A closet will help organize a messy attic.
Building closet space in the attic will help free up storage room in the rest of the house. Finding room under the eaves for finishing a clothes closet or general storage space is possible in almost any home with standing room in the attic. You can finish the closet in a rustic way or give it a more polished look. Start with a general budget and design the closet around the amount you want to spend. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Measure the amount of room available for the closet. Make the closet at least 27 inches deep to hang clothes. Draw an outline of the closet dimensions on the floor first. Define this area so you can plan the doors around any attic steps or address any issues with windows in the attic.
2. Nail closet framing around the floor outline first. Install a 2-by-4 inch sole plate around the closet perimeter. Draw the closet outline on the walls and ceiling with carpenter's chalk so you can get the framework in place. Use 2-by-4 inch boards to create the skeleton framework with studs placed on 16-inch centers. Build the door opening for the type of doors you want to install, whether standard or bi-fold.
3. Add beadboard as a simple option for the closet's exterior walls. Buy beadboard in 4-by-8 foot sheets and cut sections with a circular saw to cover the closet. Cover rough edges at the closet corners with wood molding to give the closet's exterior a smooth finish.
4. Cut drywall to finish up the closet interior. Create smooth walls in case you decide to finish an attic room one day. Nail up drywall and cover the seams with joint tape. Smooth joint compound over the taped seams, allow it to dry then sand it down. Repeat this process a couple of times to create a professional-looking closet interior. Paint the closet interior with satin enamel paint.
5. Install hanging rods and closet shelving. Buy a pre-made system, if you desire, or build your own. Install a double-hanging rod over one section of the closet to hold folded clothes on two levels. Secure wooden shelving in the closet with 4-inch screws installed with an electric screwdriver. Buy plastic bins to hold toys or loose items on shelves so the closet will stay neat over time.
6. Use a leftover carpet remnant or vinyl flooring to cover the floor. Glue down the flooring then screw in a metal or wooden threshold plate.
Tags: closet interior, 2-by-4 inch, closet exterior, closet will, will help
