Closet storage can be fullly utilized by building closet shelves and hangers.
Achieve maximum storage space in a closet by installing closet shelves and custom clothes-hanger rods. Traditional closets are outfitted with a single hanger rod and a single storage shelf above, leaving almost 3 feet of unused space between the shelf and the ceiling. Measure the excess space in your closet to build your own closet shelves and hangers. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Design the Closet Storage
1. Determine how much hanger space you need; keep a single hanger rod or remove it and install two hanger rods.
2. Measure the height position of your lower hanger rod and mark this measurement onto the two side walls.
3. Measure the height position for your upper hanger rod and mark the measurement onto the two side walls as well.
4. Measure the height position and length for two or more shelves above the upper rod.
5. In a deep side corner of the closet, measure the height and width of a narrow vertical storage shelf unit.
Hang the Hanger Rods
6. Cut two pieces of 1-by-4-inch wood to 10 or 12 inches, depending on the width of the shelf, for each hanger rod.
7. Center each hanger-rod bracket onto the lower half of the 1-by-4-inch wood and screw them into the wood.
8. Predrill two holes into the 1-by-4-inch wood pieces to screw them to the walls. Line up these horizontal hanger rod supports to the marks on the walls for the clothes hangers.
9. Mark the predrilled hole positions onto the wall and drill anchor holes into the wall. Tap the anchors in and screw the hanger rod supports to the walls. Attach a strip of 1-by-2-inch wood across the back of the closet and level with the two hanger-rod supports.
10. Cut the hanger rod to size and insert it into the brackets.
Cut the Shelves
11. Use the width measurement of your closet at each height mark to cut the shelves for your closet.
12. Mark the lengths onto the 1-by-10-inch or 1-by-12-inch wood and cut the pieces using the power saw. Place a shelf onto each hanger-rod support and install the other shelves.
13. Cut the 1-by-2-inch wood to 10- or 12-inch pieces, depending on the width of the shelf wood, for the sides and a long piece for the back of the closet to make the shelf supports.
14. Predrill two screw holes into each 1-by-2-inch wood piece; line it up to the shelf marks on the wall and mark the position for the wall anchors. Drill the holes for the wall anchors and tap them into the holes.
15. Screw the shelf supports to the walls on both sides and place the shelf on top. Install each shelf using the same method.
Extra Shelves
16. Measure any excess space in your closet for a boxed-in shelving unit. Cut two pieces of 1-by-10-inch or 1-by-12-inch wood to the height measurement to make the two sides of the shelving unit.
17.Measure the width of your unit and cut shelves---three, four, five or more---2 inches less than this measurement to allow for the 2 extra inches from the width of the side panels.
18. Cut two extra pieces of 1-by-2-inch wood to the same width as the shelves. Attach these two pieces along the underside of the back edge of two shelves. These will be supports for the shelves and a way to screw the shelf to the wall.
19. Place one of these shelves at the top of the unit between the two long vertical sides. Screw two screws through each side and the shelf.
20. Position the other shelf near the bottom with the 1-by-2-inch wood strip at the back of the unit and screw it in place. Space the other shelves evenly between these two shelves. Screw through the sides and then screw the unit to the wall.
Tags: 1-by-2-inch wood, your closet, 1-by-4-inch wood, closet shelves, height position, holes into