Frequently Asked Questions
Wood Questions
What kind of wood should I use?
Most of our plans use standard construction lumber like pine or fir. It's affordable, easy to work with, and easy to find. It's also rapidly renewing and biodegradable, so a great eco friendly choice!
Can I use hardwoods instead?
Yes—just keep in mind they're heavier, cost more, and can be tougher on tools and harder to join together and finish. I recommend not tackling a hardwood project until after you have built several softwood projects.
What if my boards are warped?
Choose the straightest boards at the store. You can often work around slight warps by cutting them into shorter pieces.
What wood should I use for outdoor furniture?
Use red-toned or pressure-treated 2x lumber for framing, and cedar or cedar fence pickets for the decking. Outdoor furniture should be built like a deck—your local home center can help recommend the right wood for your climate.
Will my wood move or warp after I build?
Potentially, especially in humid climates. Let your wood acclimate indoors before building. Once acclimated and kept in a stable environment, movement should be minimal. Remember, most houses are built using framing lumber - it's all about keeping moisture down indoors.
Cutting Questions
Do I need a miter saw?
A miter saw is great, creating fast, safe, and precise cuts, even for beginners. But most plans can be built with a circular saw and a straight edge. If using a circular saw to cut, take time to practice, and get good at making cuts, before cutting your project boards.
How do I get clean cuts with a circular saw?
Clamp your board, measure twice, cut slow, and use a sharp blade. This takes practice, so spend some time making cuts. I go through becoming proficient at freehand cutting in my course, it is worth taking if you want to master this skill.
Will the store cut my wood?
Yes—most stores will do rough cuts to help you transport your materials home. But from store to store, the quality of cuts could greatly vary.
Joinery Questions
What screws should I use?
We recommend star-head self tapping screws for framing, most common sizes are 2-1/2", 1-3/4". Pre-drill if close to the edge or you find your wood is splitting.
Do I have to use pocket holes?
Pocket holes are the cheapest, easiest and fastest way to do some joints - like edge to edge or a hidden fastener joint. There are other methods, but these can be time consuming and expensive. We recommend using pocket holes as indicated in plans for best results.
How do I keep things square?
Use a speed square and measure diagonals after each step. Always clamp joints before screwing to keep them tight and flush.
Finishing Questions
Stain or paint before or after building?
A quick sand before and a full finish after gives the best results. Pre-finish if you're doing two-tone or detailed finishes.
What type of finish?
Use oil-based or water-based stain. For paint, cabinet-grade latex or enamel works great. High use surfaces on indoor projects should get a coat of polyurethane, I recommend a Helsman or Spar or other flexible poly that won't crack or peel with wood movement. For exterior projects, use a finish suitable for exterior fences.
How to get a smooth finish?
Start with a well sanded project. Sand between coats (220 grit), wipe clean, and apply light coats with a foam brush or roller.
Plan Questions
Can I change the size?
Many people do, and that's the great thing about building your own furniture! But do keep in mind going bigger might mean more supports are required, and often plans are optimized for minimal material waste.
Are these beginner-friendly?
Yes—plans are written with simple tools and clear steps in mind, with every effort to make plans as simple as possible.
Can I sell what I build?
Absolutely! Just don’t resell or repost the plans themselves.
General Questions
What tools do I really need?
A drill, circular saw, tape measure, square, and a few clamps will get you through most projects.
Do I need a workshop?
Nope! A driveway or small patio is plenty to get started, just make sure you have a level place to work. If you find you are building several projects a year, creating a small workbench is a great way to store tools and have a dedicated workspace.
What if I mess up?
Wood filler, sanding, or flipping boards goes a long way. Mistakes are part of the process!
What can I do to make my projects look more professional?
Start with straight boards, make accurate cuts, clamp all joints, and line up everything neatly. Sand thoroughly, use a neutral finish, and apply it in light coats for a clean look.
I've never built anything before. Where should I start?
Start with a few smaller softwood projects to get hands-on experience. Or if you're tackling a big project, buy a little extra lumber and practice your cuts and joints first. If possible, work with someone who has a bit of experience.
Care & Maintenance
How long will my furniture last?
With good joinery and regular care, your DIY furniture can last for decades. I have pieces in my own home that are over 20 years old and still going strong! One of the best parts about DIY furniture is that it’s easy to repaint, refinish, or repair—so your projects can grow and adapt with you.
How should I care for outdoor furniture?
Lightly pressure wash or hose it down once or twice a year. Tighten screws and reapply finish as needed to protect it—just like a deck or fence. A little upkeep goes a long way in extending the life of your furniture.
