Making your own storage furniture
Want to make your own storage furniture? This can be a tricky job, but with the right preparation, it is doable for any handyman. At TOSIZE.be, we're happy to help. In this article, we'll explain how to tackle making your own storage furniture.
In this article:
- How to make your own bespoke storage furniture
- What do you use your storage unit for
- What do you need to make a bespoke storage unit
- Which sheet material to use for a storage unit
- How to make a drawing or sketch for a storage unit
- Connecting the corners of your storage unit
- Examples of storage furniture made by our handymen
- Need more inspiration?
- Get started with your to size storage furniture
How to make your own bespoke storage furniture
The great thing about making your own storage furniture is: you decide entirely what the furniture will look like and what you want to do with it. Ideal if you want to turn empty space in your home, such as an unused niche, into a storage space. Or if you need some storage space in your hallway or living room.
Making your own storage furniture is a nice challenge for a handyman. How do you start? Which materials do you use? How do you finish the furniture? It is important to think about this beforehand. After all, good preparation is half the work!
In this article, we tell you exactly how to go about making a storage unit to measure. And we share examples of projects by our handymen with you!
Ready to get started?
What do you use your storage unit for
An important first question: what do you use your storage furniture for? Among our handymen, we see a huge variety of creative uses for storage furniture. We see many hallway cabinets: ideal for storing the hoover and shoes lying around.
But, what about a dog table with space for garden cushions? Or a super creative frog cabinet? You could also create a storage unit in the form of a cabinet couch to sit on. Or maybe you'll go for a complete, multifunctional wall unit with workstation and space for the litter box!
Once you know exactly what you want to use the storage unit for and where in the house it should be, you can develop your idea further.
What do you need to make a bespoke storage unit
You will naturally need a number of tools and supplies for a job like this. It depends on your job exactly which materials you need. But, think roughly about the following:
- Graph paper, pencil, eraser, ruler: for an accurate sketch of your project
- Cordless drill: to easily pre-drill holes and screw screws into your material
- Wood glue: often needed to glue various parts of your storage furniture firmly together
- Primer and varnish: if you choose a type of wood that needs finishing - primer first, then varnish
- Sandpaper: always handy to have with you, with a coarse or small grain
- Tape measure or folding rule: needed to measure and mark your wood
- Spirit level: to make your storage unit nice and level
- Screws: to connect the different parts and, if necessary, to fix your storage unit to the wall
Which sheet material to use for a storage unit
An important choice for your homemade storage furniture is the sheet material you will use. This, of course, largely determines the look of your project.
At TOSIZE.be, you can choose from many types of board material, such as MDF, plywood, plywood, OSB, furniture panels or joinery panels. Each type of material has its own properties and qualities.
You can choose materials that you have to finish yourself (priming and painting), but we also have materials, such as plywood, that you can order with a lacquer carrier film or finished with a melamine layer.
In our customers' projects, we often see the use of MDF, plywood and furniture panel for storage furniture.
MDF
MDF is one of the most versatile types of board material. It is easy to work with and does not splinter. We have {many variants of MDF in stock for you. For example, you can choose from blank MDF, as well as MDF with lacquer backing, ground MDF or black MDF.
Plywood
Also plywood is a versatile powerhouse that is easy to work with. This board material is ideal for your storage furniture and is also available with a beautiful melamine coating.
Furniture panel and Timber board
Furniture panel and Timber board are various sheet materials. This material is widely used in furniture and interior design, making it very suitable for storage furniture. Furniture panel is finished with a manufactured top layer. Carpentry panels and solid board material consist of solid (glued) elements.
How to make a drawing or sketch for a storage unit
An important first step in making your storage furniture is to draw a sketch.
How do you go about this? If all goes well, you already have a rough idea of what your furniture should look like and what functionalities it should have. Will it have drawers, shelves or cabinet doors? You will take these into account in your sketch.
Will your storage unit be built-in or freestanding? In the case of a built-in, in a niche or between two walls, for example, it is important to measure the space you have carefully. Also bear in mind that existing walls are not always completely straight.
The sketch itself is simply made with graph paper, a pencil, an eraser and possibly a ruler. Of course, you can also use an online programme such as SketchUp.
In the sketching phase, it can also make sense to tape the outer dimensions of your storage unit to the wall. That way you can see exactly how much space your furniture will take up in the room. If it turns out to be larger or smaller than you expected, you can adjust it during the sketching phase.
While sketching, you also give yourself plenty of time to think of each element of your home-made storage furniture.
Connecting the corners of your storage unit
An important consideration in the preparation process is how you will connect the different boards together. You can choose to screw (possibly in combination with gluing) or use corner anchors.
At TOSIZE.be, we can mitre-cut your sheet metal. This way, you create beautiful, hidden joints. A right angle is of course also possible. Check out our various finishing options.
The choice of your joints will ultimately affect the exact dimensions of your material. So take this into account when making your cutting list.
You elaborate on your sketch until you know the exact dimensions of all the parts. Check carefully that your inside and outside measurements are correct. For example, add the thickness of the sheet materials to the inside measurements: the result of this sum should equal the outside measurements. Measure the front and back, bottom and top. Always start from the smallest measurement and take slack!
Now you can compile your saw list: a list on which all sheet materials and their exact dimensions are noted. With this list in your hand, you can enter exactly how we should saw your materials in our webshop.
Tip: mark each board with a characteristic of your choice. That way you don't have to figure out at home which board belongs where.
Need help with your sketch? With some of our handymen's DIY projects you will find the sketch of the job in question.
Examples of storage furniture made by our handymen
Every now and then, we are truly amazed by the wonderful projects completed by our handymen. Take a look:
Plywood poplar frog cabinet
This storage cabinet in the shape of a frog by Irene is the epitome of creativity and precision as far as we are concerned. A frog by the front door brings good luck, in any case, this one looks beautiful and offers a lot of storage space.
Multifunctional wall unit made of plywood birch
Another great example is this multifunctional wall unit. Sam asked us to cut 65 plywood panels to size for this unit. The result is impressive: lots of storage space, a sit-stand desk, space for the cat box and for the hoover!
Nic made this handy bin on wheels to put next to the wood stove. He devised a clever method to make the screws not visible from the outside. Very nice!
Want to see even more inspiration from our handymen? Then check out this storage cupboard in a niche, a hallway cupboard for the meter cupboard or this handy chest bench a handyman made for his daughter.
Get started with your to size storage furniture
Are you ready to make your own storage furniture? With the tips in this article, you should succeed.
In any case, we will assist you by sawing your panel materials exactly to size in our online sawmill. No problems with sawdust, blunt saw blades or crooked edges. Everything cut to the millimetre and delivered to your home with ease. And that's extra convenient, because it prevents the parts from not fitting in your car or damaging your beautiful interior.
Have fun making your bespoke storage furniture!
Also check out these similar DIY tips
