How to Make Drawers for a Built-In Window Seat

Measure the depth and full width of your existing window seat to determine the size for the drawers and how many drawers you can add. Mark the center location of the window seat on the top and bottom edges on the front of the seat. Use this center line to determine where to place the drawers so they'll be evenly spaced. Purchase ready-to-install cabinet drawers and drawer glides from a cabinet store or home improvement store.

Turn the drawers so the back ends are facing you. Measure the width of the back end. Turn the drawer so the front faces you and measure the height of the front of the drawer. The front is often taller than the back piece of the drawer.

Measure the width of the top area of the drawer's slide unit and multiply by 2. You'll need to add this measurement to the drawer's width measurement so the opening on the window seat will be wide enough. Add both measurements together, for the two slides and the drawer.

Draw an outline on the front of the window seat according to your width and height measurements. Drill holes at the corner points on the front of the seat so you can insert your router. Use the router to cut out the opening for the drawers.

Measure the depth inside the window seat. Cut a pair of 2-by-2 wood strips according to depth measurement for each drawer.

Place one drawer slide rail piece on each wood strip. The rails have pre-drilled holes for the screws. Fill in the holes with a pencil as a guide to make starter pilot holes. Use your drill to make the starter pilot holes. Use a screwdriver to finish attaching the rails to the strip, using the included screws.

Attach the drawer glide pieces to the sides of the drawers. Follow the same procedure you used for the rail piece to create guide holes for the screws by filling in the openings with a pencil. Drill starter holes, then complete attaching the glide to the drawer with a screwdriver.

Set the drawers in front of the window seat in alignment with the openings. Run a bead of contact cement on the end of each wood strip piece with rail attachments. Insert the strips through the opening so they'll line up with the drawer glides. Allow the contact cement to dry according to the manufacturer’s directions.

Insert the drawer glides onto the rails to complete your window seat and drawer installation project.