If you're thinking about adding a power outlet to your desk or workspace but you don't want to just slap in a power strip, you could do worse than this DIY desktop outlet. Instructables user dlewisa was looking for a sleek, space-saving power option for his desk, so he decided to build his own.
Dlewisa essentially went to the hardware store and got the components to make a wall outlet (with an eight foot extension cord) and went to work. He also glued together a simple wood housing for the outlet so he could use it safely without risk of fire or electrocution, sanded it down, and painted it so it would look good on top of a desk or cabinet. Hit the link below for the full step-by-step, including the parts required and how to assemble them. If you're feeling really adventurous, you could slap in something like these previously mentioned USB outlet covers so you can power gadgets and charge your devices at the same time.
We know a simple power strip would accomplish the same goal here, but dlewisa explains why he went the DIY route over just buying a ready-made product at the Instructables link below. Besides, we have to agree: the end product looks great, suits his needs, and would look even better embedded into a desk surface, kind of like this retractable in-desk power strip.
-- Stephanie: What did you do today? Leonard Hofstadter: Well, I'm a physicist, so I just thought about stuff. Stephanie: That's it? Leonard Hofstadter: I wrote some of it down.