Build your own drawer in 6 simple steps
- Difficultymedium
- Cost20-100 €
- Duration1-3 h
Introduction
There’s no invention quite like the drawer. Whether in your wardrobe, hallway or kitchen, drawers are both practical and versatile, providing easy storage in a range of different variations. In this guide, you’ll learn how to build your own drawer, what to look out for, and how to choose the best design for your needs.
Step-by-step instructions: Building your own drawers
Our step-by-step guide below will teach you everything about building a DIY wooden drawer. For useful tips and additional information before you begin, check out the “Tips & Planning” section further down the guide.
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Naturally, safety is incredibly important. Make sure you take the appropriate measures to protect yourself and those around you. You can find a complete list of tips in our guide to DIY safety precautions.
Measuring
If you measure correctly from the start, your drawer won’t jam or be too loose at the end. Take precise measurements using a tape measure or a digital line laser, making sure to include any drawer fittings relevant to your design. We recommend you allow an extra 2cm for the fittings, but this figure can vary depending on the model you choose.
Cutting the material
After measuring, cut out your base, front and side panels of your drawer using a jigsaw or hand-held circular saw. If you have plans for further DIY projects, it might also be worth investing in a table saw. Use a guide to ensure your cuts are as straight as possible. Next, sand the edges of your wooden parts either by hand or with a multi-sander before you start building. This way, your drawer will open and close a lot smoother later on.
Drilling and gluing
It’s better to be safe than sorry, even when building drawers. That’s why you should both glue and a drill when assembling your DIY drawer, using SPAX screws or wooden dowels as well as wood glue to attach the individual parts together. Make sure to wipe off any excess glue quickly before it dries. Since you’ll most likely be building your drawer with thin wooden parts, pre-drill all the holes with a cordless drill and don’t make them too deep. This will keep the wood intact and ensure the screw heads don’t stick out. Read our guide to drills and drill bits for more information.
Attaching the drawer fittings
The drawer fittings are the rail system that allow the drawers to slide back and forth in their cupboard. If you need to, you can learn more about the different types of rails and runners in the “Tips & Planning” chapter further down this guide.
For this step, it’s best to lay your drawer cabinet on its back wall if possible. Using a pencil, mark the lower edge of the fittings inside the cabinet. Then, starting with the hole furthest inside, pre-drill all the holes and fix the rail with the appropriate screws. Repeat this process with the second drawer fitting.
The guide rails must be exactly horizontal, otherwise the drawer may slide open by itself. It’s worth measuring and testing several times – just to be sure! On the drawer itself, mark the height of the next rails and attach them to the drawer. These fittings will slot in or over the ones attached inside the cabinet.
The drawer fittings you use are entirely up to you. You can even consider not using fittings, particularly if your drawer won’t have to carry too much weight. You could use wooden runners or grooves as guide rails, for instance, but more on this later.
Attaching the front panel
Although attaching the drawer’s façade is not the last step in our instructions, it is perhaps the crowning glory of the process. As a result, it’s highly important that it fits perfectly. First, fix the panel in place with the help of thin wooden or metal plates as spacers. Then, use clamps to attach the front panel to the drawer’s main body.
Fitting the handle
Make sure to pre-drill the handle holes before attaching the front panel. To prevent the wood splintering, place a separate block of wood behind the holes as you drill. Then, insert the screws through the pre-drilled holes and attach the handle. Now, realign the front panel and fix it from behind using screws. Make sure no screw protrudes out through the wooden panel.
Congratulations! You have just built your own drawer in just 6 easy steps! If you want to, you can now apply glaze to protect the wood or colour the drawer. If you’re building several drawers, it’s worth using a paint spray system to apply the glaze, as this saves you a lot of time and allows you to reach every corner easily. Check out our paint spraying guide for more details on this.
Good to know: A DIY drawer divider is great for organising your things! Check out our article on creating storage space in your home for more tips or build some of our space-saving ideas: a DIY boot rack, 3 DIY shelves, a DIY space saving loft bed for a children’s room, or a DIY folding desk. You can also use the space under your stairs to build some practical storage.
Tips & planning for building your own drawer
There are many ways to build your own drawer. In this section, you’ll discover which methods are best suited to your requirements and what you should consider for each one.
The different types of drawers
A drawer should be easy to open and close, but which system can best achieve this in DIY circumstances? Let’s look at the various possibilities.
Drawer without guide rails
The simplest version of a drawer consists of wooden boards that you either glue, screw or dowel together in box form. Without a guide rail, however, you will soon find that it cannot be opened and closed easily, since the wooden parts cause too much friction against each other.
Wooden drawer runners
Traditional drawers use runners, tilting bars and mouldings to ensure the drawer opens smoothly. Make sure you use hardwoods here, as these are particularly resistant to abrasion. If the drawer mechanism parts aren’t exposed to heavy loads, you can use thin wood of around 5mm in thickness. This reduces the air gap size and doesn’t allow the wood to expand as much when subjected to heat and humidity.
Another option is to use grooves as guide rails for your drawer. This concept requires a little more craftsmanship and woodwork, but it looks very elegant and isn’t visible from the outside. This is particularly ideal for smaller drawers, since grooves save space and give you a little extra storage.
Wooden drawer rails are great because you can use all-natural materials. The design is visually appealing, but it requires a higher degree of craftsmanship. If you intend to store heavy loads in your drawer, we recommend using metal runners instead.
Roller guide rail
A roller guide rail is probably the simplest and most cost-effective solution if you’re building a drawer yourself since it can support up to 100kg and is easy to assemble. It's also possible to take the drawer out later and there's no need to carve wooden grooves. However, it’s less stable and often the drawer cannot be pulled out fully.
Ball bearing rails
Ball bearing rails are essentially a development of the roller guide rails. They’re more expensive than roller rails at around £2-£6 per piece, but they offer even greater stability and have a self-closing mechanism.
How much weight will my DIY drawer hold?
This depends on the type and thickness of the wood used, as well as whether your drawer is glued, screwed or dowelled. For optimum stability, use all three construction methods together. Ensure that the wood is appropriately solid and thick, especially if your drawer needs to bear lots of weight.
What DIY projects can I build a drawer for?
We offer plenty of DIY projects that need drawers, such as DIY pallet furniture, a DIY workbench or a DIY planting table. You could also integrate drawers into our DIY wardrobe.
From upcycled drawers to other ideas for upcycling in your home and garden, check out our guides on 5 ways to transform an old chest-of-drawers and tips for sustainable interior design to get your creativity flowing!