Single Locker Cabinet

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Difficulty
Beginner Projects
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A single locker can be used alone or grouped with several other lockers to create a whole locker system! Features two large cubbies and a large locker area. Suitable for two hooks, on either side of the locker interior.

Well, I did promise you all a locker cabinet when you voted this weekend on our Facebook Fan Page.


And it was pretty close, Lockers vs Cubbies.  I loved so so many of your creative ideas, from using the cubbies style as a media center to creating a lift top bench to combining both . . . wow, we have some smart people in this world!  We all share one thing in common - the desire to have somewhere compact and well organized to throw (yes, throw) our stuff.  And as back to school approaches, the thought of backpacks, books, coats, homework and sports gear gives me clutterphobe nightmares.  I wake up in a cold sweat, drowing in down jackets, lunch pails, mittens, and Uggs and Grace's favorite hat that we can never find.

So I woke up on Saturday morning, drove to our local lumber yard, drilled quite a few pocket holes, and had a locker cabinet sitting in my entryway, with still a few hours left to pick blueberries.


No, I'm not superwoman.  I had help.  Here's Grace, waiting with her blueberry picking bucket, blue pants (because she is going to invariably sit on blueberries) and impaitent face.  And that's my sister Phebe and Grace's Grandma Pat.  They painted 5, yes 5, pieces of furniture for me!  They know how much I love picking berries, and I'm so thankful they helped out and I was able to finish all my projects and pick gallons and gallons of wild Alaska blueberries this weekend.

BUT I didn't get the beauty shots that I so desperately wanted.  So I thought I would publish a variation of the locker cabinet.  Something that combined a few of your ideas, and could work for anyone, no matter how many kids they have.  Or how small their space is.

Nope, it is not the locker cabinet.  Or the cubby cabinet.

It's just a lone locker.

Would definitely benefit from some company.  Of course hooks would be the perfect start, but some baskets and maybe a bench would be amazing.

I love color, but there is nothing wrong with white.
Dimensions
Dimensions are shown above.

Preparation

Shopping List

2 - 1x12 @ 10 feet long
2 - 1x2 @ 8 feet long
1 - 1x3 @ 14 feet long
1 - 1/4" Plywood or Beadboard (for the Back)

Common Materials
2 inch screws
1 1/4 inch finish nails
2 inch finish nails
120 grit sandpaper
primer
wood conditioner
paint
paint brush
Cut List

2 - 1x12 @ 67 1/4" (Box Sides)
3 - 1x12 @ 15 1/2" (Shelves)
1 - 1x12 @ 17" (Top)
1 - 1/4" Plywood @ 17" x 68" (Back)
2 - 1x2 @ 65 3/4" (Legs)
2 - 1x2 @ 17" (Crown/Header)
1 - 1x3 @ 14" (Footer)

Cutting Instructions

Please review the PDF for more information.

Tools
Tape Measure
Speed Square
Pencil
Safety Glasses
Hearing Protection
Drill
Circular Saw
Brad Nailer
Power Sander
Drill Bit Set
General Instructions

Please review PDF for more information.

Instructions

Step 1

As you know, I’ve been limited on tools lately, and ended up building my locker cabinet with a Kreg Jig™ and a drill. I am so impressed with my Kreg Jig™ ( I have the $99 one, and it’s worth every penny). If you are using the Kreg Jig™, drill pocket holes (three per end) in both ends of each of the shelves and on one end of the sides. Mark the joints on the side boards, as shown in the above measurements. Glue and screw. If you don’t have a Kreg Jig™, you can use a countersink bit and 2″ screws and glue from the outsides of the sides to attach the shelves.

Step 2

I’m missing my nailer, so I hand pounded in the back of my locker cabinet. I used 1″ finish nails and glue. Make sure you also nail to the shelves, as the plywood back adds strength to the shelves and keeps the locker square.

Step 3

If you have a Kreg Jig™, build your face frame separate. Drill pocket holes in both ends of the footer board (blue above) and the top ends of the leg trim (yellow above). Attach the boards with glue and screws. Then use finish nails to secure to the face of the locker.

