby 3.8cm deep, so that means your keyboard will be resting at about 74cm heigh. Ergonomically, for the average female height in the UK, you might want to be considering a desk that goes down to 60-65cm. Does this mean the Karlby & Alex set up is not for you? Not necessarily, other draw units from Ikea and other furniture retailers could have a draw unit the perfect size for you. It offers exactly what I’d expect from my workstation. It’s heavy and stable with enough space on the desk itself and a lot of storage area as well.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. As Ikea desks became more and more difficult to buy from March to May 2020, this idea seemed to gain in popularity. So, would we recommend it? Here are some factors to consider: However, grey wasn’t available in Australia. IKEA only offers white and blue in ALEX drawers, so I went to the second-hand market. I spent months on Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree looking for two perfect grey ALEX drawers. Credit: GeorgeCostanza