Thursday, October 1, 2015

36 UHeart Organizing: DIY Acrylic Drawer Dividers

First, thank you again so very much for your comments on this week's blogiversary post.  I have been really moved by all you have had to say, and I look forward to many more years with you all.  #bestreadersever

It is always funny when the contributors and I fall into the same organizing wavelengths.  It happens quite often and always causes me to grin big when we are on similar paths with our ideas (great minds think alike right?).  I recently shared how we DIY'd some wooden, adjustable dividers from our son's armoire drawers (yet the concept could be used in any drawer).  Today, Ursula is joining us from Home Made by Carmona, and she is sharing her stunning acrylic version of adjustable drawer dividers.  The best part, no major tools are required and they will turn out incredibly lovely.  Acrylic anything gets my heart racing, and this project was no exception.



Hi there amazing organizing lovers! Ursula here from Home Made by Carmona, excited to share with you my latest and greatest in stylish organizing.

There is nothing I hate more than having to sort through a drawer to find what I'm looking for. Any drawer, kitchen drawer, bathroom drawer, clothing drawer, office supply drawer... you name it! Ideally, wouldn't it be amazing to know exactly where everything is, where it goes, and when you opened a drawer you could see everything at a glance? Ah-mazing. Am I dreaming? Well then don't pinch me, because I'm not willing to wake up from this one!

In order to achieve this dream, half the battle is organizing the drawer in a way that maximizes the space and allows you to get a clear view of everything in it. So, today I'm going to show you how to make stylish and custom adjustable acrylic drawer organizers. I made an entire set for my bedroom wardrobe, and I LOVE them!


Why custom? Because I am not of fan of purchasing a set of acrylic organizers that don't fit precisely in the drawer and end up wasting some space. Now with these DIY acrylic organizers, you can adjust the inserts to fit into the drawer perfectly. As a matter of fact, they are designed specifically to each individual drawer!

Ready to get started?


Materials what you'll need:
  • Dentil molding
  • Plastic sheets
  • Wood glue
  • Finishing nails (optional)

Tools you'll need:
  • Hack saw (or something to cut molding to size)
  • Carpenters steel square
  • Vice grips
  • Plastic cutter (or really sharp utility knife)
  • Measuring tape
  • Paint & spray paint, painters tape (all optional)


Begin by measuring the length of your drawers and cutting 4 pieces of dentil molding to size. Be sure that each piece of molding will line up (so start cuts from the same location on each square). These will act as slots where you can insert your dividers.


Glue down the two pieces of dentil molding to the back and two to the front of the drawer. One at the bottom of the drawer, and one near the top. If you like you can use finishing nails to add a little security and hold the molding in place.

*Alteration Note: If you prefer your organizers going across the drawer rather than back to front, that is fine, add the molding to the sides of the drawer instead.


While your molding dries in place. Measure the drawer from front to back, from molding strip to molding strip. Remember, you want your dividers to be able to slide in place without being too snug or too loose, so measure from the crevice in the molding, to the crevice of the molding on the opposite side. This is going to be the length of your acrylic sheet. Then measure how deep your drawer sides are, and you'll have the dimensions for your acrylic (plastic) insert.


Place your acrylic sheet on top of a piece of scrap wood you don't mind cutting/damaging. Using your carpenters steel square (or T-square, whatever you have) and a pair of vice grips to hold it in place, you will use your plastic cutter to score the acrylic sheet in the desired size. You will want to score it 3 or 4 times in the same line... go slowly as it is easy for the cutter to wander outside of the lines you are trying to make. Accuracy is more important than pressure when scoring; remember you're not trying to cut it, you're trying to score it.

Next move it down to the edge of your wood work top, still using the carpenter square and vice grips along the score line. Allow it to overhang right where the score line is, then gently snap the acrylic by pressing downward. This part is much easier than you'd think, it doesn't take much pressure, and the break line is quite clean! Do this for as many inserts as you desire to have.


Tip: if you have a small piece that needs to be broken off, without much of an over hang, use a pair of pliers instead of your hands to break along the score line.

Now if you like, you can paint your drawer, and even add a little glam to your acrylic inserts by spray painting the bottom. I love a gorgeous metallic gold, so I am covering the tops, and spray painting the bottoms.


I love that these acrylic dividers are adjustable. Finally time to insert your acrylic dividers and get organizing!


Practical, yet stunning! My entire set of wardrobe drawers got a full organizing makeover!


Just to give you a peek at a few of my drawers, and how I organized them; notice how everything is easily visible without having to sort through it to find what you need?


You could make these same organizers using wooden inserts, but honestly I just love the look of acrylic. It is beautiful and reflective, and nothing can get mistakenly hidden by being jammed in a corner somewhere.


Whether you need small slots, large slots, or you need to change how many acrylic dividers you require for each drawer, it is easily done without having to run out and purchase a new set of organizers.


