How to Build a Child's Armoire

Planning and Layout

• 1

  Unroll white butcher paper and secure it to a worktable using strips of masking tape. Have your child make outline drawings of favorite animals, plants and other items on the paper, using crayons.

• 2

  Ask your child to select one of the outline drawings to use as a template for decorative cutouts in the doors and walls of the child's armoire.

• 3

  Cut two sheets of 1/2-inch plywood 36 inches wide by 48 inches long, using a table saw with miter fence. Use one for the front and one for the back of the child's armoire.

• 4

  Have your child help measure 18 inches across the short end of one of the 36-inch-by-48-inch plywood sheets and mark that point. Repeat for the other end of the plywood sheet.

• 5

  Give your child a carpenter's pencil. Ask your child to draw a curved line from the mark at one end to the mark at the other end.

• 6

  Use a jigsaw to cut along that line to make two irregular-shaped, interlocking doors. Label the door that is straight on the right "A." Label the door that is straight on the left side "B."

• 7

  Have your child trace the cutout template onto each door. Drill a starter hole with a larger diameter than the jigsaw blade, through the door, near the center of each of the cutouts on the doors.

• 8

  Insert the blade of the jigsaw and cut along the lines of the cutout template. Make relief cuts from the starter hole to the edges of the cutout sketch as needed, to prevent binding or twisting the blade.

Assembly

• 9

  Cut two pieces of plywood 24 inches wide and 36 inches long. Cut two more pieces of plywood 24 inches wide and 47 inches long.

• 10

  Stand the plywood pieces on their 1/2-inch edges. Place the 47-inch pieces between the 36-inch pieces to make the box for the armoire.

• 11

  Apply 48-inch bar clamps 4 inches from the bottom and 4 inches from the top of the box.

• 12

  Face one of the 36-inch ends of the box frame. Label the end facing you "1" and the other end "2."

• 13

  Turn the box frame so that one of the 48-inch sides faces you. Label that side "3" and label the remaining 48-inch side "4."

• 14

  Drill 1/16-inch pilot holes every 4 inches, through sides 1 and 2 and into sides 3 and 4, 1/4 inch from the ends.

• 15

  Stick the point of a countersink bit into the center of each pilot hole to countersink the holes. Drill just enough to allow the heads of the wood screws to sink beneath the surface of the wood.

• 16

  Secure the 36-inch pieces to the 47-inch pieces using 1/8-inch thread diameter, 1-inch-long wood screws. Remove the bar clamps.

• 17

  Position one of the 36-by-47-inch plywood pieces on top of the armoire frame, with all corners and edges flush. Drill pilot holes 1/4 inch from each end of the board and countersink them all.

• 18

  Secure the back board to the frame using 1/8-inch thread diameter, 1-inch-long wood screws. Turn the armoire to its open side.

• 19

  Open the piano hinges with the ribs facing you. Attach the right side of the first hinge to the 1/2-inch face of side 3. Attach the left side of the second hinge to the 1/2-inch face of side 4.

• 20

  Place the flat side of the first door against the hinge on side 3. Drill pilot holes where needed and secure the hinge to the door.

• 21

  Place the flat side of the second door against the hinge on side 4. Drill pilot holes where needed and secure the hinge to the door.

• 22

  Lay the armoire on its back. Position the 4-inch cubes so that the corners and edges are flush with the sides of the armoire to serve as feet. Secure the feet using 4-1/4-inch-long wood screws.

Finishing

• 23

  Fit wood plugs into each screw hole and tap them firmly with a rubber mallet. Use a belt sander with coarse, medium and fine belts to smooth the entire surface of the armoire inside and out. Give your child sanding blocks and allow him to help.

• 24

  Sand all edges and corners to a 45-degree, rounded angle. Install the closet bar supports, 5 inches from the top and 12 inches from the back, on the inside of the armoire, according to manufacturer's instructions. Fit the closet bar into the supports.

• 25

  Have your child help you paint the armoire, using bright acrylic paints. Attach whimsical door hardware to each door according to manufacturer's instructions.