How to Make Closet Drawers
Adding a closet drawer unit will free up space so you can organize your closet. It might also give you more room in your bedroom by eliminating the need for a dresser or chest of drawers. You can build the closet drawer unit in the middle of a wall-to-wall closet or even inside a small closet. And you can make the drawers as deep as you need to accommodate the items you want to store. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Stud finder
- Carpenter’s pencil
- Tape measure
- Circular saw
- 2-by-4 lumber
- Drill
- 3-inch wood screws
- Screwdriver
- 1-inch finishing nails
- String
- String level
- 4 3-inch L-brackets
- Hardboard
- Plywood
- Contact cement
- Clamps
- 1-inch wood screws
- Drawer rails and glides
- Sandpaper
- Primer
- Paint
Instructions
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1
Determine the width and number of drawers for your closet drawer unit. A standard width is 24 inches with a height of 7 inches, but you can customize your dimensions. Tally the total inches of the height, and add 1 inch for clearance between each drawer. Add 2 inches to this measurement to allow for the bottom drawer and the drawer slide railing. Use the total for your height measurement.
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2
Cut four pieces of 2-by-4 inch lumber according to your height measurement. Attach two pieces to the back wall studs and use the other two pieces for the front supports.
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3
Locate the studs on the back wall of the closet with a stud finder and mark the stud spots with a carpenter’s pencil.
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4
Drill starter pilot holes in the rear stud pieces and attach to the wall with 3-inch wood screws. Draw a chalk line from the center of the back wall studs to the front edge for the drawer unit. Hammer a 1-inch nail into each back wall stud. Attach a string to the nail. Hold the front left stud and mark the position on the floor. Repeat this process for the stud for the right side.
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5
Place an L-bracket along the back and right edges of the left stud. Fill in screw holes onto the stud and onto the floor with a carpenter’s pencil. Remove the stud and drill starter holes on the stud and into the floor, following the pencil marks. Complete attaching the screws to attach the L-bracket to the floor and to the stud manually. Repeat this process to attach the stud to the floor on the right side. Use a long level to ensure the front studs are straight.
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6
Measure and cut the hardboard for the drawer bottoms and the plywood for the back panel, sides and front of the drawers according to your dimensions. Run a bead of contact cement along the outer edge of the bottom pieces. Attach the back, side and front pieces to the bottom pieces with 1/2-inch finishing nails. Use 1-inch finishing nails to secure the side pieces to the edges of the front and back panels. Clamp the drawers and allow them to dry for 24 hours.
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7
Run a tape measure from the edge-to-edge of the studs to measure the width and height dimensions to create the top surface for the drawer unit. Cut a quarter-inch piece of plywood, according to your measurements. Use 1-inch wood screws to attach the top surface piece to the edges of the studs.
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8
Attach the drawer rails to the left and right sides of each drawer. Mark the studs for the drawer rail positions. Start with the bottom drawer. Use a pencil to fill in the screw hole positions on the studs for each drawer. Drill starter holes and finish attaching the screws for each rail with a screwdriver.
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9
Place the slide units on the sides of each drawer and mark the screw locations. Drill starter holes and finish attaching the slides with a screwdriver.
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10
Use the procedures in Step 7 to cut and attach plywood to create sidewalls for the left and right sides.
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11
Sand edges, prime and paint the top and sidewalls that house the drawer unit, and to finish the fronts of each drawer to complete your closet drawer project.
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Tips & Warnings
Add decorative drawer knobs that tie in with your room decor.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images
