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!
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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
fal (not verified)
Tue, 11/16/2010 - 21:40
Ummm... who wouldn't stack
Ummm... who wouldn't stack these on top of each other & secure them?? That's just asking for something to happen & it actually says in the plans that if you are to stack the units to make sure you secure them.....
fal (not verified)
Tue, 11/16/2010 - 21:42
Amen! My baskets are the
Amen! My baskets are the cheapos from Target & they are very sturdy.. plus when the basket gets full toss it in the washer. Don't just let them sit around filled to the rim.
fal (not verified)
Tue, 11/16/2010 - 21:50
I'm thinking your idea of a
I'm thinking your idea of a pretty fabric curtain and a tension rod would do the trick! Or you could always add shelving and find some cute wooden baskets :)
fal (not verified)
Tue, 11/16/2010 - 21:54
I my experience they hold up
I my experience they hold up very well. The handles are super strong (I have never had an issue with mine bending or breaking) & are made to take a load. Now, if you have older baskets they might not work so well... with all of our technological advances have come advances in laundry baskets too, lol. That other design is interesting too... but if using laundry baskets with that kind of design you might run into the sides of the basket giving under the weight after time. The rim of the basket is very sturdy and made to withstand a lot of pressure, but not so much the sides. They would most likely give & break.
fal (not verified)
Tue, 11/16/2010 - 21:57
I blame my clean laundry
I blame my clean laundry never making it to the putting away stage on lack of closet space :) There is no where to put it & I can see it better when it's on the bed spread out or in a basket with holes ;)
fal (not verified)
Tue, 11/16/2010 - 22:00
Wait.... your husband does
Wait.... your husband does laundry??? Teach me that trick please... pretty please ;) Mine was just catching on & then we had to go & upgrade to a front loading washer & dryer & he's suddenly clueless again!
AdronsCatherine (not verified)
Wed, 11/17/2010 - 05:16
Oh dear, I suspect I'm just
Oh dear, I suspect I'm just going to have to build a few of these to completely replace the kids' dressers! It's not like they put stuff up anyway, and I can just do one for each kid, with two baskets for clean clothes and one for dirty ;o)
I have a tiny laundry closet in my (already too small) eat-in kitchen. The laundry monster generally pukes right beside my dining chair, making it nearly impossible to sit down most nights. I'm thinking that, while I'd really rather not have one of these in my dining area, it just might be worth it! And I love the idea of putting a curtain over it, too!!!
Nikki (not verified)
Wed, 11/17/2010 - 10:16
I am so jealous I want
I am so jealous I want something like this. I have at my home Mt laundry my husband hates it, might have to tell him this is what I want for Christmas........
HammerTime (not verified)
Wed, 11/17/2010 - 12:25
This is awesome. I also love
This is awesome. I also love the idea, as someone else said, of using this for recycling.
Jess (not verified)
Wed, 11/17/2010 - 13:52
OK, I am always looking for
OK, I am always looking for something like this for my own laundry room (and toy storage and everything else storage) but refuse to pay for a ready-made shelf. I got excited when I found something similar at IKEA, but once I added up the cost of all the components I'd need, it actually got pretty pricey. So, thanks for the great tutorial!! By the way, how much did this entire shelf--baskets and all--cost you to make? And how long would you think a beginning woodworker would take to make one of these shelves? Thanks again!