The Laundry Basket Dresser has taken my laundry room from the messiest room in my home to the tidiest. It's so easy to pull laundry out and put it directly into baskets. I then can take each basket to it's respective room and fold and put laundry away. For any busy home, these are a must.
This really wasn't my idea. I have some smart sisters. They looked at the piles of laundry in my tiny laundry room, and said, Ana, what if . . .
All your laundry baskets could be like drawers in a dresser . . .
And we didn't have to see your dirty - and clean - laundry every time we visit.
In my defense, most of the piles of laundry in my home are clean. They just rarely make it to the dresser.
But this is one dresser that I can work with.
I can deal with stacks of laundry with this system! Do you have a laundry problem?
That's your sticker. For each of these laundry basket dressers, you will need three of these baskets. Way up here in Alaska, each basket was $3.50. Should be less for you.
PS - If you are interested in a slightly different size/configuration, check out these plans as well!
Preparation
3/4″ Plywood cut into 15 1/2″ wide x 8 feet long strips (referred to as 1x16s)
1/4″ Plywood for the backs
1 1/2″ x 1 1/2″ metal angle (ask for it at Blue or Orange)
2″ wood screws or 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws
3/4″ wood screws (to screw the metal angle to the insides of the boxes)
1 1/4″ wood screws
wood glue
wood filler
finishing supplies
2 – 1×16 @ 35 1/4″ (Sides)
1 – 1×16 @ 24 1/2″ (Bottom)
1 – 1×16 @ 26″ (Top)
1 – 1/4″ Plywood @ 36″ x 25 3/4″ (Back)
6 – 1 1/2″ x 1 1/2″ Metal Angle 15 1/2″ long (ask hardware store to cut or cut with a hack saw)
Instructions
Step 1
Build the Box
I used pocket holes, but you can also use 2″ wood screws countersunk and screwed together to build the box.
NOTE: Top Measurement should be 26″
Step 2
Back
Adjust for square then screw the back on with 1 1/4″ screws and glue. I finished mine at this stage by filling all holes with wood filler, all plywood edges, and any imperfections in the plywood. I then sanded with coarse sandpaper because the plywood was builder grade cheapo stuff, the finished with medium sandpaper. Finally, I primed and painted with ooops paint in semigloss from Valspar.
Step 3
Metal Angle
If you are intimidated by metal angle, you can always use 2x2s glued and screwed here. Cut the metal angle with a hack saw and predrill holes (three per slide). Mark locations with a square and screw metal angle to the sides. TIP: Screw at a very slight downward angle to keep the baskets to the back of the box instead of sliding forward.
If you choose to stack, make sure you secure the top laundry basket dress to a stud in the wall.
Comments
Sunny (not verified)
Tue, 11/16/2010 - 05:58
This is brilliant. My only
This is brilliant. My only question is how well will the basket handles/lips hold up from always having weight on them. I think I would probably add something for underneath the baskets.
Actually what I would really love is something like this except in laundry size. That way I don't have to convince the men in my house to pull out a drawer, they can just toss it in.:
sugahtate (not verified)
Tue, 11/16/2010 - 06:06
So can you get one or two of
So can you get one or two of these out of a sheet of 3/4" plywood?
CKay (not verified)
Tue, 11/16/2010 - 06:06
I love this idea!! And you
I love this idea!! And you could label the baskets so each family member could put away their own clothes. I have found it hard to fold AND put away, but when the folding is done, putting away is easy. The reverse is true too (I think) that if you know you won't have to put away all the clothes yourself its not such a chore to fold. I like things that help to teach my kids a bit of personal responsibility and to work together.
Catherine (not verified)
Tue, 11/16/2010 - 06:09
This idea is exactly what
This idea is exactly what moms everywhere need! My "laundry room" is actually in my front hallway, so I usually have some ugly hampers literally full of my dirty laundry for all to see. But stashing it it far away from the washer dryer is just too inconvenient.
I have a question, though: I want to hang a little tension cafe rod with some fabric in front so people won't necessarily know what's sitting in our front entryway. Would an inch of clearance make it so the curtain would hang straight? I guess I would need to find a 15" laundry basket rather than trying for a 17" width board? It would be fabulous if I could just find attractive baskets, instead. Any ideas, commenters?
Heather (not verified)
Tue, 11/16/2010 - 06:10
Once again BRILLIANT! I
Once again BRILLIANT! I wanted to mention that these are the exact baskets you can get on clearance from Target once the college dorm things go on sale. Just in case anyone decided to do this next year!
Celestra (not verified)
Tue, 11/16/2010 - 06:10
Laundry basket dresser where
Laundry basket dresser where have you been all my life!?! Perfect, this is going in my laundry room ASAP. No more dirty clothes piles on the floor and an extra folding surface... I love it : )
Tanjia (not verified)
Tue, 11/16/2010 - 06:10
Wow!! This idea would work
Wow!! This idea would work great for toy storage, too. Especially when the stuffy situation is totally out of control. I'm thinking with a few tweaks I can also use something like this for my husband to store his photography equipment in.
You are amazing.
Holly (not verified)
Tue, 11/16/2010 - 06:11
Love it. I am seeing a cute
Love it. I am seeing a cute name tag for each of my kids on the laundry baskets and using it for the folded clean stuff that needs to be put away (drives me crazy that they always leave it sitting on the stairs, couch, etc)
Crystal R (not verified)
Tue, 11/16/2010 - 06:21
I. Love. You.
I. Love. You.
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