How to Build a Stair Drawer Covered in Carpet

Constructing the Drawer

• 1

  Cut the bottom edge of the vertical carpet surface where the drawer will be installed. Cut the sides of the surface as well so that the entire carpet flap can be peeled upward and out of the way. Remove the vertical section of stair board using a saw.

• 2

  Measure the width, depth and height of the open space behind the removed section of stair board. Cut two side boards to be one inch shorter than the available height and one inch shorter than the available depth. Cut one rear board to be a half inch shorter than the available height and a half inch shorter than the available width. Cut one bottom board to be one inch shorter than the available depth and a half inch shorter than the available width.

• 3

  Set the two side boards parallel to each other, up along their long, thin edges. Set the bottom board on top of the side boards and drill four holes through the top surface of the bottom board and into each side board. Attach the boards together with 1-inch wood screws.

• 4

  Rotate the attached boards up on their smallest end and place the rear board across the rear of the shelf. Drill holes every three inches into the top of the rear board and through the other boards. Fasten the boards together with 1-inch wood screws. Flip the boards over and repeat with the piece of wood removed from the stairs.

• 5

  Drill two 1/2-inch-diameter holes in the center of the stair wood, about one inch apart, to serve as drawer pulls.

Installing the Drawer

• 6

  Position two halves of the drawer brackets to the boards on the inside of the stairs and mark the location of their screw attachments with a pencil. Drill pilot holes in each marking, and then attach the brackets to the boards using the 1-inch wood screws.

• 7

  Set the assembled drawer in the hole in the stairs, and note the location where the stairs pass the drawer brackets. Position the other halves of the drawer brackets against this location on the drawer and mark the location of the screw holes. Drill into each marked location and attach the brackets to the drawer with 1-inch screws.

• 8

  Insert the drawer into the drawer space and roll it down the drawer brackets. Make any adjustments necessary. Separate three 1-inch sticker squares of Velcro material and attach one type of sides to three places on the bottom front of the drawer. Fold down the carpet to cover the drawer, and attach the other half of the Velcro strips to the three matching places on the underside of the carpet flap.