Better Homes and Gardens (Australia)
step-by-steps EASY TO BUILD STORAGE BOXES
Made from plywood, the DIY furniture in this tween bedroom is budget-friendly and, with no complicated joinery, everything is easy to assemble. Just cut, glue and screw! First you make plywood boxes, then attach them to wall-mounted ply panels. In this way you can create shelving and a built-in desk. You simply use the same technique to build boxes to suit your space.
Gather your supplies
• 18mm plywood
• Wire baskets
You’ll also need
Circular saw; drill; PVA glue; hammer; spirit level; carpenter’s pencil; measuring square; wood filler; putty knife; detail sander; dust mask; paint roller and tray; waterbased clear interior varnish; wall plugs; 50mm screws
For you to note
• Measure your walls to calculate the sizes of the plywood panels that will hold the storage boxes. Then work out the size and numbers of the boxes. You may find it useful to draw a plan to scale on paper.
• Have all the panel and box pieces cut and ready to go before you start. You can also have them cut by the supplier.
• The box back sits inside the box, so it will be the same height as the side pieces and the same width as the top and base minus 36mm.
Here’s how
STEP 1 Mark the plywood into pieces for the square and rectangular boxes for the wall shelving and desk. The desktop needs to be at least 600mm deep and 900mm wide. Cut out pieces with a circular saw.
STEP 2 Put a box side on box base with edges flush and mark the line with a carpenter’s pencil, this will be a guide when screwing the butt joints. Repeat with other side of base.
STEP 3 Position side against base and hold in place to predrill using marked line as a guide. Repeat for other side.
STEP 4 Apply glue to edge of one side piece and position against base. Secure using screws.
STEP 5 Glue and screw other side to box base.
STEP 6 Repeat steps to make rectangular boxes.
STEP 7 Apply wood filler to all screw holes using a putty knife, smooth it and leave to dry.
STEP 8 Using a detail sander, sand the filler so it is even with the surface and give all the box sides a sand.
STEP 9 Apply 2 costs of clear varnish to boxes and panels using a roller, letting it dry between coats.
STEP 10 Measure about 50mm in from each corner of the wall panel and predrill. Mark corresponding locations on the wall and drill a hole, insert wall plug and hammer in.
STEP 11 Screw through predrilled holes into wall plugs to attach panel to masonry walls. (For stud walls, secure to studs.)
STEP 12 Mark positions of shelving boxes on wall panel, then secure with screws through the box back, using a spirit level to check for level. Repeat to mount a plywood panel and the desk boxes, ensuring desktop is at least 700mm from the floor.
STEP 13 Mount a plywood panel, cut to size to the space behind the door. Secure baskets to the ply using screws.