NotchLoading plan…
Loading plan…
This is a display cabinet built almost entirely from repetition: alternating rows of shelves and 8"-wide dividers, stacked from bottom to top. The repetition is exactly why accuracy matters — measure and mark each divider's position from the outside edges (8" is the plan's spacing) rather than eyeballing it row to row. A small error compounds: eyeball the first few rows close enough and by the time you're near the top, the drift is obvious.
The trickiest physical part isn't a technique, it's clearance — once several rows of shelves and dividers are in place, a standard drill won't fit into the lower joints anymore. The plan's answer is to do what pocket-hole access you can from the top while it's still open, then switch to nailing and gluing from underneath for anything you can no longer reach with a jig. Plan your joinery order around that shrinking access, not around what's easiest for the first row.
Make the shelves adjustable instead of fixed by mounting them on shelf pins if you want the flexibility to reconfigure cubby sizes for boots versus flats down the line.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Pine, 1x12, 8 ftShelves, sides, dividers. | 6 each |
| Pine, 1x6, 4 ftDecorative footer. | 1 each |
| 1/4" plywood, 4x8 sheetBack panel. | 1 each |
| Pocket hole screws, 1-1/4" | 1 box |
| Finish nails, 2" | 1 box |
| Brad nails, 1-1/4" | 1 box |
| Wood glue | 8 oz |
| Shelf pinsOptional — for adjustable rather than fixed shelves. | 24 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.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| ShelvesPine 1x12 | 8 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 25 1/2" |
| SidesPine 1x12 | 2 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 84 1/2" |
| Small dividersPine 1x12Measure and mark 8" from the outside edges for each — don't eyeball the spacing. | 12 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 8" |
| Large dividersPine 1x12 | 2 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 25" |
| FooterPine 1x6Cut a decorative pattern with a jigsaw. | 1 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 25 1/2" |
| Optional boot-cubby shelvesPine 1x12 | 3 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 8" |
| Back1/4" plywood | 1 | 1/4" × 27" × 84 1/2" |
Buy 8 boards at 8 ft.
6 boards
1 board
1 board
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 →
Drill pocket holes along the top edge of the small dividers while you still have full access. Attach two dividers to the top shelf, working from the top down while the assembly is still open.
You won't be able to fit a drill in to pocket-hole the bottom edge of these dividers anymore. Apply glue, mark the joint locations, and attach with 2" finish nails or screws from the underside instead.
Add the next row of dividers — this time from the top while you still can, using pocket holes. Measure and mark 8" from the outside edges for each divider rather than eyeballing the spacing; small errors compound across several rows and become obvious near the top. Continue alternating dividers and shelves this way until you're out of small dividers.
Cap off the bottom of the cabinet the same way you attached the other shelves.
Measure and mark the side panels with the location of every shelf — mark to the tops of the shelves for consistency. Line the sides up with the shelves and attach with 2" finish nails and glue.
Attach the footer with 2" finish nails and wood glue. Use your measurements to draw a decorative pattern and cut it carefully with a jigsaw.
Adjust the whole cabinet for square, then attach the plywood back with 1-1/4" finish nails and wood glue.
For adjustable rather than fixed shelf spacing, mount shelves on shelf pins instead of nailing or pocket-holing them in place.
No reviews yet
Sign in to review this plan or share your build.
No reviews yet. Be the first to build this.