How to make a wardrobe
Don’t conceal your clothes – showcase your best items in a handmade wardrobe. Our guide will talk you through every step of creating your own, unique, beautifully crafted closet.
Here is a list of all of the materials and tools you will need to complete your new wardrobe project.
The back of the wardrobe
Frame:
● Planed timber - 34mm x 34mm
● You will need 4 pieces - 2 x 740mm, 2 x 1800mm
Back cladding:
● Pine tongue & groove cladding - 94mm x 7.5mm
● You will need 8 pieces
Base & top of the wardrobe
Frame:
● Planed timber - 34mm x 34mm
● You will need 8 pieces - 4 x 740mm, 4 x 430mm
Top & bottom cover:
● Spruce plywood - 9mm
● You will need 2 pieces - 2 x 740mm x 430mm
Supporting the front of the wardrobe
Poles:
● Pine dowel - 35mm
● You will need 2 pieces - 2 x 1826mm
Extras
Hanging rail:
● 1 piece - 1 x 700mm
Swivel castors:
● 4 castors
Polypropylene rope:
● You will need 2 pieces - 2 x 150mm
Consumables
Screws
● For fixing base & top to back: 4mm x 60mm wood screws
● For fixing back frame and top & bottom frames together: 4mm x 65mm wood screws
● For fixing Castors to the base: 3.5mm x 25mm wood screws
● For fixing front support poles to base & top: 3.5mm x 50mm wood screws
Nails
● For fixing plywood base, top to base & top frame, and tongue & groove boards to back frame: 25mm steel oval head nails
Tools
● Drill/Driver
2mm, 4mm & 10mm Drill Bits
● Hammer
● Hand saw
● Tape measure
● Pencil
1. Assemble the back frame
Drill pilot holes (4mm) into the ends of both of the shorter (740mm ) back frame pieces. Find the centre of the piece and drill the pilot holes 18mm in from the ends. Screw the shorter pieces (740mm) onto the top of the longer pieces (1800mm) using 4mm x 60mm screws.
2. Assemble the top & bottom frames
Drill pilot holes (4mm) into the ends of the longer (740mm) pieces. Find the centre of the pieces and drill the pilot hole 18mm in from the ends. Screw the longer (740mm) pieces to the ends of the shorter (430mm) pieces using 4mm x 60mm screws.
3. Nail the plywood
Nail and glue 9mm plywood to top and base frames using 25mm oval head nails.
4. Cut the tongue & groove
Cut 6mm off the length of two of the 94mm tongue and groove pieces. Make sure to cut the groove side of one piece and the tongue side of the other.
5. Connect the tongue and groove
Connect all 8 pieces of tongue & groove and nail them to the back frame using 25mm oval head nails. Use 2 nails in the top and bottom of each piece, and then nail down the long edge of the outer pieces into the frame sides.
6. Fix the top and base
Pilot drill one long edge of both the base and the top pieces (4 holes in each). With the back of the wardrobe flat on the floor, screw the base and top onto each end of the back.
7. Fix the two front support poles
Pilot drill through the plywood in the base and top for securing the support poles. 53mm in from the front and the side of both the base and the top pieces. Hold the support poles in place and insert screws (3.5 x 50mm).
8. The hanging rail
Drill holes in the top piece and hanging rail (10mm drill bit), 50mm in from either end. Drill two holes into the top of the wardrobe 90mm in from the sides and 250mm in from the front.
9. Fitting the rope
Push a piece of rope through both holes in the top of the wardrobe and put a knot in the end to stop it pulling back through the hole. Now repeat this process through the hanging rail, making sure it is secure and the knot will not pull back through.
10. The castors
Finally, drill pilot holes into the base frame and screw in the castors. This way you can move your furniture round with ease. Make sure the castors are suitable for the weight of the wardrobe.