Simple Dresser Plans

This step by step diy woodworking project is about simple dresser plans. If you want to learn more about building a basic dresser, we recommend you to pay attention to the instructions described in the article. There are so many designs and plans to choose from when building a dresser, so make sure you take a look over the related woodworking projects that are featured on our site.

Before starting the actual construction project, we recommend you to plan everything, as to save money and to keep the costs under control. Adjust the size and the design of the dresser to suit your needs. In addition, we recommend you to invest in high-quality materials, such as pine, redwood or cedar, as they have a nice finish and are highly durable, especially in a humid environment.

If you don’t have a rich expertise in woodworking field, you should ask a friend to give you a hand with the project. There are many things that you could go wrong, so make sure you plan everything and invest in quality materials. Select the lumber with attention, making sure the components are perfectly straight and in a very good condition. Use a carpentry square to check if the corners are right-angled. See all my Premium Plans in the Shop.

Made from this plan

Building a dresser

Materials

A – 4 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 40″ long, 4 pieces of 1×1 lumber – 13″ long LEGS
B – 2 pieces of 3/4″ plywood – 13″x34 3/4″ long PANELS
C – 8 pieces of 1×2 lumber – 40″ long SUPPORTS
D – 1 piece of 1/4″ plywood – 43″x34 3/4″ long BACK
E – 2 pieces of 1×2 lumber – 44 1/2″ long, 2 pieces – 14 1/2″ long, 1 piece of 3/4″ plywood – 14 1/2″x41 1/2″ long, 1 piece – 13″x40″ TOP
F – 2 pieces of 3/4″ plywood – 16″x19 5/8″ long, 1 piece – 16″x16 1/4″ long DOORS
G – 2 pieces of 1×6 – 15″ long, 2 pieces – 37 1/2″ long, 1 piece of 3/4″ plywood – 15″x39″ long, 1 piece – 7 1/2″x39 3/4″ long 2xDRAWERS

2 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 8 ft
1 piece of 1×1 lumber – 6 ft
1 piece of 1/4″ plywood – 4’x4′
1 piece of 3/4″ plywood – 4’x4′
1 piece of 3/4″ plywood – 4’x8′
5 pieces of 1×2 lumber – 8 ft
2 pieces of 1×6 lumber – 10 ft
2 1/2″ screws
1 1/4″ screws
glue, stain
wood filler
slides
drawer pulls

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

How to build a dresser
Free dresser plans

Building a simple dresser

Building the sides

Building the sides of the dresser is a straight-forward process, as you need to attach a piece of 3/4″ plywood between the 2×2 legs. Drill pocket holes along the sides and to the top of the panels, before attaching them to the legs with galvanized screws. Add waterproof glue to the joints in order to enhance the bond of the components.

Fitting the side trims

Attach 1×1 trims to the top and to the bottom of the side panels, in order to enhance the look of the dresser. Secure the trims into place by using finishing nails and waterproof glue.

Fitting the bottom

Build the bottom of the dresser by using 1×2 lumber and 3/4″ plywood. Drill pocket holes at both ends of the components, as well as well along the sides of the plywood panel. Add glue to the joints and secure the components together by using 1 1/4′ screws. Make sure the corners are right-angled and leave no gaps between the components.

Attaching the supports

Continue the project by fitting the 1×2 supports to the simple dresser. Drill pocket holes at both ends of the supports and secure the, to the legs with 1 1/4″ screws. Place a spirit level over the supports in order to check if they are level.

Building the top

Build the top of the dresser out of 1×2 lumber and 3/4″ plywood. Drill pocket holes along the sides of the dresser and secure them to the plywood top with galvanized screws. Work with attention and add waterproof glue to the joints, in order to create rigid structure.

Attaching the top

Center the frame of the dresser to the top components. Drill pilot holes through the supports and insert 1 1/4″ screws into the top. Add waterproof glue to the joints, in order to enhance the rigidity of the structure.

Fitting the back

Cut a piece of 1/4″ plywood and attach it to the back of the dresser, by using finishing nails.

Fitting the partition

Fit the 3/4″ plywood splitting wall to the dresser, as described in the diagram. Drill pocket holes along the edges of the wall and secure it to the frame, after making sure it is plumb.

Building the drawers

Build the drawers out of 1×6 lumber and 3/4″ plywood, as shown in the plans. Work with attention and make sure the joint are rigid, otherwise the dresser won’t be durable. Leave no gaps between the components and make sure the corners are right-angled.

Fitting the drawers

Fit the drawers into the by using appropriate slides. Make sure the drawers open and close easily and they are 3/4″ recessed from the face of the dresser.

Fitting the drawer faces

Fit the faces to the drawers, making sure there is a 1/8″ gap around the edges. Secure the faces through the drawers, by inserting 1 1/4″ screws from the inside into the components. Add waterproof glue to the joints in order to enhance the rigidity of the structure.

Attaching the doors

Attach the doors to the bottom of the dresser, by using appropriate hinges. Leave 1/8″ around the edges, as to make sure the doors open and close properly. Fit handles to the doors and work with attention.

Simple dresser plans

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 secure the armoire to a wall, we recommend you to drill pilot holes through the back and to secure it to a studs with several 2 1/2″ screws.

Thank you for reading our project about simple dresser plans and we recommend you to check out the rest of the projects. Don’t forget to share our projects with your friends and LIKE us, by using the social media widgets, if you want to be the first that gets our latest articles.

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