Wendy and Kaden, young hosts of the online channel “Toys and Colors,” travel to the shop to collaborate with Ask This Old House on a project. General contractor Tom Silva develops a design for a dress-up closet. Then Kevin O’Connor teaches Wendy and Kaden how to assemble it. With basic power tools and pocket hole joinery, the trio builds a shelf before having a dress-up party of their own.
How to Build a Dress Up Closet
- Start with a drawing to help create a cut list. Ours includes a top, a bottom, two sides, a middle divider, two shelves, an apron, and a closet rod. You can adjust the dimensions to your liking, but remember that the bottom and apron are not full-width, as they fit between the side panels. Also, the middle divider sits between the bottom and top panels, so it’s not full-length either.
- Measure and mark the 1x12s, including the two sides, the top, and the middle divider. Cut them to length with the miter saw.
- Measure and mark the 1×3 for the apron and cut it on the miter saw.
- Measure and mark the remaining 1×12 lumber to create the shelves and cut them to length on the miter saw.
- Using pocket hole joinery, attach the apron to the bottom panel, and then the bottom panel to the side panels. Nail the top panel to the side panels (it should sit on top of them).
- Using the shelf boards as spacers, attach the middle divider to the top and bottom panels with pocket holes and screws. Once attached, install the shelves with pocket holes, as well.
- Using a closet rod kit, cut the dowel to length on the miter saw and install it in the rod brackets.
- Measure the back of the shelf area and transfer those measurements to the ¼-inch plywood. Cut it to the desired length and width with a circular saw, then attach it to the back of the shelf (ensuring it’s square) with the cordless nailer.
- Lightly sand the shelf to remove any raised wood fibers and prime the entire shelf with paint rollers and brushes. Once the primer dries, apply a coat of paint for a fun, whimsical finish.
Resources
Kevin and the Toys and Colors guests use a tape measure to get the correct measurements for their dress-up closet.
Kevin and the Toys and Colors guests use a miter saw to cut each individual wood piece for the dress-up closet.
Kevin and the Toys and Colors guests use pocket screws to assemble the closet.
Kevin teaches his guests how to use a drill driver to assemble the dress-up closet.
Kevin and his guests use a pocket hole jig to drill accurate holes for assembling the closet.
Kevin and his guests use a clamp to hold the wood in place while drilling, screwing, and cutting.
Kevin and his guests use a cordless drill to assemble the dress-up closet.
Kevin and his guests use a nail gun to assemble the back piece of the dress-up closet.
Kevin and his guests use paintbrushes to paint the dress-up closet.
Kevin and his guests use paint rollers to even out the paint on the dress-up closet.
Kevin and his guests use paint to decorate the dress-up closet.