If you don’t have a Kreg Jig™, you can start by attaching the leg trim, keeping outside edges flush. Then attach the footer and header, and finally the crown. Make sure you add a 2″ finish nail though the face of the crown into the 1×12 top piece of the locker.

Step 4

Add your hooks, and you are good to go! I also used a jigsaw to cut my leg bottoms at an angle because I liked to the look, but you can do whatever you like.

Comments

Curried Cupcakes (not verified)

Mon, 08/16/2010 - 04:22

I LOVE this. I want to build two of these with doors so I can store my vacuum in one and hang coats in the other.

Kevin (not verified)

Mon, 08/16/2010 - 06:02

This is what I think a lot of people were suggesting. I like this. However, the only thing I would love to add to it is the bottom area being a bit out more.. so you could sit on top of the cubby area. It would look like the Pottery Barn furniture:
http://www.potterybarn.com/products/brady-4-piece-charge-sort-entryway-…

But this is really nice! If you can draw up plans for the pottery barn model, that would be great too. :)

Ana White (not verified)

Mon, 08/16/2010 - 06:42

One more comment - one of the things I try to do is conserve materials when building. The back of this cabinet is 17" wide - wide enough so that you can only get two back pieces out of a single piece of 1/4" plywood. 1/4" plywood tends to be cheap, but if you want to conserve materials, make the entire cabinet 1" narrower, with the back 16" wide. Then you can get three back pieces from a single sheet of plywood.

AJ (not verified)

Mon, 08/16/2010 - 09:51

I just stumbled upon your site and I really really love it!! I love working with wood (I've actually thought of going to school for carpentry) and I know I will get great use out of this site.

One thing I would really enjoy, would be if you posted an average cost per project, it would be very handy. Thanks!

Kelly (not verified)

Mon, 08/16/2010 - 10:02

Love it! I'm adding it to my long list of to do projects from your site! :) Question... do you prime before you paint your furniture? I've never actually completed a project yet so just wondering for future reference, I figured you did, but the picture maybe looks like no- thought I'd ask :)

Småenglenes verksted (not verified)

Mon, 08/16/2010 - 22:55

This must be the most fantastic web site I've ever encountered, I'm over the moon.

Jeremy Davis (not verified)

Wed, 08/25/2010 - 14:47

Have you posted the plans for the "cubbie" option? Where can I find them? I really like the one on the top right of this post. Thanks.

Heidi (not verified)

Thu, 11/04/2010 - 04:47

I like the plans. but will have to adjust them wider to use them to store the Boyscout backpacks that are taking over my house will my husband and all my sons in scouts.
I will try to add photos after I build them. It could be a while as I have lots to do.

AlaskanAlison (not verified)

Tue, 11/09/2010 - 10:38

zomg. I stumbled on your website and am the happiest I've been all month! I've been desperately searching for a locker/cupboard unit that I could purchase, but I've been looking for something so specific that I just haven't found what I wanted. Now I can just make it! I think I'm going to make two of these, widen them just a bit and attach them side by side. I'm thinking there must be an easy way to attach doors to these?
Thanks so much! Amazing site!
Alison

pgutting (not verified)

Fri, 05/25/2012 - 07:46

I am also curious about the doors. I have a handfull of Montessori middle school students asking for lockers in their classroom and they really like this design, but they want doors. Anybody have any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks

srodge1

Sat, 09/14/2019 - 19:54

I love these plans!  I'm going to build four for one of the classrooms at church (and I bet some of the other teachers will want some too).  These will be perfect!

Thank you so much for all the hard work you put into posting each of your plans ... I've used so many!.  Our church has an annual auction, with all the proceeds going to the different ministries.  I try to do as many projects throughout the year and I ALWAYS have at least two of your projects to donate.  I can't tell you how much I appreciate how easy your plans are to follow.  I truly feel like I could build ANY of your projects using your plans :-).

Thanks again for your hard work … it's so much appreciated!!