How to build a closet organizer

This step by step diy woodworking project is about how to build a closet organizer. If you want to build a nice closet organizer, we recommend you to pay attention to the instructions described in this article. Choose quality lumber, such as pine, cedar or redwood, otherwise the organizer won’t have a neat appearance. Take accurate measurements and plan everything from the very beginning. Tale a look over the related projects in order to see more options.

There are many designs to choose form when building a nice closet organizer. Therefore, we strongly suggest you to take a look over several options before starting the actual construction project. Always adjust the size of the closet organizer to your needs, otherwise it might not fit into place. Moreover, you can modify the structure of the organizer if you need more storage space.

It is essential to select the lumber with great care, making sure the 1×16 boards are perfectly straight and in very good visual condition. Therefore, the boards shouldn’t have any chip, crack or any other visible flaw. Align the components at both ends and drill pocket holes before inserting the screws into place. Add waterproof glue to the joints, in order to enhance the bond of the structure. See all my Premium Plans in the Shop.

Made from this plan

Building a closet organizer

Materials

A – 2 pieces of 3/4″ plywood – 15 1/2″x82″ long, 1 piece of 1×2 lumber – 24 1/2″ long 2xSIDES
B – 6 pieces of 3/4″ plywood – 15 1/2″x24 1/2″ long 2xSHELVES
C – 1 piece of 1/2″ plywood – 26″x82″ long 2xBACK
D – 2 pieces of 3/4″ plywood – 15 1/2″x36″ long, 4 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 36″ long SHELVES
E – 2 pieces of 3/4″ plywood – 15 1/4″x15 1/2″ long, 1 piece – 15 1/2″x24 1/2 long 2xPARTITIONS

4 pieces of 3/4″ plywood – 4’x8′
1 piece of 1/2″ plywood – 4’x8′
1 piece of 1×2 lumber – 6 ft
1 piece of 2×2 lumber – 6 ft
1 1/4″ screws
glue, stain
wood filler

Tools

Safety gloves, glasses
Miter saw, jigsaw
Chalk line, tape measure, spirit level, carpentry pencil
Drill machinery and drill bits

Tips

Apply several coats of wood stain to the wooden components
Fill the holes with wood filler and smooth the surface

Time

One Day

Building a closet organizer

Building the storage units

The first step of the woodworking project is to build the frame of the storage units. In order to get the job done in a professional manner, we recommend you to cut the components out of 3/4″ plywood, after taking accurate measurements. Smooth the cut edges and drill pocket holes along the sides of the horizontal components. Align the components with attention and make sure the corners are right-angled before inserting the 1 1/4″ screws into place. Add waterproof glue to the joints in order to enhance the bond of the components.

Building the frame

Place the shelves equally-spaced and leave no gaps between the components. Drill pocket holes at both ends of the bottom component and secure it to the sides using 1 1/4″ screws. Make sure the screws are right-angled after fitting each components. Add glue to the joints and clamp the components tightly until the glue dries out.

Attaching the back to the storage units

Continue the closet project by attaching the 1/2″ plywood back to the back of the storage units. Align the piece of plywood with great care and lock it into place by using 1 1/4″ screws. In addition, add glue to the joints and remove the excess.

Building the partitions

The next step of the project is to build the partitions for the closet organizer. As you can easily notice in the plans, we recommend you to cut the components out of 3/4″ plywood. Mark the cut lines on the pieces and make a few cuts inside the marked areas. Remove the excess material with a chisel and smooth the edges before locking them into place. In addition, drill two pocket holes at both ends of the components.

Fitting the partitions

Fit the partitions into place, as described in the diagram, and secure them to the frame by inserting 1 1/4″ screws. Make sure the corners are right-angled before inserting the galvanize d screws.

Building the middle shelves

Build the middle shelves as described in the diagram. Cut the shelf out of 3/4″ plywood and the supports out of 2×2 lumber. Attach the supports to the shelf and lock them into place by using waterproof glue and galvanized screws. Remove the excess with a damp cloth and repeat the process for the other shelf.

Fitting the closet rods

Drill pocket holes at both ends of the shelves, align them with attention and lock them to the storage units using 1 1/4″ screws. In addition, we recommend you to lock the closet rods to the storage units. Place a spirit level on the rods and on top of the shelves to make sure they are perfectly horizontal.

How to build a closet organizer

Last but not least, we recommend you to take care of the finishing touches. Fill the holes with wood filler and let it to dry out for several hours. Afterwards, smooth the wooden surface with fine-grit sandpaper and vacuum the residues. If you want to enhance the look of the organizer, you could attach 1×4 trims to the bottom of the structure.

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