Think about installing double rods for a split closet when space is limited.
Older homes were built in a time when people just didn't own that many clothes. As a result, the closets were smaller and there were fewer of them. Learning to live within the confines of older homes involves creativity within the existing space. You can outfit standard closets with double rods to split the space, maximizing the clothes-hanging potential of the closet. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Remove everything from the closet, including the hanging rods and their hardware. You need unhindered access to the walls for installing the new closet rods.
2. Measure the height of the closet from the floor to the ceiling using a tape measure. This gives you the total space you have to work with. Standard men's shirts need 42 inches of hanging space, including the hangers, so plan on two rods, 43 inches apart starting at 44 inches from the floor; the extra inch or two keeps the clothing from dragging on the floor or catching on the hangers below it. Mark the wall of the closet on both ends with a pencil.
3. Find the studs in the wall using a stud finder. Alternatively, pound a long thin nail at spaced intervals into the wall until you hit a stud. Mark the stud locations.
4. Measure the width of the closet and cut the closet rods to fit the space. Most hardware stores will help you with making cuts in either metal or wood if you do not have the tools.
5. Install the rod hanging hardware, screwing it into the studs for a solid connection. Use a strong metal or wooden rod that will not bend under the weight of the clothes. If the length of the rod is more than 5 feet, install brackets to support both rods in the middle.
6. Place the rods into the rod hangers and hang your clothes in the closet.
Tags: closet rods, double rods, double rods split, from floor, rods split