How about indoor furniture?
Regularly dust or wipe with a damp cloth. If it starts to look worn, a light sanding and touch-up paint or stain can refresh it in no time. DIY pieces are meant to be durable and fixable—so don’t be afraid to give them some love now and then.
Want to Build with Confidence?
Check out my ebook: 12 Skills to Build Your Own Furniture
It walks you through the core skills every builder needs—measuring, cutting, joinery, and finishing—so you can build beautiful furniture that lasts.
Still Have Questions?
Email us anytime at [email protected] and we’ll be happy to help!
Comments
Donna @ Edible… (not verified)
Thu, 03/01/2012 - 11:40
This is great! I love the
This is great! I love the fact that the laundry is all sorted out and that you can take the "drawers" out easily.
pecma01
Thu, 03/01/2012 - 11:42
Recycling too
I just might have to build these for my recycling... my town is not on single stream so many bins are needed!
Guest (not verified)
Thu, 03/01/2012 - 12:10
Every time I see these, my
Every time I see these, my thought is "But do they have issues once the baskets are heavy with tons of clothes?" Anybody know?
Becca W (not verified)
Thu, 03/01/2012 - 12:27
We made the original basket
We made the original basket dresser with 3 drawers for one of our sons. We have had it about a year, and have had no problems with it! Our boys have moved it around, stuffed it with clothes (and toys!), and even climbed on it some. It has held up really well. We are considering making a few more for the laundry room :)
Guest (not verified)
Thu, 03/01/2012 - 13:01
I would love to know this
I would love to know this too!!!
Guest (not verified)
Wed, 04/11/2012 - 19:00
Should be ok
Using 3/4 inch plywood with a full thickness backing this should be plenty sturdy. If your going to be using it for extremely heavy stuff for some reason you could line the inside of the back edge where it connects to the sides with a full length 1x1 for stability. But that would most likely be way overkill for this sort of project. The MDF wood is PLENTY strong on its own. Make sure any connected point is both glued and nailed/screwed.
bhoppy
Thu, 03/01/2012 - 12:40
Wish I had room to build more
Wish I had room to build more of these! Love the 4 by plans!
I made the orignal one with 3 baskets and have had all three baskets overfilled and stuffed some more full of laundry and have never had any problems.
tannisg
Thu, 03/01/2012 - 16:31
priorities in order..
Sadly I spent the afternoon pining over these and price-checking the baskets to fit in them and measuring my space to figure out how I can make it work, instead of actually folding the laundry that is currently in baskets all over my family room ;)
These are awesome though - I am motivated to make it work!!
In reply to priorities in order.. by tannisg
birdsandsoap
Thu, 03/01/2012 - 19:24
I think we are on the same
I think we are on the same wavelength! :) I'd rather plan ways to organize my home and build cool organizers than actually put the stuff away!
Guest (not verified)
Thu, 03/01/2012 - 21:36
Love this! Question. What do
Love this! Question. What do the B, C and other tags stand for??
I have a system now for clean, dirty, whites, colors. Is it something similar?
Brook@BeingBrook (not verified)
Thu, 03/01/2012 - 22:24
Names
The B,C,D,E are the first letter of each of my kids names! We use the laundry dressers for clean laundry. Each person has a basket for their clean clothes and then one for towels and one for sheets. The kids each have an additional basket for their mudroom type items and things they leave strewn about the house. Our laundry room comes in from the garage so it's our mudroom too.
I have three baskets on top of the washer/dryer for dirty laundry.
momof08 (not verified)
Sun, 06/17/2012 - 10:12
Brooke, Love it especially
Brooke,
Love it especially since I also have 8 kids, I have decided that all my older kids will be doing their OWN laundry, I'm tired of having all the laundry piled in huge heaps on the laundry room floor. I am going out today, with my list of materials, and build these. Can't wait to see how they turn out!
anydayerymN
Fri, 03/02/2012 - 03:39
Women Shoes
Hi
I am further to this forum, so immediately beg an enchanting confusion:)
How scads pairs of shoes do you have?
How much do you accept new shoes?
Amuse especially women to observe on this topic.
RhettJimmy (not verified)
Fri, 03/02/2012 - 23:05
Why buy the 1"x2"s? Your
Why buy the 1"x2"s? Your cutting diagram shows a 10"x25" piece of scrap that could be ripped into 8 - 1"x3/4" pieces that would already be the right length! I'm going to be building a few of these after my wife sees your design... ;-)
Sergey (not verified)
Sun, 03/04/2012 - 20:00
where are the legs?
