Keep your headphones stored neatly with a DIY under-desk hanger
Build a stylish headphone hanger to get your over-the-ear headphones off your desk and keep them safe when you're not using them.
If, like me, you work at a computer and are easily distracted by every little noise, over-the-ear headphones are a must for getting any work done. However, storing them can be troublesome.
Over-the-ear headphones can cost several hundred dollars, so you don't want them getting damaged. But they can also be bulky and don't always fold or pack away neatly.
To keep your headphones safe and neatly stored when you're not using them, it's best to hang them somewhere.
Learn how to make and install your own stylish headphone hanger for your desk.
What you will need
There are many ways to make a headphone hanger, but one of the easiest that also looks great is with steel or iron pipe. All the pieces screw together in seconds, and they give a rustic or industrial look to whatever you attach the hanger to.
To build the headphone hanger, you will need:
- One 1/2 inch (1.27 centimeter) Floor Flange Fitting
- Two 1/2 inch (1.27 centimeter) by 2 inch (5.08 centimeter) Steel Nipples
- One 1/2 inch (1.27 centimeter) 90-degree Elbow Fitting
- One 1/2 inch (1.27 centimeter) Steel Cap Fitting
- Four #10 by 1 inch (2.54 centimeter) Flat Head Wood Screws
You will also need a power drill, a 9/64 drill bit, and a Phillips head driver bit. A marker or pencil will also be helpful.
How to make the headphone hanger
Start by attaching the floor flange to the desk or a wall.
If you attach it to the underside of a desk, you can position the hanger either perpendicular or parallel to the front edge of the desk. If you attach it along the side of a desk or on a wall, you can choose to forego installing the elbow and the second nipple.
- Hold the flange up to the surface where you want to install it and use a pencil or marker to transfer the position of the four holes onto the surface.
- Use the power drill and drill bit to drill four pilot holes for the screws, approximately 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) deep.
- Screw one of the nipples into the floor flange.
- On the opposite side of the nipple, screw on the elbow fitting.
- Screw the second nipple into the open end of the elbow fitting, and use this as leverage to tighten the connection between the elbow, first nipple and the floor flange.
- Screw the cap fitting onto the open end of the second nipple.
- Hold the floor flange up to the surface and use the drill and Phillips head bit to drive in the four screws.
- You may need to twist the pipe to straighten it or make it perpendicular or parallel to the surrounding surfaces.
Whenever you're done with your headphones, you can quickly hang them on this hook. It will also neatly hold the cable and keep it from getting twisted or in the way on the desk.