As working from home becomes the new norm for many Americans post-pandemic, adapting your space to this change is crucial. Whether you're transitioning into an existing home office or setting up a new workspace, dealing with bulky office equipment like printers and scanners is a common challenge. 

Integrating Technology with Style

Bulky office equipment can detract from the beauty of your workspace. To help you maintain both functionality and style, we'll introduce you to the concept of a powered printer pullout with Docking Drawer outlets, transforming how you integrate technology into your home office.

As you can see in these drawings from Jewett Farms, a printer pullout can be incorporated into your custom office furniture design, or it can be added to existing office furniture if space allows.

Building Your Own Printer Stand

For a DIY approach, consider building a printer stand or printer table. Using birch plywood for its attractive wood grain, you can create a printer cabinet that not only hides your printer but also adds to the room's decor. Apply wood glue and pocket holes with pocket hole screws to ensure sturdy construction. Don’t forget to finish the plywood edges with edge banding for a polished look. 

Incorporating a DIY printer solution into your home office can be a rewarding project. Adding a middle shelf to your printer stand can also provide extra space for office supplies. When designing your printer table, consider the aesthetics and functionality of the drawer front. A well-crafted drawer front enhances the look of your printer table and ensures easy access to your printer, making your home office both efficient and stylish. 

For those embarking on a DIY printer project, remember that design and functionality are key to creating a piece that serves its purpose and complements your workspace.

Creating Your Printer Pullout Drawer

If you’re working with existing furniture, you’ll want to determine your drawer type, measure your drawer, and ensure you have sufficient space to add a Docking Drawer Blade Series outlet into your project. For a custom printer cabinet, consider adding drawer slides for smooth operation. 

You can build a drawer box using wood filler to smooth any imperfections and wood species that match your existing furniture. The drawer front should be designed to complement the front edge of your desk or cabinet.

Next, you’ll want to specify an in-drawer electrical outlet, like our Docking Drawer Blade (part # 1514-160W), which will allow you to power your printer from right inside your drawer. 

Our rigorously tested, ETL-Listed in-drawer outlets feature arms, like you see above, which will help to guide the power cord as you open and close the printer pullout drawer. This way, your printer cords move seamlessly with your drawer and equipment as the drawer is opened and closed.

Before you know it, you’ll have a fully functioning printer pullout drawer of your own, allowing you to easily pull your equipment out when needed and then neatly tuck it back in and out of sight when you clock out for the day.

How to Create a Printer Pullout Drawer

As you can see in these drawings from Jewett Farms, a printer pullout can be incorporated into your custom office furniture design, or it can be added into existing office furniture when space allows.

If you’re working with existing furniture, you’ll want to determine your drawer type, measure your drawer, and ensure you have sufficient space to add a Docking Drawer Blade Series outlet into your project. 

Next, you’ll want to specify an in-drawer electrical outlet, like our Docking Drawer Blade (part # 1514-160W), which will allow you to power your printer from right inside your drawer. Our rigorously tested, ETL Listed in-drawer outlets feature arms, like you see above, which will help to guide the power cord as you open and close the printer pullout drawer so your printer cords move seamlessly with your drawer and equipment as the drawer is opened and closed.

Before you know it, you’ll have a fully functioning printer pullout drawer of your own, allowing you to easily pull your equipment out when needed, then neatly tuck it back in and out of site when you clock out for the day.

Explore Docking Drawer's Innovative Office Solutions

Head over to our website for even more ways to enhance the functionality, organization, and overall aesthetics of your home office with desktop and edge mount charging grommets, dedicated device charging drawers, and more.