Build your own Double Dog Crate with WFH Desk

After I adopted my two little doggies, I was looking for a place for them to sleep in my room where they were secure.  Conventional crates were ugly and bulky. 

And then Covid hit, and I needed a desk where I could zoom with my students, so the limited floor space in my room needed to do double duty.

Looking around online, showed only really expensive and heavy options for dog crate desks. 

IKEA item used:

Photo: IKEA.com

• SNIGLAR Changing Table  x 2
• VARIERA Plastic Bag Dispenser x 8
• LURVIG Cushion x 2
• KLIMPEN table top 

Other materials and tools:

• Drill
• Scissors
• GooGone
• Glue
• Large White Zip Ties
• Small floor protectors
• Double Sided Snap Spring x 2
• Carabiner Spring Snap x 2

Double dog crate + IKEA desk hack

1. Assemble the two SNIGLAR changing tables according to IKEA Instructions.

2. Attach slider/gliders to the feet (optional). 

• Related: Dog cage cover that looks good and works even better

3. After removing the sticky labels with GooGone (this was the most difficult and time consuming part of the hack),  cut the VARIERA pieces to fit the sides of the SNIGLAR changing tables to create 3 fixed sides and one side that can open.

For the “door” side, I used the natural “hinge” in the VARIERA and it worked well.  For the longer sides, I used two of the large rectangle pieces and glued them together to form a long panel. 

4. Drill through the white bases on the changing table and the corresponding wood surrounds at 2-3 inch intervals around both the base and the top so that you can loop the zip ties through to secure the side panels to the changing table. 

• Related: Small dog? DIY these dog steps from IKEA crates

Make sure to have any sharp edges of the zip ties facing out so that your fur babies won’t contact them from the inside.

5. Attach the carabiner and spring to the “door” and the “frame” so that you can secure the door in the closed position.  

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How much did it cost and how long did it take?

This project was easily done over a weekend by one person, with the exception of lifting the heavy table top in place.  The most time consuming piece was getting the stickers off of the plastic dispensers.  But it was important that that side faced out so the inner side where the doggies sleep is smooth. The cost was around $150.00

What do you like most about the hack?

That the final product is easy and lightweight.  The colors work in my room and it’s easy to dismantle if I wanted a change. 

I adjusted the opening where your legs go to be a bit bigger so I wouldn’t feel squeezed in.  One nice bonus that I hadn’t anticipated is that the changing table ends act as little “trenches” where I can store lots of desk supplies without sacrificing my big desk surface. 

What’s the hardest part of the Double Dog Crate Desk project?

The hardest part was figuring out what material to use for the crate sides.  Once I stumbled on the VARIERA dispensers, it was easy because the dimensions work nearly perfectly with the openings, and they were easy enough to cut with good scissors along the seam lines. 

What to pay special attention to?

I would pay attention to the size, weight, and temperament of your dogs to see if this would work for you.  My guys are not chewers and are very calm (and only 15 pounds each), so they seem very secure and snug.  They don’t push on the sides or try to get out. The build is solid but would likely not withstand a robust chewer. 

Anything you would have done differently?

Looking back, I would consider adding casters to the bottom of the tables, but it was difficult finding ones that would fit the narrow legs of the SNIGLAR. I also did not attach the top to the bases, but it would likely be safer to do so.  

~ by Alissa Davis

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