Build a bathroom stand

All Washed Up
It's time to bring the whole bathroom stand together. Using a pencil, mark the insides of the legs with a light line at 13 1/4" and 24 1/4" from the bottom. These show the spots where you'll fasten the top edges of the support cleats during assembly.

Continue by laying both pairs of legs on your bench. Apply a thin layer of glue on the ends of the support cleats, then glue them to the inside faces of the legs, as shown on the plans. You'll add #8 x 2" screws to these joints later, after the glue has dried. As you work, make sure that each of the two leg assemblies are exactly the same.

Install the shelves and top after you've driven screws into the leg assemblies. In order for the shelves to achieve full strength, they must be installed so the end-grain edges sit on top of the cleats. Apply a thin bead of glue to the centre one-third of the support cleats to secure the shelves.

Complete the leg assembly by sliding the remaining skirt and top pieces into place, then secure them with more #8 x 2" screws set into countersunk holes.

Place the top upside down on your bench, then place the leg assembly over it. Once everything is centred, drive two 1 1/2" screws, one through each end rail and into the top. Fill the holes with tapered pine plugs (or wood filler, if you plan to paint the project).

Final Finish
I left my project natural, with no colour added with stain. I simply gave the piece some light protection with three coats of wipe-on polyurethane. Be sure to sand the whole project lightly with 320-grit paper after each coat has dried. This project is also a great candidate for milk paint, a crackle finish or an antique look.

Once your finish is dry, you can either stack and store your items right on the shelves or add some baskets. (The ones I used are from IKEA and called Branas.)

However you and your family fill up this simple project, it will boost the storage capacity of any bathroom-and show off some of your new woodworking skills.

Read more in Woodworking Projects and Furniture Plans