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
srelliot (not verified)
Tue, 11/16/2010 - 04:00
Oh my Goodness! I totally
Oh my Goodness! I totally love this idea!!!! I hate laundry, I can handle washing and drying....but folding and putting away I absolutely despise! I am going to make this! I have the baskets all over my laundry room and this would be perfect to organize it!
momto3oke (not verified)
Tue, 11/16/2010 - 04:06
I love you Ana White! And
I love you Ana White! And apparently your sisters too! Laundry is my worst nightmare! My laundry room is a disaster with the piles spilling out into the hall and our living room itypically has a few baskets of folded laundry and unfolded laundry goes on the "laundry chair"...you know...if its one the chair, its clean, if its on the floor, its dirty. LOL! This is the answer to my laundry prayers! And I've been dying to build lately too. Now I have an excuse!
kimber (not verified)
Tue, 11/16/2010 - 04:10
This is AWESOME! No.
This is AWESOME! No. Really. What a fabulous idea. Thank you so much (and sisters) for sharing this. I just can't decide where to put it! (Since my laundry room is so small I can't even fit this in there. But I can't fit my laundry in there anytime, so this way my laundry will look good where ever I put it! Wonderful!!)
You rock!
Lacy (not verified)
Tue, 11/16/2010 - 04:12
LOVE it! I have been planning
LOVE it! I have been planning redoing my bathroom but this needs built before all of it starts.
Ashley (not verified)
Tue, 11/16/2010 - 04:23
I am so building this for the
I am so building this for the PLAYROOM! The buckets my kids have in there now are overflowing and the cheap press board shelves they sit on are on their last legs after 2 moves. This will be great for all the dress up clothes, and Barbies!
shannon boozer (not verified)
Tue, 11/16/2010 - 04:23
I AM IN LOVE!!!!! love love
I AM IN LOVE!!!!! love love love love love love love this!!! I don't think i can say it enough!!! thanks so much for sharing (you and your sisters) amazing ideas:)
Tonia (not verified)
Tue, 11/16/2010 - 04:26
O M G !!!! This is the
O M G !!!! This is the coolest thing EVER!! I have wanted my husband to help me build something for my laundry clean, dirty, and in the bedrooms!! This could just be for way more than dirty or clean clothes!! My couch could finally be cleaned off. I can not wait to see what the genious people come up with for this!! And ANA yo are us simply amazing and your sisters too!!!
Everday I soooo look forward to what you are going to post!!
Kim (not verified)
Tue, 11/16/2010 - 04:36
I want one of these so badly!
I want one of these so badly! We keep our laundry sorter in our bedroom, and it just doesn't look nice. This is definitely going on my to make list!
Jamie (not verified)
Tue, 11/16/2010 - 04:38
Hey Ana, I want to see that
Hey Ana, I want to see that rolling cart that is next to your laundry dresser!
Jamie (not verified)
Tue, 11/16/2010 - 04:42
As someone who is standing
As someone who is standing knee deep in clean laundry at the food of my bed, I'm loving this!