DIY Entry Cabinet

Entry cabinets provide aesthetic appeal to any home or office. An entry cabinet is designed to accomplish several goals at once. The design includes a standard cabinet with a hinged door topped with a narrow, three-paneled cubby. The cabinet is useful for storing items, while the cubby can hold jackets on hooks or shoes at its base. Once your entry cabinet is constructed, place it near a front or back door for continual use and access.

Work gloves
Safety glasses
Dust mask
Measuring tape
Pencil
Saw
4 1-by-12-by-12-inch pine wood cabinet panels
2 1-by-10-by-12-inch pine wood cabinet panels
80 to 120 grit sandpaper
Drill
1 1/12-inch wood screws
3/8-inch screws
2 1-inch brass hinges
1/2-inch magnet
Permanent epoxy
2 1-by-12-by-48-inch pine wood side cubby panels
1-by-10-by-48-inch pine wood back cubby panel
1-by-12-by-12-inch pine wood top cubby panel
Wood stain
Synthetic fiber brush
6 2-inch metal "L" brackets
3 1-inch metal hooks

Instructions

- 1
  Don work gloves, safety glasses and a dust mask to protect your skin, eyes and lungs.
- 2
  Measure four 1-by-12-by-12-inch pine wood cabinet panels. Cut out the panels with a hand saw. Measure two 1-by-10-by-12-inch pine wood cabinet panels. Cut out the panels with the hand saw. Sand the panels with 80 to 120 grit sand paper.
- 3
  Construct a 12-by-12-inch cabinet with five of the six panels. Secure the panels with 1 1/2-inch wood screws. Insert a screw into each cabinet edge every six inches. Keep one of the 12-by-12-inch panels separate.
- 4
  Attach two evenly spaced 1-inch brass hinges on the left edge of the remaining 12-by-12-inch panel with 3/8-inch screws. Connect the free side of the hinges to the open left edge of the cabinet.
- 5
  Bond a 1/2-inch magnet to the right edge of both the cabinet door and the right cabinet edge at center with permanent epoxy. The bottom cabinet is now complete.
- 6
  Cut two 1-by-12-by-48-inch pine wood side cubby panels, one 1-by-10-by-48-inch pine wood back cubby panel and one 1-by-12-by-12-inch pine wood top cubby panel. Sand all panels with 80 to 120 grit paper.
- 7
  Place the 10-by-48-inch piece onto a flat surface so a short edge is facing you. Stand one of the 12-by-48-inch panels on its long edge. Fit the long edges of the two panels together on the left side of the 10-by-48-inch panel to create a letter "L" shape. Attach the two pieces inserting one 1 1/12-inch screw every 6 inches along the flush edges. Repeat the attachment process with the second 12-by-48-inch panel on the right edge to create a letter "U" shape.
- 8
  Fit and attach the 12-by-12-inch panel to the open side on the far end of the letter "U" with 1 1/2-inch screws. The body of the cubby is now complete.
- 9
  Coat both the cabinet and cubby with wood stain in a well-ventilated area. Allow 24 hours for each piece to dry.
- 10
  Stand the open end of the cubby atop the cabinet. Evenly space and attach six 2-inch metal "L" brackets to the inside base of the cubby and the top of the cabinet with 3/8-inch screws. Attach three evenly spaced coat hooks to the cubby walls with 3/8-inch screws.

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