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DIY Closet Organizer with Drawers

By Anika's DIY Life
diy-custom-closet-anikas-diy-life-3
diy-custom-closet-anikas-diy-life-2-copy
Kreg Academy Kreg Academy

Build a custom reach-in closet with drawers and adjustable shelves. Great weekend project to add lots of storage and organization to a small closet.

Difficulty easy

Tools

Kreg Tools

Other Tools

  • Circular saw
    Circular saw
  • Drill/driver
    Drill/driver

Materials

Wood Products

  • 1.5 Plywood , ¾” thick
  • .5 Plywood , ¼” thick
  • 5 Boards , 1x6x8
  • 2 Boards , 1x8x8
  • 1 Board , 1x4x8
  • 2 Boards , 1x3x8

Hardware & Supplies

  • 1 Box of 1 ¼” pocket hole screws (see tools list)
  • 1 Edge banding
  • 1 Wood glue
  • 5 Drawer pulls of choice
  • 1 Paint of your choice
  • 10 10" drawer slides (2 per drawer)
  • 1 Box of 5mm shelf pins
See All Tools & Materials

Cut List & Parts

  • 3 Plywood- sides , ¾” plywood @ 80 x 11 ¼”
  • 2 Plywood- (shelves side 2) , ¾” plywood @ 36 x 11 ¼”
  • 2 Plywood- (shelves side 1) , ¾” plywood @ 33¾” x 11 ¼”
  • 6 Plywood- (small shelves) , ¾” plywood @ 16½” x 11 ¼”
  • 1 Plywood- (divider) , ¾” plywood @ 42½” x 11 ¼”
  • 2 Boards- (short cleats) , 1 x 4 boards @ 16 ½”
  • 1 Boards- (long cleat) , 1 x 4 boards @ 36”
  • 3 Boards- (drawer fronts) , 1 x 8 boards @ 33 ½”
  • 2 Boards- (drawer fronts) , 1 x 6 boards @ 33 ½”
  • 6 Boards- (drawer long sides) , 1 x 6 boards @ 31 ½”
  • 6 Boards- (drawer short sides) , 1 x 6 boards @ 10 ½”
  • 4 Boards- (drawer short sides) , 1 x 3 boards @ 10 ½”
  • 4 Boards- (drawer short sides) , 1 x 3 boards @ 31 ½”
See Full Cut List & Parts

Directions

  • Prepare the boards

    -Make the cuts per the cut list.
    -Review the plans and make pocket holes where needed. Pocket holes in plywood are made with ¾” setting on the pocket hole jig and drill bit collar.
    -Apply edge banding to all the edges that will be visible.

  • Attach the permanent shelves

    -Attach the bottom and top shelf using 1¼” pocket hole screws. The pocket holes face outwards so they are hidden.
    -The height of the bottom shelf is determined by the baseboard.

    Step 2

  • Attach divider to the middle shelf.

    Attach the divider to the middle shelf using wood glue and 1 ¼” pocket hole screws.

    Step 3

  • Attach the divider to closet side.

    Attach the divider and middle shelf to the side using wood glue and pocket hole screws

    Step 4

  • Attach the small shelf

    Attach the second small shelf to the divider using wood glue and pocket hole screws.

    Step 5

  • Attach the other side

    Turn the entire structure over onto the other side and attach using wood glue and pocket hole screws.

    Step 6

  • Attach the cleats

    -Attach the short cleats to the back of the organizer with wood glue and pocket hole screws.
    -The pocket hole screws are on the outside so they are hidden once the organizer is installed in the closet.
    -This is the perfect time to use the shelf pin jig to make the shelf pin holes.

    Step 7

  • Build drawers

    -Build the drawer boxes as shown below
    -There are total 5 boxes - Two built using 1x3 boards and 3 built using 1x6 boards.
    -The drawer box can be built in two ways - either with the bottom sitting in a dado groove or on the outside.
    -Install the drawer slides and ensure it works.
    -Install the drawer fronts.

    Step 8

  • Build other side of the closet

    -Attach the long shelf and long cleat to each other using pocket hole screws and wood glue.
    -Attach this to the side.
    -The pocket holes that attach to the shelf face outwards but the pocket holes attaching to the side face inside.

    Step 9

  • Attach to the closet

    -Attach the closet organizer built in step 7 to the wall using 3” screws into studs through the cleats.
    -Attach the second organizer side to the first side using pocket hole screws.
    -Once attached, use 3” screws and attach the cleat to studs in the wall.

    Step 10

  • Attach second shelf

    Attach a second long permanent shelf to the right side of the organizer using pocket hole screws.

    Step 11

  • Install drawer and hardware

    Install the drawer front, add the shelving and the closet rods to complete the closet.

    Step 12