Make a Portable Desk for Your Laptop

Okay, it’s not hard to image that a lap table can become a laptop desk but there are many things you can do to the table to make it a little handier. The table must be the type that you set on your lap while in bed. Make an “apron” for the table, add pockets, and you’ll have a traveling desk that will offer most of the amenities that your regular desk does: space for pens and markers, a place to put paperwork, and plenty of room for notes and other items.

Cut a piece of fabric – something rather thick – to the length of three sides of the tv table. Cut the fabric to be the exact length of the table. Hem the fabric at top, bottom and sides. Cut a second piece of fabric that is an inch shorter in the length, and an inch shorter in the width. Hem top, bottom and sides.

Use fabric glue to attach the smallest piece of fabric to the larger piece. Start by attaching it to just one side and one bottom corner. You’ll be making pockets with the smaller piece, so decide on what size pockets you’ll need for the various items you’ll generally have at your new desk. Make a small pocket for holding pens and markers, then glue right beside that pocket. Now allow a larger pocket for holding calculator, eyeglasses, remote, or other items.

Across the front of the new desk allow a giant pocket for storing paperwork. Beside that pocket make another for holding business cards, envelopes, cell phone, or whatever you may need. Each time you make a pocket, you’ll do so by gluing across the bottom, until the pocket is the right size, then placing a line of glue between that one and the next pocket.

After you have all your pockets positioned, and the entire small piece of fabric is attached to the large piece, use hot glue or another adhesive to attach it to the tray. You can also use tacks, nails or even elastic to hold the apron into place on your new desk. Stretch the apron from one side to the other, leaving the side facing you free of any fabric or clutter. Or, if you need the extra storage, go ahead and make the apron to go all the way around the tv table.

You can decorate the apron of the desk in any manner you choose. Add ribbon, bows, fabric appliques, roping, or other notions. Perfect fabrics for the project include denim, corduroy, vinyl, canvas, velvet and other thick cloth.

You can make the set of tv table pockets without the table, to give as a gift. Just use your own tv table as a pattern and choose elastic so that it’ll fit any size tv table. You’ll love your new desk that’s portable, is perfect for a laptop, and is simple to make.