Ever wondered why IKEA ALEX drawers are so popular?
We spoke with many WFH creators around the world, and here are the top five reasons why they chose these storage units for their home offices.
ALEX drawers are space-saving. With their simple, thoughtful design and generous depth of 58 cm (23 in), the drawers provide ample storage and simplify cable management.
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 drawers are versatile. They come in various sizes and colours. You can either use them on their own or mount the worktop on top of drawers, serving as desk legs. KARLBY tabletop is a popular choice for this.
ALEX drawers are affordable. According to the users’ reviews, they offer the optimal value-to-price ratio for budget home offices.
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.
Below, you’ll find 34 authentic desk setups featuring IKEA ALEX drawers, along with direct quotes from home office owners about the pros and cons of their choices.
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!
I was inspired by the increasing use of IKEA countertops and ALEX drawers. Since my PC was all white, I decided to build a desk setup around that colour scheme.
I needed storage, so the ALEX drawers were a must-have, and I wanted a lot of desk space, so I opted for an L-shaped setup.
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 wanted something that was durable and looked good as well.”
IKEA KARLBY Battlestation with ALEX Drawer Units
Desk size: 188×65 cm (74×25,6″)
“The IKEA KARLBY countertop I have is 74 inches long and 25 5/8 inches deep, and the total height should be around 29 inches.
I went with the ALEX drawers because I needed lots of desk storage, and they also looked good with most countertops or butcher block tops.
They cost about $90 each.
It’s also really easy to cable manage behind the ALEX drawers.
I considered buying a standing desk at first, but they were too expensive. I wasn’t sure if I would actually use the standing feature.
The cost of the desk setup was only around $370: $180 for the ALEX drawers and $190 for the KARLBY countertop. If you include the PC, monitor, and peripherals, it would probably be around $4,5-$5K.”
“The desk is made up of two white SÄLJAN IKEA worktops. The longest side of the desk is 246 cm, which is the full length available for purchase from IKEA.
The short side was originally 186 cm in length, but I cut it down to 140 cm to fit the desired dimensions. The desk is 74 cm in height and has a depth of 63 cm from the wall.
I chose the ALEX drawers because their height was suitable for mounting the worktop on top without the need for risers. The depth of the ALEX unit was also the closest match to the depth of the SÄLJAN worktops.
Another reason I chose the ALEX was that I wanted to have my large PC inside a unit, and its dimensions allowed for this.
I just had to cut out the rear of the unit for cables. I bought a pair of hinges and bolted together the drawer faces (the front) into a door.
I considered other drawers/units from IKEA, but the ALEX units met all my criteria and provided a lot of storage.
I had to drill a few holes in the SÄLJAN worktop to facilitate the tidy management of cables, and I used rubber grommets in those holes to keep it looking clean.
Finally, the corner part of the desk is supported by 2× OLOV legs.
The components of the desk itself, as well as the three lamps on it, cost me €595. There were a few non-IKEA add-ons that I had to get, such as monitor arms, a microphone mount, and parts for a laptop docking basket (almost all purchased from Amazon).
These additional items cost roughly €200.”
ALEX Drawers + IKEA Kitchen Countertop Desk Setup
Desk size: 186×62 cm (73×24″)
“The desk is an IKEA kitchen countertop that measures 186×62 cm. I chose it because it is more durable and easier to clean than a typical desktop.
I decided to go with the ALEX drawers because they are well-constructed and provide ample storage space. Plus, I wouldn’t have to worry about the desk legs as they are at a good sitting height for me.
I am 6′4″, so everything just worked out perfectly.
I added some riser legs on top of each drawer to give the desk more height and a more polished appearance.
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.
Overall, the drawers and counter cost me about £140 ($166), and the other bits and pieces were around £20 ($24), but I already had most of them.”
IKEA ALEX Long Desk Setup
Desk size: 200×60 cm (78,75×23,63″)
“I wanted something to match the size of my window, which I recently gained in my new home.
The window has a large space but a lip at an awkwardly low height, so I wanted to draw attention away from that and up to my computer, which I have more control over.
