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Laundry Basket Dresser

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Submitted by Ana White on Mon, 11/15/2010 - 22:12
Difficulty
Beginner
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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.

laundry-basket-dresser-2

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!

Dimensions
Dimensions are shown above.

Preparation

Shopping List

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

Cut List

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)

Tools
Tape Measure
Speed Square
Pencil
Safety Glasses
Hearing Protection
Drill
Circular Saw
Power Sander
Level
Drill Bit Set

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.

Project Type
Dresser Plans
Room
storage and organization
Bathroom
Closets
Style
Cottage Style Furniture Plans

Comments

Aleah @ HeyBak… (not verified)

Tue, 11/16/2010 - 08:19

This is awesome!! My laundry NEVER makes it to the folding stage - I usually take a load and put it on our bed hoping to fold it before bed. But my husband usually is in bed first, so it gets heaped on the floor. Then it grows and takes a couple weeks before we put everythig away again and start over. This is a great system - thanks for the info!

Lynn (not verified)

Tue, 11/16/2010 - 08:32

This is quite similar to what I had envisioned - and have been hoping someone would build for me. I've been looking online for something to buy with a similar structure, but haven't found it. My vision had wood shelves instead of the rails. While that is a neat way to minimize the wood in the structure, I agree with Sunny in regards to how well the basket edges will hold up long-term to having a load suspended. I am definitely gonna show these plans to whomever I can rope into building me something! So cool!

Nikki (not verified)

Tue, 11/16/2010 - 09:41

I love this idea but for RECYCLING bins. :) May make hubby do this for our back deck as I haaate having bins all over the place to keep things sorted. Love love love

Heather (not verified)

Tue, 11/16/2010 - 10:16

I agree that this looks like an amazing useful contraption! But mostly, I'm glad to see so many other people's bedrooms/ laundry rooms looks like a huge monster threw up clothes all over the place!!!

Heather B. (not verified)

Tue, 11/16/2010 - 10:37

GREATEST IDEA EVER! Thanks so much for sharing. Oh and I was at Walmart this morning over by the laundry baskets and the one you bought in Alaska for 3.50 is 4.00 here in Ohio!