Furniture

Industrial Cubby Storage

This 9 space cubby organizer can be put together quickly with off the shelf lumber and finished however you'd like.

Difficulty: Easy
Time: 2.8–5.5 hours
Cost: $$

About this build

This 9 space cubby organizer can be put together quickly with off the shelf lumber and finished however you'd like. A great storage solution for crafts, toys, shoes, or even office supplies.

Tools

Essential

Brad Nailer
Circular Saw
Drill / Driver
Impact Driver
Miter Saw
Pocket Hole Jig
Random Orbit Sander

Optional / nice to have

Combination Square
Tape Measure

Materials

Item	Qty
Board, 2x2 96"	8 board
Board, 2x3 96"	1 board
Board, 2x4 96"	1 board
Board, 1x4 96"	1 board
Board, 1x4 72"	1 board
Moulding, 1/2" x 1/2" square wood trim 120"	1 board
2-1/2" pocket hole screws	150 each
1-1/4" pocket hole screws	30 each
Wood glue	1 each
18-gauge finish nails/brads	27 each
Sandpaper	1 each
Stain or paint	1 each
Clear top coat	1 each
Paste wax	1 each

Overall cost: $$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.

Cut list

Part	Qty	T × W × L
Vertical Posts	4	1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 47 1/2"
Horizontal Supports	24	1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 13"
2 x 2 Rails	2	1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 10 1/2"
2 x 3 Rails	6	1 1/2" × 2 1/2" × 10 1/2"
2 x 4 Rails	6	1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 10 1/2"
Top Board	3	3/4" × 3 1/2" × 42"
Stop Blocks	9	1/2" × 1/2" × 13"

What to buy

Buy 12 boards at 8 ft.

1 1/2" × 3 1/2"

1 board

10 1/2"10 1/2"10 1/2"10 1/2"10 1/2"10 1/2"

1 1/2" × 2 1/2"

1 board

10 1/2"10 1/2"10 1/2"10 1/2"10 1/2"10 1/2"

1 1/2" × 1 1/2"

6 boards

47 1/2"13"13"13"
47 1/2"13"13"13"
47 1/2"13"13"13"
47 1/2"13"13"13"
13"13"13"13"13"13"13"
13"13"13"13"13"10 1/2"10 1/2"

3/4" × 3 1/2"

2 boards

42"42"
42"

1/2" × 1/2"

2 boards

13"13"13"13"13"13"13"
13"13"

Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →

Start building →

Instructions

1Lay out vertical posts
Cut eight, 2 x 2 x 47-1/2" posts. Lay out four posts on your work surface.
2Assemble grids
- Cut 24, 2 x 2 x 13" horizontal support pieces. To create each grid: Align a horizontal support between each post, making sure each sits flush to the top of the posts. Using pocket holes and 2-1/2" screws, connect posts and supports.
- Measure 12-1/2" from the bottom of the supports and ascribe a line.
- Align the next row of supports on the line and attach with screws through pocket holes.
- Attach two more rows of horizontal supports in the same manner, ultimately creating a grid with nine, 13" x 12-1/2" openings.
- Repeat the above steps to create a second grid with remaining vertical posts and horizontal supports.
3Attach rails
- Cut rails from 2 x 2, 2 x 3 and 2 x 4 boards.
- Drill 2-3 pocket holes, evenly spaced on each end of each rail.
- Flip one assembled grid onto your work surface, face-down. Using pocket holes and 2-1/2" screws, attach the 2 x 2 rails in the top corners.
- Attach 2 x 3 rails at the intersecting grid points, along the outer posts, keeping the rails flush to the outside.
- Attach 2 x 4 rails, centered on the remaining intersecting grid points.
4Connect frame
- Flip the second grid, face-down onto the work surface. Invert the first grid (with attach rails) onto the second grid.
- Align the rails and connect with pocket holes and 2-1/2" screws.
5Build and attach top
- *First measure the opening on the top side of the assembled frame. If the opening is not 42" x 10-1/2", adjustments to the size of the top may be needed.
- Cut three, 1 x 4 x 42" boards.
- Join boards edge to edge with pocket holes and 1-1/4" screws.
- Drill additional pocket holes around the perimeter of the joined top.
- Insert the top into the opening on the top of the frame.
- Attach the top to the frame using the perimeter pocket holes and 1-1/4" screws.
6Attach stop blocks
- Cut nine, 13" lengths of 1/2" x 1/2" square wood trim. On the backside of the frame, place a stop block on the top side of each horizontal support, flush to the back.
- Attach with wood glue and 18 gauge finish nails. This should provide a 1" wide strip of horizontal support exposed.
7Storage cubbies
The frame will accommodate standard, 12" storage cubbies. To make a set of DIY, Industrial style storage cubbies from wood and off-the-shelf steel panels, check out this tutorial: http://www.pneumaticaddict.com/2016/02/diy-industrial-storage-cubbies.html
8Sand and finish
Sand the entire frame, making sure to knock down sharp edges. For a painted finish, sand up to a minimum of a 120 grit and for a stained finish, a minimum of a 220 grit. For smoother movement and extra protection, apply 1-2 coats of paste wax to the rails before adding storage cubbies.