Easy DIY Dress Up Station
- Home Decor DIY Projects
- April Wilkerson
- Updated: March 8, 2023
Thinking about building your own DIY dress up station for your girl(s)? Check out this awesome DIY project where I built a dress up station!
One of my best friends asked me to build her little girl a dress up rack to store all her dress up clothes and accessories.
Here is a video on the build process:
The first thing to note is I was not able to get this entire cart from one sheet of plywood so I did use some scraps. However, if you leave off that top shelf assembly then you can build the rest of the cart from just a single sheet.
The baskets were purchased from The Container Store and they measure: 12″ wide x 15 1/4″ deep x 9 1/4″ tall.
2) Then I cut two sides.
6) Before going any further I went ahead and painted everything.
7) Then I once again used my pocket hole jig to drill pockets in all my pieces. (You can see below where I put them) Then I set the dividers in 14 1/8″ and screwed them down.
8) I flipped the assembly over and set it in it’s place, then used the remaining pocket holes to attach it. 
9) Instead of using those wooden or plastic hole fillers Kreg sells, I decided to use joint compound and it worked great. So I went to all the pocket holes I had created up to this point and dabbed a goop of this stuff in it, then let it dry. Once it was completely dry I later came back and sanded it down smooth. Note: It did take two coats but I’m very pleased with how it filled in those holes and blended in after I painted everything. 
10) I bought a 1 1/4″ dowel rod and some pink spray paint. Then I cut my rod to 44 3/4″ and sprayed a few coats of paint on it.
Now you could very well stop here! Everything at this point can be made from one sheet of plywood. However…..I wanted to add a few more details.
13) To make an additional shelf for the top, I cut another shelf at 43 3/4″ x 16″ and drilled pocket holes.
14) But before trying to put it in place, I grabbed 1″ of scrap wood and balanced it on the bar. This is going to act as a spacer for this shelf. 
15) Once the shelf was in it’s place, I checked for level across the entire thing then clamped it in place and screwed it down. Then I was able to remove the spacers. 
16) I used the joint compound once again to fill in my pockets. Note: don’t worry about making a mess because this stuff sands so easy.
Alright the next step was a little tricky and I don’t recommend a beginner to try it.
17) I wanted a slanted shoe rack so I first cut a piece that was 43 3/4″ x 9″ (the pair of shoes I was given were 9″). Then once it was cut to size, I turned it up on it’s edge and put a 30 degree angle on it.
18) I lined the angle up to the edge of the top shelf then clamped it in place. Then I went through and measured in 1 1/8″ in and drilled a pilot hole before screwing in 1 1/4″ screws to finally attach it.
19) To create a lip so the shoes won’t fall off, I cut a strip that is 43 3/4″ x 3/4″ then took a 1/4″ round over bit to the front edge and used 1″ nails to attach it.
20) Next I started working on the side that will hold jewelry. I first laid out my marks then drilled a hole the size of the knob stem, then just threaded them in. I spaced these out 4″ apart so they fall on 4″, 8″, 12″. Then I went down 5″ to the second row and those fall on 6″ and 10″.
21) For the other side, I wanted something to store hats so I grabbed some 1/2″ dowel rod and gave it a few coats of paint.
22) While that was drying, I laid out my marks for them to go and drilled my holes. I wanted these to be coming out at an angle so I first got the hole started but then used an angle finder as a guide for my drill to make all of these (roughly) the same angle. I started with a small bit and then stepped up three sizes to 1/2″. Note: I can’t tell you the exact angle I used because I just eye balled what I thought looked good. I placed my holes at 5″ and 11″ then spaced the rows out 12 1/2″.
23) Next I cut the dowel rod up using my table saw.
24) Then I put them their holes (using a rubber hammer). Just to make things nice and pretty I then went to the inside and first used my ROS to sand down the ends flush, then came back with some paint to conceal them.
Now of course my shop doesn’t make for a great background, but this is a Christmas present so it won’t be in the little girl’s room for another month. ; )
I think little Miss O is going to love this!