Laundry room sounds like a risk for water spillage.
Maybe small legs like 1/4'' will allow for some ventilation down there.
On the other hand the dirt will start getting under the dresser.
What will happen if water gets under those dressers, will it soak and warp the wood?
mebohn
Mon, 03/05/2012 - 05:26
Answer to your legs question - casters
You can throw some little wheels on the bottom if you want for a bit of a lift, then you could pull the laundry dressers out to sweep. I believe the original plans did have wheels. I made it without, b/c I don't need it to roll, but I believe a lot of people did add them and it's fantastic.
payne.kj
Mon, 03/05/2012 - 06:01
what kind of plywood did you
what kind of plywood did you use?
Brook @ BeingBrook (not verified)
Mon, 03/05/2012 - 15:05
Wood
I used AC Plywood. If you were worried about water spillage then you could put the dressers on wheels. We had a dresser in that spot before and it was always really dusty underneath and the kids would lose things and we'd have to move the whole dresser so we just set the dressers on the ground.
Guest (not verified)
Fri, 03/23/2012 - 05:04
Love these but we aren't handy
I wish you could buy these already made!
Karlee
Fri, 04/06/2012 - 18:55
Oh my!! This must be what
Oh my!! This must be what heaven looks like!!!
sir_brady
Sat, 04/14/2012 - 19:18
Dimesions are wrong.
my own fault for not double checking, but the dimesions used in the drawings are for a SEVENTEEN by 24 basket, not a 16 x 24... learned this the hardway after adding 1 inch to the back and tops to fit my 17 inch basket. only afterwards when it doesnt fit did i bother actually thinking about the math...
just a heads up
on a side note... first time using a circular saw and a kreg jig,. and everything worked and went together awesomely!
luckily the too big dresser will be easy to fix with another set of 1x2's, which i already have because i bought the material to make 2 of them!
Brook @ BeingBrook (not verified)
Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:47
Oh no!!
I used the Sterilite 1.5 Bushel baskets and they are 17" at the widest point. Laundry baskets are hard to measure since they curve outward towards the middle. So glad you got the plan to work for your basket.
redflyer (not verified)
Sun, 04/15/2012 - 06:33
This could make a great toy sorter as well.
Sometimes storage for toys costs a small fortune. This is a great way to do that, rather then putting name tags on the front you could put pictures of the toys that belong in that bin to help your kids learn to clean up after themselves.
CharlotteE (not verified)
Sun, 04/22/2012 - 18:38
Can you paint the boards
Can you paint the boards before you screw them together?
Brook @ BeingBrook (not verified)
Wed, 04/25/2012 - 10:08
Yes!
I painted all the wood when it was flat and then just did touch ups when it was all built. So much easier to paint flat lumber with a roller.
craftytammie (not verified)
Sat, 04/28/2012 - 10:34
i am so glad to read that
i am so glad to read that this is for 17 inch baskets, because my husband cut all the pieces and i hadn't checked our baskets yet!! ours are the sterlite baskets from target, and the tag says they are 17 1/4". phew.
Jaime Ramsey (not verified)
Fri, 05/04/2012 - 07:55
This is straight out of my dreams!
I'm obsessed with laundry baskets! I use them for everything. I've even gone so far as to buy the really nice, heavy duty ones. And they must match! I've been saying for years now that I need to build some sort of "dresser" for them. And here it is! Can't wait to get started! Thank you!
Tara Hines (not verified)
Tue, 06/19/2012 - 12:11
Just built these-- small correction
My dad and I just built two of these, and I love them. However, Look the plans over when attaching your rungs-- plans say to attach the last rung at 39" from the top, but this puts the basket an entire inch different than the others are spaced, and it would actually rest on the floor of the dresser instead of the rung. We attached at 38" from the top, and they are fairly evenly spaced this way (within 1/4"). Just look over the plans, make your marks, and then decide for yourself.
I used plywood and bought some 3/4" wide molding to put around the front so the raw plywood edge doesn't show. For about $5, it really dresses them up and makes them look higher quality/more finished.
Thank you so much for the plans-- normally I would see something like this and then try to recreate it, which takes a lot more time. It was great having all that work already done for me!
Arijoy (not verified)
Wed, 09/26/2012 - 05:31
I love this! And plan on
I love this! And plan on making it soon. How difficult would it be to add a door and maybe drawers on the bottom for height?
thelydster14
Mon, 08/10/2015 - 17:54
Where did you get the laundry baskets from?
I was looking for some laundry baskets, beacuse I might be interested in doing this project, and yours look nice and sturdy. I was wondering where I could find them?