DIY Storage Cabinets

Building a cupboard is easy.

Building storage cabinets at home is an easy way to save money on furniture, and create a long-lasting and attractive place to keep items organized and neat. Making a cabinet at home requires basic carpentry skills and tools, but the project itself is easy to complete. Use high-quality tools and wood like cedar or pine to build the cupboard; cedar and pine are resistant to wear and can be painted or stained to match interior decor when added to the home.

Things You'll Need

• 4 lumber sheets, 2 inches thick by 1 foot wide by 3 feet long
• 2 lumber sheets, 2 inches thick by 1 foot wide by 1 foot wide
• 4-inch nails
• Hammer
• Hinges
• Screws
• Screwdriver
• Door handle

Instructions

1. Align two of the 3-foot boards so that they form a right-angle. Place the 2-inch edge of one 3-foot board against the face of the other, at the edge. This will form part of the structure of the cabinet.

2. Attach the two boards with 4-inch nails. Put one nail every 4 inches along the joint of the boards.

3. Place one of the remaining 3-foot boards at the other end of the boards to form a U shape. Put the 2-inch edge of the new 3-foot board on the face of the other, and attach them with 4-inch nails.

4. Place one of the 1-foot by 1-foot boards on top of the U-shaped frame. There should be one side of the board that is not touching the top edges of the frame.

5. Hammer in one nail every 3 to 6 inches along the three sides of the cupboard frame to attach the 1-foot by 1-foot sheet to the frame. This will be the bottom of the cupboard.

6. Flip the structure over and attach the other 1-foot by 1-foot board following the instructions in Steps 4 and 5. Ensure that all of the edges of the boards are flush and the heads of the nails are flush with the wood.

7. Use an electric screwdriver to attach hinges to the open 2-inch edge on the left side of the 3-foot boards. This will be the location of the door for the cabinet. Attach two hinges to the edge with 2-inch screws.

8. Use a screwdriver and 2-inch screws to attach a door handle to the cabinet door, the fourth 3-foot lumber sheet. This will ensure that the cupboard is easy to open and close.

9. Attach the cupboard door to the hinges with 2-inch screws. Ensure that the heads of the screws are flush with the hinges and the wood so that the door opens freely.

References

• Family Handyman: Simple Storage Cabinet
• Toolcrib: 12 Free Workshop Storage Plans

Resources

• Woodworkers Workshop: Storage Units-Free Plans