Keep your doorway tidy with a simple cupboard for all the family’s footwear. By Greig Morgan.
I don't know about you, but we can never get in the front door at home without tripping up over at least half a dozen pairs of shoes - and those are just my wife's. Between those and all the children's shoes and boots, it seems as though I'm forever nagging the family to put their footwear away, only to be told there's nowhere to put them.
So before there was an accident I decided to solve our shoe storage problem. The answer was a shoe cupboard - something the children could get involved in making as well. Luckily they loved the idea and hopefully, helping to make it will make them excited about using it.
Step 1
Measure and mark the plywood to the size you require, (here are my measurements)
Cut two pieces at 400mm x 1200mm for the sides.
Cut one at 700mm x 1200mm for the back.
Cut one at 650mm x 1100mm for the door.
Cut one at 390mm x 660mm for the bottom.
Cut one at 450mm x 730mm for the top.
Cut one at 370mm x 660mm for shelves.
Cut one at 70mm x 660mm for toe kick.
Step 2
Measure and mark both sides of cupboard 70mm up from the bottom for your toe kick and the baseboard of the cupboard. Then measure and mark 400mm up from the baseboard for the placement of the bottom shelf. From that point divide the rest of the space evenly and mark where the other shelves will go.
Screw on the 19mm x 19mm cleats. Make sure the top of each cleat is to the bottom of your pencil mark and sits flush with the back so the door can close.
Step 3
Fix the toe-kick, then the bottom shelf to the cleat using the 32mm screws. Measure the top and bottom of the unit diagonally to make sure it is square. When unit is square screw the back to the side panels using 40mm screws about 200mm apart.
Step 4
Fix the external angle to the outside corners.
Step 5
Fit the rest of the shelves.
Step 6
Fix down the top, making sure you have an even overhang either side and 30mm overhang at the front.
Step 7
Fix the hinges to the door, 100mm down from the top and 100mm up from the bottom. Line up the door so you have an even gap at the top and bottom of the cupboard for the door to open freely. Screw the hinged door to the cupboard.
Step 8
Fix handle to the door at the desired height. Fit the catch then paint your new shoe cupboard. We now have a tidy front entrance that's not embarrassing every time we have visitors.
Materials
2 sheets ply H3 treated measuring 2400mm x 1200mm x 17mm for the cupboard sides, back, door, top, bottom, toe kick and shelves.
4 x 1.2m lengths H3 treated, with an external angle of 16mm for the corners.
8 x 360mm lengths H3 19mm x 19mm as cleat supports for shelves.
1 pack stainless screws, 8 gauge x 40mm to assemble the cupboard.
2 butt hinges with stainless screws, 8 gauge x 16mm to hang the door.
1 pack screws, 8 gauge x 32mm to fix shelf and cleat supports.
1 handle
1 catch
Paint
Tools
Skill saw
Tape measure
Pencil
Builder's square
Screw gun
