Hey guys!  Happy Wednesday!  To say I am excited about today’s project would be a vast understatement.  I recently built a wall in my boys’ shared room to give them their own spaces and it has been a true game changer for me.  Since the closet remains in one half of their room, I decided to build a dresser for the other half to help keep his clothes, socks and stuff in his space.  I am THRILLED with how this turned out!  Wait until you see my DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser!

I will walk you through the entire build below!

I’ve added a link to the free printable plans at the bottom of this post!

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

The first step is building your face frames. The front face frame uses 2×4 boards that I ripped to 3” wide for the top and bottom boards as well as the two side legs. The middle leg will be ripped to 2.25” wide which is important for the spacing of the drawers. ** If you choose to not rip boards, it will change this plan entirely and you will need to figure spacing and sizing on drawers.   The drawer dividers on this step are 2×2 boards. We like to create our 2×2 boards by ripping down 2×4 boards as well. It’s inexpensive, and it gives you the same straight edge. Attach everything on this step using wood glue and 2.5” Kreg pocket hole screws.

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

The back face frame is identical to the front, but it has no drawer dividers. Attach all boards the same on this part using wood glue and 2.5” pocket hole screws through 1.5” pocket holes.

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

Build the two side frames next. These are 3/4” hardwood plywood. I used birch for mine. The trim pieces are 1×4 boards cut to size. Add 3/4” pocket holes down both long sides of these boards first. Then, attach the trim pieces using wood glue and 1.25” brad nails through the back of the plywood and into the trim pieces.

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer DresserDIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

Now attach the two side frames to the back face frame using wood glue and 1.5” Kreg pocket hole screws. You want the top of the side frames to be flush with the top of the back face frame which will leave a 2.5” space below the bottom of the side frames. You also want the outside of the trim boards to be flush with the outside edge of the face frame.

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer DresserDIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

The base of this dresser is also 3/4” hardwood plywood. Add 3/4” pocket holes with the Kreg Jig along all 4 sides of this piece. Then, attach it to the back face frame and side frames using wood glue and 1.5” pocket hole screws.

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

Attach the middle divider next. This is also 3/4” hardwood plywood cut slightly shorter than the side frames. Add pocket holes down both long sides and the bottom of one side of this board. Attach it to the base of the dresser and the middle leg of the face frame using wood glue and 1.25” pocket hole screws for the bottom and 1.5” pocket hole screws for the longer sides. Don’t forget to use wood glue too!

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

Now you can attach the boards that will support your drawer slides. The outside boards that attach to the outside face frame are 2×2 boards, and the inside boards that attach to the center divider are 1×3 boards. Attach the 2×2 boards using wood glue and 2” nails or screws. Attach the 1×3 boards using wood glue and 1.25” screws or brad nails.

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

 

Attach the front face frame next! Use wood glue and 1.5” Kreg pocket hole screws to go through the side frames and center divider and into the face frame. Just like the back face frame, you want the outsides and top flush with the outside edges of the face frame.

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

Time for the top! The top of this dresser is a pine project panel. I believe my original size was 24” x 72” and I used my table saw to cut it to size. You can also have the guys at the hardware store cut yours for you. Glue and clamp the panel to the top of the dresser and attach using 3.5” wood screws through the face frame top boards and into the panel. You can also nail the panel to the dresser base and fill the holes… Your call!

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

Build the drawers next. Be sure to measure each of your openings to get the best fit! The frame of these drawers are built with 1/2” hardwood plywood. Rip the plywood to 6” wide and then make your cross cuts. Attach the pieces together at the corners using wood glue and 1.25” brad nails.

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

The bottom of the drawers are 1/4” hardwood plywood. Cut each to size, and then attach to the frame using wood glue and 1” staples or 1.25” brad nails. Staples are good on this part to hold that in place because it is a thinner material.

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

Time to attach the drawers.  For this dresser I chose to use a new FAV tool.  You all need to buy them right now… You will thank me.  You can find it HERE on Amazon or click the picture!