Now everything in my freestanding wardrobe is customized to my exact needs; when my needs change, everything in it is easily changed... as a matter of fact, this entire unit is a DIY build! If you like, you can learn how I turned two small IKEA rast dressers into this wardrobe you see.



Then come back, and make these DIY acrylic organizers to go with them. It will be the perfect custom combination!




________________

"Hi, I'm Ursula and I blog at Home Made by Carmona where there is always a fun DIY project in play. I've got expensive taste and no money, I'm a neat freak who's house didn't get that memo, and I firmly believe organization has the power to improve our homes, habits, and the members that abide there! I'm so thrilled to be here at IHeart Organizing, the blog that first inspired me to start my own blogging journey."



36 comments:

  1. This is gorgeous! What a great idea! I've got some drawers that may be getting a makeover soon.... :)

    Visiting from LorimerLiving.Com
    XO, Jaclyn

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  2. I love this! Based on Jen's wardrobe makeover, I asked my handy brother to help me add some drawers to my son's closet since he's outgrowing the current setup. These will help keep items separated and clearly seen. The wood ones Jen made looked nice as well but the acrylic is something I can handle myself...love, love, love!

    Peggy :-)

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  3. I love this! I have a lot of drawers that need so help so this will come in handy!
    LettieLane.blogspot.com

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  4. Gorgeous! Using the dentil molding to hold the acrylic pieces is genius.

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  5. SUPER clever use of molding!!! Love it!

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  6. How much did all the materials cost?

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    1. Thanks for asking Emilie! Each poly sheet cost me about $2...dentil molding prices will be different wherever you go, but I picked up mine for $4 in the scrap section of my hardware store!

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  7. Love that these are easily rearranged! Did you notice any 'sharp' edges the snapping?

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    1. Thank you! No, it makes a nice clean break when snapping. Plus, what I love about the thin poly sheets is that you can actually cut it with wire cutting shears...so you could also round out the corners if you like!

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  8. Are you a KonMari follower? All of your folding looks very KM! Gorgeous and great idea!

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  9. Really fun idea! I like this!

    Her Heartland Soul
    http://herheartlandsoul.com

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  10. Love this idea! These are much nicer than the ones you can buy at the store. I'm not a huge DIY but this one is worth giving a try ;)

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  11. You inspire me to make DIY drawer dividers too! I love to customize my drawers. Thank you for this great idea ^^

    www.gadzotica.com

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  12. Smarty smart smart. Totally going to do this after going all KonMari on my closet.

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  13. Smarty smart smart. Totally going to do this after going all KonMari on my closet.

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  14. Samantha WinterlandOctober 2, 2015 at 8:41 AM

    Another awesome idea and what a great use of the dentil molding! This acrylyc drawer divider is way more sophisticated than anything I have tried so far! I am definitely trying it over the weekend when I have more free time on my hands! Keep up the good work!
    Sam
    http://www.paulscleaningmelbourne.com.au/

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  15. This is a great idea and I am considering using this solution for a few projects. Can you please tell us if the edges are sharp or rough at all? I want to make sure it would work for my kids' drawers . . . Thanks!

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    1. Sure! The breaks are very clean, so no jagged edges...plus it is easily cut using some wire cutters, so you can round out the corners if you like! ;) Good luck on your project!

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  16. Definitely looks easier than one would think :-)

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  17. Excellent easy-to-follow guide! Few of my drawers can't wait to be customized this way because no matter how many different dividers I buy none of them fits the way I want them to. This is way better. Thanks for sharing :)

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  18. I so need one (actually several) of these for my drawers. Now to get hubby to make it for me. LOL!

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  19. I love you! That's exactly what I needed in my life! I have been looking for ways to organize my toddler's dresser; even tried cardboard paper, but I hated it. This is what I need in my life!!! Thank you!

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  20. What a great idea! Super clever way to use dentil molding!

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  21. I think this idea is fantastic! I forwarded it to my BFF and hopefully this will be a project we can both do. I just put together a large Ikea dresser, so it's a perfect project. Thanks!

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  22. It looks great. Thank you for sharing this idea.

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  23. Were you able to purchase the plastic sheets and the molding at the same place? (Like a big box home improvement store)

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    1. Hi Diana,

      I have used acrylic for projects in the past and it was purchased at Home Depot (near the doors & windows). I have also seen similar moulding styles there as well.

      xoxo!

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    2. Officially geeking out! Iheart your blog and all of the contributors as well. Thanks for the info.

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  24. I never even thought of making my own! this is a great guide, thanks for sharing!

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  25. Using that molding that way is genius! genius I tell ya! This is on my to-do list fo sho!

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  26. Hi there I love this idea,looks amazing. Can you please let me know where you bought the sheets and also the dental trim. Any links you can provide would be so helpful. Thank you! You are amazing!

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  27. Amazing idea! I wanna do this with my closet. Do you have any idea where to find the dentil molding in Europe/Denmark though. I see that in the US you can find it everywhere at the home depot etc. But it is not that widely used in Denmark I see.

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