30 x 60 x 1 - Material. This is what I do. Build Your Own Ikea Desk Petite Modern Life Sleek Desk Ikea Desk Legs Ikea Desk Live Edge Wood Desktop With Epoxy Finish. Best wood for desk surface . Natural grain and reclaimed materials might look great in coffee tables and shelving but theyre not ideal for desks where any writing or paperwork needs to be done because the uneven texture of the wood can cause interference with the flow of your penmanship. My favorite plywood for a project like this is AC Fir. Solid and dense laminated MDF. Pine and poplar are lighter softer woods -- creamy yellowish-brown for pine and brownish-yellow with a hint of green for poplar. Joe I like Hickory plywood for a really hard surface and I only pay around eighty dollars a sheet for it. It wasnt a sleek smooth finish like the brand-new furniture you buy directly from the store. Working from home comes with some challenges especially if you are doing it from your couch or kitchen table. ...