Closet Towers with Hamper Pull-Out

Redesign your closet and organize your space! This DIY closet tower is huge! It's 80" tall and nearly 92" long. If you have 8' ceilings, that leaves 16" on top for additional storage. There are 8 drawers placed symmetrically, perfect for two people to share, and the center drawer is a hamper pull-out large enough to fit two tall hampers (darks and lights!). The 8 side shelves and 3 center shelves can be arranged however you like (you can even elect to switch them out with hanging rods if needed). This closet tower was designed to fit inside a closet, but it doesn't need to be in the closet, you could use this as a free standing unit in a bedroom as well, just be sure to properly secure it to a wall.

Closet towers can be insanely expensive, especially if made from real wood with "accessories" like drawers. Just take a look at my inspiration from PB. Wow! This DIY tower is not nearly as expensive, and can be made with real wood or, to reduce the cost a little, with MDF or particle board. I would recommend going with plywood, if you can, since it is stronger and will last longer. The wood cost for this project will run 350.00-500.00 depending on the materials you choose and the scraps you have at home. You can expect to add another 50 for drawer slides and 25 for drawer pulls. The other materials you might just have on hand, so check before you buy!

Materials:

- (2) 1x4x8

- (10) 1x2x8

- (6) 3/4" Plywood 4x8 Sheet

- (3) 1/2" Plywood 4x8 Sheet

- (1) 1/4" Plywood 4x8 Sheet

- (9 Pairs) 22" Drawer Slides (I used side mount full-extension slides)

- (9) Drawer Pulls (I used 15" pulls)

- 1 1/4" Pocket Hole Screws

- 1" Pocket Hole Screws

- 1" or longer Brad Nails

- Wood Glue (this is what I use)

- Wood Filler (this is what I use)

- Sand Paper

- Paint or Stain

- 2 1/2 Wood Screws (for mounting to the wall)

Tools:

- Tape Measure

- Pencil

- Square

- Circular Saw

- Miter Saw or Table Saw

- Rip Cut Guide

- Pocket Hole Jig

- Drill

- Brad Nailer

- Sander

- Stud Finder

- Safety Equipment (glasses, ear protection, dust mask/respirator, gloves)

The first step is to build the basic carcass of the towers. You may want to cut, do a dry assembly, paint or stain, and then assemble in the location they will placed (keep in mind this is a very large piece of furniture).

Cut your 4 vertical tower supports, the tops, bottoms, and shelves. These can be attached with 3/4" pocket holes and 1 1/4" pocket hole screws. Be sure that your project stays square as you work. The 1x2 cleat at the top will help with this (that can also be attached with 3/4" pocket holes and 1 1/4" pocket hole screws).

The next step is to create the 1x2s frame. Attach these with 3/4" pocket holes and 1 1/4" pocket hole screws on the back side. Ensure these are very square!

Add the 1x4 base trim and the 1x2 side trim with wood glue and brad nails. These should be added once the piece is assembled in place if you are tight on space to move the large finished project.

The drawers are 1/2 plywood pocket holed together with 1/2" pocket holes and 1" pocket hole screws. Make sure the pocket holes are on the outside of the drawer, not the inside, you don't want holes inside your drawers. The base is glued and brad nailed in place, alternatively, you can attach the bottom to the sides with pocket holes in the drawer sides. Attach the drawer slides to the towers and drawers making sure they are level! There will be a 3/4" spacer between the drawer slides and the tower sides for the laundry pull-out drawer. You can use a 1x2 or a scrap 3/4" plywood strip for this. The spacer keeps the drawer slide from interfering with the trim on the face of the tower.

Build 8 of these drawers:

Build 1 of these drawers:

The drawer fronts will be measured, cut, and attached after assembly to ensure a perfect fit. Slide your finished drawer in place, measure the opening, cut the drawer face, then attach it to the drawer in place. The faces will be glued and nailed to the drawer. All nail holes can be filled, sanded, and touched up with paint or stain after assembly.

Make 8 of these (measure and cut to fit your drawer opening):

Make 1 of these (measure and cut to fit your drawer opening):

Finally, add drawer pulls and make sure your unit is firmly secured to wall studs through the upper cleat to keep it from tipping!

Enjoy your new closet space!