Plans to Build a Large Armoire

A Fabulous Piece of Storage for Any Room

An armoire is the perfect storage for so many areas of the home… It can be used to store linens or clothing, used as a media center, or as a pantry like I do in my home! My armoire has certainly seen better days and if I build a new one, these free DIY woodworking plans to build a large armoire will fit the bill perfectly! This plan features a drawer at the bottom and three shelves concealed behind two doors which are also blank slates for a fabulous finish! The top and bottom pieces are plywood edged with plain, off-the-shelf lumber so a decorative edge can be routed. PureBond plywood would be perfect for this project!!

The plans for this wardrobe cabinet are suitable for any skill levels, and are not complicated at all! This is a great project to build skill and show off your handiwork!

Materials:

• 1″ pocket hole screws
• 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws
• 1-1/4″ brad nails
• 1 set of 20″ drawer slides (<–affiliate link!)
• 4 – 4″ furniture legs with mounting plates OR 4 – 2×2 at 4″ with 8 – 2-1/2″ pocket hole screws
• 3 cabinet pulls
• 2 sets of hinges (<–affiliate link!)
• Edge banding, optional (<–affiliate link!)
• Finishing supplies

Lumber:

• 10 – 1×2 at 8′
• 1 – 1×3 at 4′
• 1 – 2×2 at 8′
• 1 – 2×4 at 8′
• 1 sheet of 1/2″ plywood
• 2 sheets of 3/4″ plywood
• 1 half sheet of 3/4″ plywood

Cut List:

• 2 – 2×4 at 43-1/2″ – Base
• 2 – 3/4″ plywood at 12-3/4″ x 23-1/2″ – Base Sides
• 2 – 1×2 at 12-3/4″ – Lower Front Frame
• 3 – 1×2 at 40-1/2″ – Lower Front Frame & Upper Front Frame Bottom
• 4 – 1×2 at 22-3/4″ – Bottom & Top Side Edges
• 2 – 1×2 at 46-1/2″ – Bottom & Top Front Edges
• 1 – 3/4″ plywood at 22″ x 43-1/2″ – Bottom Panel
• 2 – 3/4″ plywood at 23-1/2″ x 64-3/4″ – Upper Sides
• 1 – 3/4″ plywood at 43-1/2″ x 76-3/4″ – Back Panel
• 1 – 1×3 (ripped to 1-3/4″ wide) at 40-1/2″ – Upper Front Frame Top
• 2 – 1×2 at 64-3/4″ – Upper Front Frame Sides
• 1 – 1×2 at 61-1/2″ – Upper Front Frame Divider
• 4 – 1×2 at 22″ – Shelf Supports
• 2 – 2×2 at 22″ – Shelf Supports
• 2 – 3/4″ plywood at 22″ x 43-1/2″ – Shelves
• 1 – 3/4″ plywood at 22-3/4″ x 43-1/2″ – Top
• 1 – 3/4″ plywood at 18-1/2″ x 38″ – Drawer Box Bottom
• 2 – 3/4″ plywood at 7-1/2″ x 18-1/2″ – Drawer Box Sides
• 2 – 3/4″ plywood at 7-1/2″ x 39-1/2″ – Drawer Box Front & Back
• 2 – 2×2 at 22″ – Drawer Slide Spacers
• 1 – 3/4″ plywood at 9-1/2″ x 40-1/4″ – Drawer Front
• 4 – 1×2 at 16-1/4″ – Door Frame Rails
• 4 – 1×2 at 61-1/4″ – Door Frame Stiles
• 2 – 1/2″ plywood at 16-1/4″ x 58-1/4″ – Door Panels

 

Step One

Cut the pieces for the base and lower sides. If using furniture legs and mounting plates, attach the plates to the bottom of the 2×4 pieces according to the manufacturer’s instructions, then attach the legs. If using 2×2 pieces, drill pocket holes in one end only of each piece, then attach to the 2×4 pieces using glue and 2-1/2″ pocket hole screws.

Attach the side pieces to the 2×4 pieces as shown using glue and 1-1/4″ brad nails. The front 2×4 will be located 3/4″ back from the front edge of the side to allow for the lower front frame.

Step Two

Cut the pieces for the lower front frame and drill pocket holes in each end of the longer pieces. Assemble the frame as shown using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.

Attach the frame to the front of the base securing with glue and 1-1/4″ brad nails.

Step Three

Cut the pieces for the bottom and the bottom frame then drill pocket holes in three edges only (one longer edge will not have pocket holes drilled into it).  Attach the side pieces using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws. Note that the side pieces will be 3/4″ longer than the side edges of the panel. (This allows for the back.) Attach the front edge piece using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws. Rout a decorative edge along the frame pieces using a router and a decorative bit. Secure the bottom to the base using glue and 1-1/4″ brad nails. The back edge of the side frame pieces will be flush with the back edge of the lower sides. (The front and sides will overhang by 3/4″.)

Step Four

Cut the pieces for the upper sides and drill pocket holes in each shorter edge. Attach the sides using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws locating the pieces 3/4″ away from the front edge (so the back edge is flush with the lower frame pieces) and 3/4″ from each side.

Step Five

Cut the piece for the back and drill pocket holes in all four edge. Position the back as shown, then secure using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.

Step Six

Cut the pieces for the front frame. Drill pocket holes in each end of the shorter pieces, as well as the divider. Assemble the frame as shown using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws. Orient the frame with the 1-3/4″ piece at the top then attach the frame to the front using glue and 1-1/4″ brad nails through the sides into the frame. (The bottom edge of the frame will just be glued in place.)

Step Seven

Cut the pieces for the shelf supports and the shelves. It will be easier to install the lower supports then the lower shelf first, then continue with the upper supports and shelf. Position the supports as shown, then secure using glue and 1-1/4″ brad nails through the front frame and back into the ends of the pieces. The shelves will be positioned on the supports then secured using glue and 1-1/4″ brad nails.

 

Step Eight

Cut the pieces for the top and the top frame then drill pocket holes in three edges only (one longer edge will not have pocket holes drilled into it).  Attach the side pieces using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.  Attach the front edge piece using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws. Rout a decorative edge along the frame pieces using a router and a decorative bit. Secure the top to the sides and back using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws from underneath. The front and sides will overlap by 3/4″.

Step Nine

Cut the pieces for the drawer slide supports. Position as shown then secure using glue and 1-1/4″ brad nails through the lower sides, lower front frame, and back.

Step Ten

Cut the pieces for the drawer boxes. Drill pocket holes in each end of the side pieces as well as all four edges of the bottom. Assemble as shown using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws. Install the drawer slides according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This easy tutorial on installing drawer slides will be helpful!  Make any necessary adjustments.

Step Eleven

Cut the piece for the drawer front. There will be a 1/8″ gap around all sides of the drawer front. This easy tutorial on installing drawer fronts will be helpful, also! Make any necessary adjustments, then install the cabinet pull.

Step Twelve

Cut the pieces for the doors. Drill pocket holes in all four edges of the panel pieces, as well as each end of the door frame rails. Attach the rails to the panels with the back edges flush then secure using glue and 1″ pocket hole screws. Attach the stiles using glue and 1″ pocket hole screws through the panel and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws through the rails. There will be a 1/8″ gap around all sides of the doors. Install the hinges on the doors, then install the doors in the cabinet.

Finish as desired!

Even though the armoire is large, this should still be a relatively quick build! have questions about the DIY plans to build a large armoire? Leave a comment below! If you’ve built this project, please share on the DbSC Facebook page or drop an email – I’d love to see how you’ve used the free DIY armoire plans!

Originally posted 2013-08-19 08:00:42.