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Dress Up Tower

September 29, 2011 |
posted by Ana White
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Build your own dress up storage tower for you little ones! This step by step plan includes everything you need to DIY a dress up storage center.

Dress Up Tower

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Projects built from this plan. Thank you for submitting brag posts, it's appreciated by all!

About Project

Author Notes: 

The Holidays always just sneak up on us, not every giving us nearly enough time to build our gifts. This year, I'll be posting gift plans a little earlier so you can get a head start on gifts. 


Our dress up plan has been one of the most popular on the site. But for those of you who are very limited on space (Grace's room is TINY) I loved this dress up storage from Pottery Barn Kids.  All the cuteness and functionality in a much smaller footprint.  

But here's my idea.  Why not build this dress up center for about $30 in lumber - you could even choose PureBond Formaldehyde Free Plywood as a better health alternative - and then spend $200 on dress up clothes and accessories to  give you child a dream holiday gift ... without the remorse later?  Rather than buying just the dress up center for $250 ...

And there's nothing like hearing your child proudly say "My MAMA built it for me!"

And with this plan, if you can get your hardware store to rip your plywood into manageable widths, all you will need is a jigsaw to cut out the pieces!  

Dimensions

Dimensions: 
Dress Up Tower
Dimensions: 
Dimensions are shown above.

Materials and Tools

Shopping List: 

1 - 1/2 sheet 3/4" plywood, MDF or other sheet goods
1 - 1x4 @ 3 feet long
1 - package of rod pocket holders (check the closet aisle)
1 - 1 1/4" wood dowel, 16" long (diameter needs to work with the rod pocket holders you choose, so adjust if necessary)
Use either pocket holes or finish nails or screws

2 inch screws
2 inch finish nails
wood glue
wood filler
120 grit sandpaper
primer
paint
paint brush
Tools: 
measuring tape
square
pencil
safety glasses
hearing protection
circular saw
jigsaw
nailer
sander
countersink drill bit

Cut List

Cut List: 

2 - 1x4 @ 15"
2 - 3/4" plywood @ 48" x 16"
2 - 3/4" plywood @ 14 1/2" x 15"
2 - 3/4" plywood @ 8 3/4" x 15"

General Instructions

Please read through the entire plan and all comments before beginning this project. It is also advisable to review the Getting Started Section. Take all necessary precautions to build safely and smartly. Work on a clean level surface, free of imperfections or debris. Always use straight boards. Check for square after each step. Always predrill holes before attaching with screws. Use glue with finish nails for a stronger hold. Wipe excess glue off bare wood for stained projects, as dried glue will not take stain. Be safe, have fun, and ask for help if you need it. Good luck!

Step 1

Dress Up Tower

If you can get your hardware store to cut your plywood into two 16" wide strips and one 15" wide strips, this will save you much time and make transporting the boards much easier. Otherwise, rip the plywood with the grain into strips as shown in diagram. Then make cross cuts for the shelves and trim boards as shown in diagram.

Step 2

Dress Up Tower

From large side pieces, carefully mark out a pattern as shown in diagram. You will need to cut two identical sides, so practice on scraps with your jigsaw until you are confident. Once you are happy with one side, use it as a pattern to cut the other side. Remember that the saw blade takes up space, so be very aware of what side of the traced line you cut on. Sand and sand some more when you are finished.

This project will work best with a painted finish, but you could iron on edge banding if desired.

Step 3

Dress Up Tower

Cut the two bottom trim pieces as shown here, with the same care as you did the sides.

Step 4

Dress Up Tower

From the 1x4 pieces, cut the top trim.

Step 5

Dress Up Tower

You can use either the Kreg Jig to fasten together, or just nails or screws and glue.  Keep bottom edges flush as you attach.

Step 6

Dress Up Tower

Mark the insides of the bottom trim 2" from the top. Attach sides to shelves, hiding pocket holes (if used) to the undersides of the shelves (this is shown opposite in diagram, my apologies).

Step 7

Dress Up Tower

Start by attaching the sides to the base. Then attach top shelf to sides.

Step 8

Dress Up Tower

Add the rod pocket holders with included screws and cut and place wood dowel in rod pockets. For a little extra fancy, glue wood moulding to the sides.

Step 9

Dress Up Tower

You can get really creative here - adding hooks for necklaces and hats and capes, or a mirror (love the stick on mirror tiles!) or even a french pin board. It's the details that will transform this 1/2 sheet of plywood into a beautiful gift!

Finishing Instructions

Preparation Instructions: 
Fill all holes with wood filler and let dry. Apply additional coats of wood filler as needed. When wood filler is completely dry, sand the project in the direction of the wood grain with 120 grit sandpaper. Vacuum sanded project to remove sanding residue. Remove all sanding residue on work surfaces as well. Wipe project clean with damp cloth. It is always recommended to apply a test coat on a hidden area or scrap piece to ensure color evenness and adhesion. Use primer or wood conditioner as needed.

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clips

LOVE IT!

Thank you Ana!

posted by meganmarie | on Thu, 2011-09-29 14:45
clips
Ana White's picture

Thank you for reading and

Thank you for reading and commenting! You are so welcome, really excited to see this one built! Can't wait, it's gonna be darling!

posted by Ana White | on Thu, 2011-09-29 15:40

Mirror, Mirror

I love it! It would totally suit a mirror on the side panel too! And if you made it just a tad wider, a hanging shoe organizer. Love your plans! Thanks.

posted by Guest (not verified) | on Thu, 2011-09-29 15:54
clips
cherie82's picture

Beautiful!

Nice and compact. Think I will be replacing the one I built the girls last winter, takes up a lot of valuable floor space. Love it!
And you are so right! When my daughter is showing off her stuff and telling people I made it my heart swells. Now she (almost 9) is requesting homemade birthday gifts for her friends.

posted by cherie82 | on Fri, 2011-09-30 09:37

Looks good

I tackled this project over the weekend. I followed their advice and had my hardware store make the 16" and 15" cuts. I tried using my circular saw to make the 14 1/2 and 8 3/4 cuts and couldn’t keep the cut straight and ended up breaking down and getting a table saw. The other problem i ran into was the directions called for 2" screws, but the Krieg’s jig specified 1 1/4" for 3/4" wood, what's another trip to the hardware store at this point? Finally you differently need to sand and then sand some more as recommended. Over all i would say this project is very doable.

posted by jesse (not verified) | on Mon, 2011-12-05 12:46

Dress up station

build for girls

posted by Guest (not verified) | on Sun, 2011-12-11 20:04

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