This post is about DIY dresser drawer dividers with hobby boards and adhesive tabs. It’s a super easy project and, even better, budget-friendly. You do not have to spend an arm and a leg to organize your dresser drawers.
For a while now, I have been one click away from buying adjustable drawer dividers more times than I like to admit. I’d put them in my cart, then change my mind every time I saw the total! The cost can add up fast with those.
So when I saw Monica over at @house.of.esperanza build DIY drawer dividers for her kitchen drawer, I was inspired by her to try DIY dresser drawer dividers for my kids’ dresser drawers.
Inspired by @ house.of.esperanza drawer dividers and a few tweaks, here is how they turned out, and I am pretty impressed with myself! Ha-ha! Seriously, I am so happy with the way they turned out.
This post is all about how to DIY dresser drawer dividers.
The Easiest DIY Dresser Drawer Dividers
From the beginning, my goal was to make the drawer dividers adjustable. Similar to the adjustable dividers sold online and in many stores but without the price tag!
Because I wanted the dividers to be adjustable, I did not want to use wood glue. So, I searched for a different way to attach the dividers to the drawers and came across these adhesive tabs. BOOM, I knew I had found the solution to my problems!
With these adhesive tabs, I could attach the dividers to the drawers without damage. And if I ever wanted to move them or take them off, the adhesive tab is super easy to remove.
It’s safe to say that I am so happy I never pulled the trigger on those expensive drawer dividers.
Okay, so enough about me, here is how to do them yourself!
Table of Contents
Supply List:
- Hobby Board—I used a “poplar hobby board” from The Home Depot. Mine are 0.25 x 3.5 IN x 4 FT. But you should measure your drawers to see what size would fit them.
- Adhesive tabs—It is a 24-pack, and you can get as many packs as you need. (Update: The original product sometimes becomes unavailable, so here is a similar product, which is also a 24-pack and works just as well. It is available here.) Mitre Box with Saw—Mine is this one from The Home Depot, but here is another one from Amazon, too.
- Measuring Tape
- Sandpaper
- Pencil
The Steps:
Step 1: Prepare the drawers
First, you want to empty the drawer you will be starting with. Then, pull the drawer out if you can, vacuum it, and wipe it clean. Pulling the drawer out makes it easier to work with.
Tip: For extra cuteness, you can add contact paper to the bottoms of each drawer.
Step 2: Measure the drawers and apply adhesive tabs
You want to measure based on what direction you want the board dividers to sit on the drawers.
For example, I measured the depth of my boards to determine what size to cut them to because I wanted my dividers to go front-to-back.
Then, I measured the width to see how many board dividers I could fit into each drawer. With my drawers, I could add two dividers per drawer, giving me three sections.
Then, lightly mark precisely where the board dividers will go inside the drawer with a pencil and apply the adhesive tabs.
Step 3: Measure, cut, and sand the boards.
Measure and mark the boards based on the measurements of your drawers to determine what size to cut them.
I cut mine with the Mitre Box and Saw, but you can use whatever cutting tool you have. You can also get them cut at your local hardware store. I know The Home Depot by my house has this service, but first, double-check that yours does before going.
Once you cut the boards, you may need to give them a light sanding where you cut them. You do not need a sander for this; use sandpaper.
Tip: If the boards don’t match your drawer color and/or you prefer a certain color, you can stain or paint them.
Step 4: Check if the board fits and insert it in place.
Since you already stuck all the adhesive tabs in place earlier, you can easily slide the board through the top opening of the adhesive tab on both sides. If, for any reason, the board is off in size, make the necessary adjustments until it all fits nicely and snugly.
And boom, you’re done! Repeat the steps for however many dividers you want to make.
Here is one of mine that is finished and in use. What a beautifully organized dresser drawer! The organizer in me is very, very happy with these results.
Total Cost For Drawer Dividers:
Lastly, is it worth making your own custom drawer dividers when you can buy something similar online? You decide.
I thought it was worth it, not just because it was way more affordable but also because I could customize the drawers however I wanted when I made them myself.
However, I’ll share the total breakdown cost per divider compared to buying already made. Maybe that’ll help you decide if this is something worth DIYing yourself.
- Poplar Hobby Board (based on the size I used: 0.25 x 3.5 IN x 4 FT): About $6.00 per board, and I could make three dividers from each board, so each divider cost me about $2.00.
- Adhesive Tabs: I bought a 24-pack for about $24.00, totaling $1.00 per adhesive tab. You need two adhesive tabs per divider, which is $2.00 for two adhesive tabs.
Hobby Board = $2.00 + Adhesive tabs x 2 = $2.00 = $4.00 per divider!
I don’t know about you, but $4.00 per divider is a steal! Especially compared to the ones you can buy. These are sturdy and will last a very long time.
So what do you think? Are you trying this super easy DIY? Trust me, you won’t regret it! I finally finished all my kid’s drawers; now I’m moving on to mine and my husband’s dresser drawers.
This post was all about a super-easy way to DIY dresser drawer dividers.
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