Stacking Laundry Basket Shelf

If you have been following along our recent home updates, you will see we have been busy putting an addition on our home, which included a laundry room for Every Laundress’ dream. The epic reveal came out HERE, and we breezed over one neat concept in the build that we would like to share with you today. The stacking laundry basket shelf! It’s been such a neat organizational tool and perfect for the smallest of laundry rooms to those generous in size. It only takes up 18 inches of space! Also, unless your family is well above average size, this 6 basket shelf should be more than adequate to sort several days or a weeks’ worth of clothes. Behold! The stacking laundry basket shelf!

We do have plans available for this build, a VERY customizable project! Click the image below to get yours!

The structure of this build is simple and to the point: a tall rectangular box with stationary rails on which the lip of the laundry basket will slide on. Dimensions for this shelf are made to accommodate these particular 2 bushel baskets, but you can easily change the measurements based on the size of basket that works for you, as long as the basket has a sturdy rim around the edge for sliding on the rails.

Setting Up material

To begin, we picked up 2 sheets of 4×8 3/4 inch plywood. I ripped it down on my table saw (which can also be done in-store, if you don’t have one) and proceeded to cut it down to width on the circular saw with the help of my handy crosscut track to our needed dimensions, and was ready for edge banding. Ironic that my wife’s clothing iron played such a vital role in creating this build. It’s the one thing I like to use from her space…in my shop, of course.

The assembly

We’re ready for some 1 1/4 inch pocket screws and wood glue. These I used on all four corners but to begin with , just on the top and one side. Later we will assemble the whole piece with this method, adding a midpoint support board as well, but for now I want to make it easier to measure and add the stationary rails for the baskets to slide on.

This was done using a speed square to assure accuracy and 1 1/4″ inch brad nails to hold the rails in place.

Time to put this thing together! I secured the top to the sides with wood glue and 1 1/4 inch pocket screws and proceeded to add an 18 1/2 inch piece of plywood at the bottom and middle to act as a support like I mentioned so the shelf would not wobble or splay.

I also added a quarter inch piece of plywood on the back for the same reason, and also to protect the walls when the baskets of clothes are shoved to the back of the shelf. It also provided a uniform color to the cabinet for visual appeal.

I trimmed back the edges on this piece with my handheld router, gave a quick sand down and we were ready for some finish.

Finishing

At this point you can move this baby into the house and call it complete, but you know that applying a proper finish should be the last step to every project. We chose to use a water based lacquer in the color of our new laundry room cabinets, which was Sherwin Williams Dover White. Once again my q5 platinum sprayer had me ogling over how easy it’s become to complete this last step in my shop projects.

Installing

Installing this shelf into place was simple with help from the wife. Since it was built for a snug space between the wall and washing machine, I needed to climb inside the shelf and move it backwards, which called for a few good laughs but it got the job done. I secured it to the wall with an L bracket and it was ready for baskets.

Just look at that. So much organization with such a small footprint! My wife just loves it, she points it out to every unsuspecting guest and makes sure that they leave her laundry room just jealous enough to make one of these for themselves. If you are interested in this build, plans are available! The shelf can easily be made to accommodate 4 baskets, if that’s all you need, or even be made horizontally if you prefer something low and long. Either way, it’s sure to please the Launderer in your life.

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