American Girl Closet

When you have an American Girl Doll, there is no such thing as too much storage space!  That’s why I love trying different versions of closets and armoires.  In this version you can’t store your doll (Go here for the American Girl Doll storage tutorial) but you can store a lot of her belongings.  The drawer on the bottom is pretty deep so you can put away larger items.

Shopping list:

2 – 1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 2’ x 4’
1 – 1/4’’ (Plywood) @ 2’ x 4’
1 – 5/16’’ Dowel @ 8’’
Wood Glue
Kreg Jig or 18 Gauge Nailer
3/4’’ Kreg Jig Screws or 3/4’’ Nails for 18 Gauge Nailer
4 – 1’’ Hinges
3 – Door Knobs or any type of handle

Cut List:

1 – 1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 12 1/2’’ x 9’’ – Armoire Bottom
2 – 1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 19’’ x 9’’ – Armoire Sides
1 – 1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 12 7/8’’ x 9’’ – Armoire Middle Wall
1 – 1/4’’ (Plywood) @ 20’’ x 12 1/2’’ – Back of Armoire
1 – 1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 13 1/2’’ x 9 1/2’’ – Top of Armoire
1 – 1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 12’’ x 9’’ – Support Shelf
2 – 1/4’’ (Plywood) @ 9’’ x 5’’ – Shelves
1 – 5/8’’ Dowel @ 7’’
1 – 1/4’’ (Plywood) @ 10 1/2’’ x 5’’ – Back of Drawer
1 – 1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 10 1/2’’ x 9’’ – Bottom of Drawer
2 – 1/4’’ (Plywood) @ 9’’ x 5 1/2’’ – Drawer Sides
1 – 1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 12 1/2‘’ x 5 3/4’’ – Front of Drawer
2 – 1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 13 3/8’’ x 6 3/16’’ – Left and Right Doors

Tools:

Tape Measure
Miter Saw
Table Saw
Drill
Hearing Protection 
Safety Glasses 
Pencil
Sanding Block

Step 1:

You need to make the drawer first.  Attach the two drawer sides to the drawer bottom by nailing into place.  You can also put wood glue on it before you use the nail gun.

Step 2:

Attach the back and the front of the drawer.  You can see the dimensions below.

Step 3:

Dado the left side of the closet so you can easily slide in the shelves later.

Step 4:

Dado the middle structure of the closet.

Step 5:

Create the holes for the dowel to fit into for the hanger rod.  The holes are 5/16”.  You will do this for the back side of the middle wall and the inside of the right wall.

Step 6:

Dado the right wall of the closet.  This side will only need one since there will be no shelves attached to it.

Step 7:

Now that the outer two walls are dadoed, you can create the box frame. I used the Kreg Jig to draw the structure into place.

Step 8

Insert the shelf that will separate the drawer.  You can use wood glue if you want.

Step 9:

Insert the dowel for the hangers.

Step 10:

Nail the back piece into place.

Step 11:

Slide the shelves into place.  Again, you can use wood glue if you want.

Step 12:

Screw the hinges into place so you can add the doors.

Step 13:

Attach the doors to the hinges.

Step 14:

Glue or nail on the door handles.