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

I lined the Kreg drawer slide jigs up on the inside first.  I used the face frame to hold them in place and I set the drawer slide on top.  I used THESE DRAWER SLIDES for my dresser and I love them so much.

I lined them up 1″ from the front of the face frame and extended the slide to attach the inside piece first.

Then, I flipped the drawer jigs around and attached them facing out where they act as a surface to hold the drawer in place while you attach the extensions.  Literally, genius.

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

I lined the front end of the drawer slide extension up 1/4″ from the front of my drawer front and attached the extension to drawer.  Then, I repeated this 6 times 😉

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

Finally, cut the drawer fronts. I made these plans so you are able to use 1×8 for this part, but I chose to use hardwood plywood again. I love the way that it stains and how straight the boards are to work with especially when building drawers. Cut each to size and use playing cards or other types of spacers to line each drawer up in place. I like to nail them in place from the front 2 times and then open the drawer and use screws from the inside of the drawer and into each face frame. Don’s forget to use wood glue as well!

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

Final step is adding your back! This is just 1/4” hardwood plywood cut to size. Attach it to the back of the dresser using wood glue and 1” staples or nails.DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

Now… Let’s talk about that hardware!  How amazing are the pulls?  Here they are!  I think they are so affordable for their size and they are super strong and easy to attach.  I also think they make this dresser…

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

I used Briarsmoke on this piece to match the other pieces I have built in their room.  You can find it HERE on Amazon!

And here it is all set up in his room!

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

DIY Modern Farmhouse 6 Drawer Dresser

FREE PLANS!!!

Be sure to save and print the FREE PLANS BY CLICKING HERE!

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43 Comments

  1. Hi, the plans say 16in drawer slides. But the link is to 14in AmazonBasics drawer slides? What’s needed, please?

  2. Thank you for the plans! The only thing I changed was to inset the back by making 2 25 7/8 panels and building a 3/4 thick frame In the back openings. I Know it’s just the back but I wanted to allow the frame to be seen. Thanks again great dresser.

  3. First off, I wanted to say thanks for the plans and I really appreciate your website. Secondly, I wanted to share two issues I ran into while building this. The first is that the measurements in the free printable plans are incorrect for the positioning of the wooden drawer runners. They are 1″ short. For the 2×2 runners the measurements to the top of the runners should be 9.25″ (3+7.75-1.5), 18.50″ (3+15.50+1.5-1.5), and 27.75″ (3+23.25+3.0-1.5). For the 1×3 runners the measurements to the top of the runners should be 8.25″ (3+7.75-2.5), 17.50″ (3+15.50+1.5-2.5), 26.75″ (3+23.25+3.0-2.5).

    The second thing I would change is the positioning of the dresser back. The plans call for it to be haphazardly attached to the back protruding out. I think this looks sloppy. If I could go back, I would cut my top to be ~.25″ wider (16.25″) so the quarter inch plywood could sit flush against the top on the back. I would also cut the back to be slightly longer and wider so it would cover the entire back minus the 2.5 inch legs. That would make it ~60″x 32.25″.

    1. Could you explain the runner heights a little more? How does the inch difference that you used effect the build? What is the 1.5″ and 2.5″ you are subtracting?

      1. The 1.5 and 2.5 subtraction is the actual width of the 2×2 or 1×3. We have to subtract that to get the correct measurement to the top of the 2×2 or 1×3. If you wanted the bottom measurement, you would not subtract the 1.5 or 2.5.

    2. Hello Eric, Can you explain this a little more maybe using the image to markup so we can understand where the one inch difference is coming from you are concerned with?

    3. I did not understand what you were referring to originally. I am in the middle of this build and about to install the sliders and then I remembered your post. Now I understand because all of the drawer runners that the sliders attach two are and inch to short. I have already glue and brad nailed them. So I have to either install the sliders higher or add an additional piece of 2×2 and 1×3 which since its on the inside might be easier…I really which they had updated these plans from your comment back in April

    4. Do you have any pictures? I am in the middle of this build and I am really new to wood working. All.my cuts are off so we call it custom lol. So far everything i have made is functional.
      Please post some drawings of the modified back and any other hints.
      I cant find any project panel, only plywood so I am thinking of insettng 1/2 plywood into the top. I dont want to see the edges of the plywood. Good idea or not??

