Without a shelves or clothing rods, a closet is simply a small room. Put your closet to good use by building a unit designed to fit it perfectly and to meet all of your storage needs. Install a rod to hang pants, coats and dresses. Shelves hold shoes, purses and other objects. Building your own closet unit is considerably less expensive than purchasing a specialized organizer, but the project requires some time and effort on your part. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Measure the closet's depth, width and height. Write the measurements on paper.
2. Determine how many shelves you would like to install in the closet. The shelves will span the closet's width, provided it is fewer than 5 feet wide. Each shelf should be about 12 inches above the shelf below it, and the first shelf should be at least 12 inches from the floor. A closet rod will be above the shelves.
3. Cut 1-by-3 inch wood boards so that each shelf has three pieces. For each shelf, make two pieces the measurement of the closet's depth, and make the third piece the measurement of the closet's width minus 2 inches. Wear safety goggles and earplugs when using a circular saw to cut the wood.
4. Locate studs in the wall with a stud finder or by knocking on the wall in various places to listen for a non-hollow sound. Mark the studs' locations on the wall with a pencil.
5. Place a 3-inch side of the board that is the measurement of the closet's width flat against the back wall of the closet at the spot where you want to place the first shelf. Use a level to ensure the board is level horizontally, and then attach the board by hammering finish nails through the wood and into wall studs.
6. Put one board that is the length of the closet's depth flat against a side wall of the closet. Push the board's end against the end of the board you nailed to the adjacent wall. Use the level to ensure the board is level, and then attach the board to the wall with finish nails. Use the same procedure to attach the third board to the other side of the closet.
7. Repeat the process of attaching three 1-by-3-inch boards to the closet walls for each shelf you want to install.
8. Cut one 1-inch thick plywood sheet into shelves. Make each shelf equal the closet's width and depth.
9. Position the plywood shelves over the 1-by-3-inch wooden supports you attached to the closet walls. Attach the shelves to the supports with finish nails. Space the nails about 4 inches apart along the side and back edges of the plywood shelves.
10. Paint or stain the shelves in the color of your choice.
11. Install a closet rod above the shelves. Mounting hardware should have been included with the rod. Leave enough space between the top of the shelf and the rod for hanging clothing and storing items on the top shelf. If, for example, you plan to store dresses on the rod and tall boots on the top shelf, leave least 70 inches between the top shelf and rod.
Tags: closet width, each shelf, closet depth, finish nails, measurement closet, wall with