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Tuesday, April 8, 2014

26

How to Make DIY Drawer Dividers

Well friends, it is slowly starting to warm up a bit in Wisconsin!  Finally!  Sun is shining longer and I have been braving flat shoes and light weight jackets!  With the warmer weather, I have gotten this huge desire to finish up about 101 itty bitty nagging projects around the house.  So hang with me over the next few weeks because although it may seem like I have organizational attention disorder, I have a lot of half finished projects waiting to be finished before we can take on anything on a grander scale.

One thing we really love about our lower level is that we had the space to put in a dressing room.  Initially it was a dark corner in the lower level that could never be considered a bedroom due to the lack of windows, so it was turned into a giant closet instead.  The room holds two armoire closets, a vanity, a dresser and our treadmill.  Overall, it has functioned really well for us, but for the last few years there have been a few things on our list that never were addressed.

Boots, belts, scarves, handbags and general accessory storage.  Typically these items were tossed into baskets and drawers, draped on our treadmill or stacked in piles on our ottomans. 

We recently added in a few extra shelves and drawers to hold all of these miscellaneous items {more on those in an upcoming post}, and those drawers needed a few dividers to make them function even more.



Knowing the odds of finding the perfect drawer dividers to fit our demands and drawer size were slim, we set out to DIY some of our own.

We wanted them to be inexpensive yet functional, so we started with some 3/16" x 4" oak mullion moulding.

  • We started by measuring the length and width of the interior of the drawer.  We marked our boards with those specific measurements.


  • Next, we cut the boards to our drawer length and width.  Because we were looking to add 9 total compartments within each drawer {3x3}, we cut two total boards to the length of the drawer and another two to the width of the drawer. 


  • To divide the boards into thirds, we measured and marked at 1/3 of the board and 2/3 of the board.  Then we branched out and marked approximately another 1/8" on each side of the mark, halfway up the board.  The goal was to create an interlocking set of dividers, so these marks had to be slightly wider than the 3/16" wood thickness.


    • Two boards of the same length were clamped together and the marked areas were cut out with the jigsaw.


    • The same steps were repeated for the other two boards, leaving us with four interlocking pieces.



    • Drawer check!


    • This is the celebration period, whoop!
    • To make them even more custom to the drawer, I gave them a few coats of white paint.

    •  And then lined the drawers with scented drawer liners of course!


    I used my drawer for my scarves {which I rolled} and belts.


    And my Mr. now stashes his ties and belts in his.


    The dividers are floating within the drawers as we opted not to affix them.  Because they were built to fit, they don't move around at all within the drawers, and I prefer the option to remove them someday should our storage needs ever change.  We are smitten!

    26 comments:

    1. I did this as well but I used foam board because I don't have a jigsaw. Such a great idea and so inexpensive. I love how your scarves are so neatly rolled now!

      http://lucysparkle.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/diy-makeup-storage-inexpensive-drawer.html

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      1. I was just thinking that I love this idea, but wouldn't take the time to do it with a saw and wood... as we move across the country while i'm 36 weeks preggo with a 16 month old. But, foam board. brilliant! officially on my 'organizing' list for when we get to our new place :) plus you can buy it already white. score.

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    2. I am in love with this Jen! Thank you for sharing!

      Erin
      upsideofchaos.com

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    3. Whoa!! this is amazing.. love it.. my scarves and belts are always homeless and are in desperate need of this.. thanks for the idea.. although I would prefer cardboard dividers.. I am going to give that a try.. will definitely share if I come up with something.. :)

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      1. Cardboard works great with this concept also, we did something similar here: http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/2012/03/you-asked-organizing-cords.html

        Over time the cardboard started to get a little flimsy within the small boxes, so our fear was that the same would happen in a higher traffic area. But it is a simple and nearly free option so why not?

        xo!

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    4. I'm impressed -- great job! Where did you get the lovely drawer liner paper?

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      1. Thanks Kellie! Found the drawer liner at HomeGoods. :)

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    5. so smart!!!!! I will have to see if I can talk the hubby into helping me with this project he he he.

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    6. Very nice. I could use this too. When I clicked on the link to the oak moulding I got "not available in your area". Do you have the dimensions of the wood stock (thickness and width) that you used so I can look for something similar (lol and then I will put in on the bottom of a very, very, very long to do list)

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      1. I got the same message ... can you suggest another material? I cannot find any molding that is 3/16in x 4in.

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      2. Our local Home Depot has a section of "craft wood", which contains all sorts of options that could be used. Many thin pieces of poplar or oak. Maybe be worth it to just browse the aisles for thin wood pieces or trim as we did for something you can work with. A reader also mentioned that foam board is also a great alternative. xoxo!

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    7. Love that, Jen!

      Sarah

      www.sarahsdaybook.wordpress.com

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    8. Wisconsin! Why hello fellow Wisconsinitte! And great work on the divider.

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    9. Thank you for this. I definitely need this for my scarves. I've had them hanging them on a curtain rod just outside my closet, which works great, but I'm ready for them to be tucked away somewhere else.

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    10. This idea is brilliant! I need something like this for my drawers!

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    11. I love this idea. I use hangers and I can never find my scarfs when I want, and things fall down, so this is great for me. Thanks for sharing.

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    12. You are a genius!
      Daria

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    13. Great idea!!
      L x
      Http://workingmumy.blogspot.com

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    14. Swoon - that's the PRETTIEST drawer!

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    15. I agree with dawnp! Love the liner!

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    16. These are great! Definitely making them!
      Would love if you’d take a look at my blog! roseylittleme.blogspot.com

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    17. Love this!! super cute and seems easy enough!

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    18. Wow so simple and effective
      Www.randomindistilling.blogspot.com

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    19. Little by little I have been doing things like this in the closet & bedroom. I have a problem with my kitchen drawers. I need a good idea for kitchen gadgets. I had about 3 or 4 muffin splitters & they were always in the way. Now I am looking for a good way to keep my drawer organized. They share a drawer with my silverware & that side stays orginazed. HELP PLEASE. Connie N Florida.

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