This easy-to-build two-door cabinet clears clutter and spruces up a room. By Joseph Truini

One basic thing can make the difference between a room looking cluttered or put-together: storage. Of course, getting rid of excess stuff also helps. But even after you’ve pared down your possessions, having an attractive place to stash essential items is key. Enter the two-door cabinet, a minimalist solution that’s been around for centuries. Our take on the classic fits just about anywhere, and its panels can be made from a variety of materials – metal mesh, glass, or wallpapered plywood, for example – to suit your decorative palette. Like many PM projects, this one is simple; a reasonably skilled woodworker with a small table saw, cordless drill, and pocketscrew kit could build it over the course of two weekends, max.

Find out more in the February 2012 issue of Popular Mechanics - on sale now.