How to Make Cabinets for Mudrooms

Making the Cabinet Body

• 1

  Form a rectangular box out of two planks of 17-inch 1-by-2 lumber and two planks of 50-inch 1-by-12 lumber. The ends of the 50-inch planks should be on the inside edges of the 17-inch planks. Glue the planks together at the corners and let them dry. This is the body of the cabinet.

• 2

  Insert a plank of 15-inch-long 1-by-12 lumber across the cabinet box so that it is 10 inches up from the bottom of the box. This is a shoe/bag shelf for the mudroom cabinet. The shelf should be parallel with the 17-inch sides of the cabinet. Glue the shelf to the sides of the cabinet body and let it dry.

• 3

  Drill three evenly spaced pilot holes, sized to fit the shanks of 1-3/4-inch wood screws, through the 50-inch sides of the cabinet into each end of the two 17-inch planks of the cabinet body and into each side of the cabinet shelf. Secure with 1-3/4-inch screws through the pilot holes.

• 4

  Fit a sheet of 17-by-52 inch 1/2-inch plywood over the back of the cabinet body and attach it with 1-3/4-inch wood screws driven every 4 to 5 inches around the perimeter.

• 5

  Paint the cabinet, as well as a second sheet of 17-by-52-inch plywood, which is the cabinet door.

Attaching the Door and Finishing Touches

• 6

  Position three coat hooks approximately 5 inches down from the top of the cabinet, evenly spaced on the back panel. Secure the coat hooks with 3/8-inch screws through the screw holes in the coat hooks.

• 7

  Place one half of two hinges along the 52-inch edge of the cabinet door, approximately 10 inches in from either end. Secure the hinges to the door with 3/8-inch wood screws through the screw holes of the hinges.

• 8

  Screw on a magnetic door handle centered approximately 2 inches in from the 52-inch side opposite the hinges.

• 9

  Center the door over the front of the cabinet box. Screw the other half of the hinges to the side of the cabinet and the magnetic strip for the door handle on the front edge of the cabinet, positioned to meet up with the cabinet handle. Stand the cabinet upright in the mudroom.