DIY Storage Bins

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Reader Projects ⁄ Build

Shelves and cabinets are handy places for storing sports stuff, but when you’re in a hurry and, let’s face it, kids always are, it’s much easier to just throw and go.

These roomy bins have no doors and they’re not too high for little people to reach, so it’s never been easier to keep your laundry and hallways clear of sports equipment, schoolbags and other clutter.

They’re also handy to have in the garage where they can be lined up along the wall to hold anything from golf clubs to power tools.

They could even be used in the backyard to store gardening tools, clothes pegs and pet supplies.

Their practical design offers a decent amount of capacity but they also look good, with an eye-catching shape that can be painted to match your colour scheme or as a feature unit.

Preparing the project

This project requires one full sheet and one quarter sheet of 17mm plywood for the sides, shelves, base and top, plus a half sheet of 7mm for the backing.

The front sections of the bins are made from 135 x 19mm pine, secured with 50mm x 8g screws.

We used a brad nailer with 40mm brads to save time, but if you don’t have one, just hammer in 40 x 2mm bullethead nails by hand instead.

If your bins are going to be sitting on a concrete floor in the garage or on a verandah, attach treated timber bearers to the underside to protect the plywood from rising moisture.

Fill over the fasteners and give all surfaces a light sand before applying two coats of bright semi gloss enamel.

TIP You can also use acrylic paint, but apply a primer first.

Build the bins

Step 1. Cut the parts

Use a circular saw and clamped straightedge guide to cut the top, base, shelves and centre boards from plywood. Cut the basic rectangular shape of the sides, then use a mitresaw or handsaw to cut the front panels from pine.

Step 2. Set out the sides

Plane the edges and check for square using a builder’s square on the face and a combination square or speed square on the edge. To set out one of the sides to use as a template, start by marking points 388mm and 776mm from the base, 100mm in from the edge.

Step 3. Mark the cut lines

Complete the side profile by marking 100, 488 and 876mm up from the base along the edge of the side. Mark zigzag cut lines connecting these points with the previous setout points, finishing 100mm in from the edge at the base and top.

Step 4. Cut the side panels

Clamp the side panels together in pairs and cut the edge profile on the first pair using a jigsaw. Trace the profile onto the second pair and cut it to shape. TIP Keep the jigsaw’s pendulum action switched off for a finer cut.

Step 5. Match up the pairs

Use a random orbital sander to sand the cut profiles of both pairs of sides, taking care to maintain a square edge as you go. Unclamp the pairs and align them back to back then square lines for the shelves between the inside points of the zigzag edges.

Step 6. Assemble the bins

Secure the shelves using a brad nailer, then tack the fronts in position with brads and reinforce each joint with screws. Cut the backing and use brads to attach it to one shelf assembly. Square it up, then add the centre boards and secure the second assembly.