      1. I do not see a way to attach photos. You’ll get there. Don’t forget to account for your blade thickness if using a circular saw. That screwed up a lot of my cuts when I first started out. Also make sure you cut on the correct side of the line you draw. If not, your cuts will be a little short. There is nothing wrong with custom if it is functional lol. If you can’t find a project panel, you could create a solid panel with 1x5s pocket screwed together or something similar. For example, if you wanted to use 5 1x5s they would have to be 3.8″ each(19/5=3.8″). The actual width of a 1×5 is 4.5, so you would have to rip ~.7″ off each board.

        1. Thank you. Ya I thought about the 1×5 thing… I am also considering learning to use iron on banding. I am taking a short break (due to weather) so I have a little time to think this through. The pictures online don’t match the plans.. so I am having to really think things through.

    5. Sorry I am just seeing now that there were questions to my comment. The measurements on page 7 number 7 in the free plans are wrong. Using the measurements in the plan will cause the runners to be an inch higher than in the build photos where the Kreg drawer slide jig is being used. This is a problem if you plan to use the Kreg drawer jig to install the runners because the drawer runner will not be in the correct place and you will have nothing to screw the runner into. If you installed the runners using the measurements in the plan, your options are to install the slides higher up on the drawer using another method besides the Kreg drawer jig or to add more material below the drawer runner. I fixed mine by ripping a one inch strip of the appropriate material (ie 2×2 or 1×3) and brad nailing and gluing it below. This allowed me to use the Kreg drawer slide jig to install the runners. If you use my measurements instead of those in the free plans on page 7 number 7, you should be fine to use the Kreg drawer slide jig.

    6. I haven’t finished the build yet but I decided to go off of Eric’s revisions. If you decide to go by Eric’s revisions and use a distance of 8.25″ for the 1×3’s you will need run out of room. A fix is to rip one set of the 1×3’s to 1.75″ wide for the bottom runner to fit.

  4. What would I need to note if I were to combine this project with the baby changing table project? I need the length of the changing table, the topper and the drawers of the dresser.

  5. Where can you buy the project panel? I cannot find anything wider than 12″ at Home Depot. Project panel is just an appearance board right?

      1. They referred to 24×72 project panel for the top. Isnt project panel something like “select pine” from HD?

  6. How far apart are the 2 center pieces from the top of the top rail to the top of the 2nd rail and then form the bottom of the 2nd rail to the top of the 3rd rail and from the bottom of the 3rd to the too of the 4th

    1. I am building this today. That piece was for the 6th drawer bottom. There isn’t enough on the 4′ x 8′ x 1/4″ to cut the back piece and all 6 drawer bottoms.

  7. Where did you find those frames, hooks and tractor print? My son lives and breathes John Deere and would love something like this in his new bedroom.

    Thank you!

  8. I can’t wait to build this ! I only have two questions .
    1. What are the spaces between the drawer dividers . Drawer fronts are at 7 1/2 soo if I had to guess that measurement Would be 7 5/8 Witch is 1/8 of an inch diffrance .
    2. How thick is the project panel ?

  9. HI Im building this now…. Im not seeing the measurement for the spacing between the drawer dividers Im assuming slightly more the 7 1/2? Please help. Thank you.

    1. the actual dimensions of 2×2 is 1.5 x 1.5 so….easuring from the top of the 34.75″ board you place the top of each drawer divider at 10.75 “and 20”. This would give you 7.75″ total width for each drawer space.

  10. Do you use polyurethane on all your pieces that you stain? It’s not mentioned, except in the “How to Stain” video. I’m about to stain my first piece and I want to make sure I do it right.

    If you do use polyurethane with stain, which one do you recommend?

    Thanks in advance!!!

  11. Oh, and I literally searched your website the other day to find a dresser with drawers… I am getting ready to do a massive closet makeover. It’s scary in there!