I also wanted a desk with enough space for my two 32″ curved monitors and my D&D books.
This way, I can have a space for work and for fun.
There weren’t any other options I had considered other than ALEX. It’s used very often online, and I think that’s because it’s both aesthetically pleasing and functional.
The drawers on both sides are great for organizing items like notebooks, cables, and other things like tabletop miniatures or trading cards.
The desk cost me around $300 after tax, but if you include my monitors and desktop, the total cost is nearly $3K.
However, I think any large monitor with RGB lighting, a controllable keyboard and mouse, and a fun theme would make this desk look great.”
Black ALEX Drawers Desk Setup with Three Screens
Desk size: 183×56×4,5 cm (72×22×1,75″)
“I repurposed an old Ethan Allen harvest table as my desk.
I cut and refinished it to give it a new look.
Initially, I had considered a floating desk design for my workspace, but I realised that I would lose a lot of storage space with a minimalist look.
I did consider a slightly cheaper option on Amazon, but the dimensions were so vastly different that I just went with the ALEX drawers.
In total, the desktop and two ALEX drawers cost me $300: $100 for each drawer and $100 for the Ethan Allen harvest table. I already had the supplies needed for refinishing.”
ALEX Units Battlestation
Desk size: 186×64×82 cm (73×25×32″)
“I chose the ALEX drawers because their flat tops and bottoms make it easy to keep things level without needing to buy additional legs.
Plus, it was convenient to have both the desktop and drawers shipped from the same place and easy to track their delivery.
It’s been a few years since I bought this desk setup, but if we’re just considering the desk and drawers, I think it cost me around £200-300 ($238-356).
The entire desk setup, including all the additional equipment, has got to be more than £6-7K ($7,100-8,300).”
Budget ALEX Drawers Home Office Setup with SÄLJAN tabletop
Desk size: 188×65 cm (74×25,6″)
“What made me consider the ALEX drawers was the simplicity of their look and their sturdiness.
Plus, I made a visit to my local IKEA store and found both of them on sale!
The desk is quite economical, I’d say. Without considering the computer, screen, or other electronics present in the picture, I spent around $300.”
“I knew I wanted grey ALEX drawers since I’ve been a long-time Reddit user.
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
All in all, I spent around $4K on my computer and monitor; $250 for a KARLBY benchtop and roughly $100 per ALEX drawer on the second-hand market.”
ALEX Units Desk Setup with GERTON Desktop and CAPITA risers
Desk size: 75×155 cm (29,5×61″)
“My desk is an IKEA GERTON with CAPITA risers. The desk is 29,5×61″ and 1,5 inches thick.
I saw many people online using ALEX drawers, which seemed to work well at a reasonable price, so I didn’t really consider any other options.
Credit: Toby
The total cost for the desk was around CAD 400 ($292 USD).
“The left-hand desk is an ANFALLARE 140×65 cm with ALEX drawers and it’s mostly used for gaming.
I would have preferred to have a storage unit cupboard instead of drawers, but unfortunately, it’s been discontinued.
The add-on unit cost £20 ($24) and is used to stack my PS2, PS4, and NowTV box.
Credit: KingEpicPants
The right-hand desk is my current work desk setup. It has a LINNMON tabletop in the 150×75 cm size, which I think has been discontinued.
It was a touch too deep for the ALEX drawers, so I added a pair of ADILS legs at the rear to prevent any tipping backwards, as most of the weight on the desk was towards the rear.
Cost
Left desk
£147 ($169)
Right desk
£165 ($190)
This desk setup also has the ALEX storage unit and add-on unit, which I think have both been discontinued.
It’s a shame as the storage unit is pretty handy for tucking away a small home lab setup with a network switch, NAS and extra hard drive for Plex [streaming website] content.
This desk setup was originally set up when I was working from home in London before the pandemic, and then I had to share the workspace with my partner once the pandemic hit.
After that, we ended up moving to Cambridge, and now we each have a home office, allowing me to have the two-desk setup.”
