An empty closet offers perfect flex space for optional uses.
Building a closet hutch involves a conversion that transforms a closet into a desk, craft center, study area, gift wrap center or other storage and use area. Usually, the hutch is composed of a desktop with built-in shelving above the desk. On wider closets the desk may be supported by filing cabinets or base cabinets. The shelves are often suspended from a cleat near the closet's ceiling. This cleat allows you to install shelves and cubbies at variable heights for multiple uses. Making the closet hutch is not difficult. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Remove everything from the closet. Use a pry bar and hammer to remove the existing closet shelf and rod. Pliers help to remove old screws. Repair any wall damage. Move a stud finder around all of the interior walls. Draw long vertical lines marking the locations of studs using a level.
2. Measure the height of a base cabinet that you intend to use as a base support for your desktop. Closet doors that are wider than 32 inches can accept a 12-inch-wide base cabinet. Larger openings allow you to install bigger cabinets. Allow for ample knee room in your design.
3. Mark the height measurement on the inside walls of the closet and draw a horizontal line around the closet using a level. Measure the inside length of the back wall. Subtract 2 inches. Cut a 1-by-1-inch board to that length. Position the board along the bottom of the line on the back wall. Screw the board to the wall at each stud line. Measure the inside depth of the closet. Cut two pieces of board to length. Line a board up on the bottom of the side line and screw the board into the studs. Repeat for the second board.
4. Measure the length and width of the inside of the closet and cut a piece of 3/4-inch plywood to this size. It's likely you'll have to shape the plywood to fit around inside doorway trim, and you may need to sand the plywood's sides to fit, as most walls are not perfectly straight. To figure out the doorway trim, take a piece of paper and mark the width of the trim. Use scissors to cut around the profile until the paper fits snug against the wall. Measure the trim's location from the wall, then use the measurement to place the paper on the plywood to use as a template. Draw the trim's outline on the plywood. Repeat the process for the second side. Turn your template over and it will create the mirror trim used on the second side. Check your measurements.
5. Cut out the trim template pieces on the plywood using a jigsaw. Fit the plywood into the closet over the wall boards. Sand the edges with an orbital sander until the desktop fits snugly. This may take several tries.
6. Place the desktop on the worktable. Cut a laminate sheet with heavy sheers 1 inch larger than the desktop. Apply laminate adhesive to the top of the plywood and to the underside of the laminate. Allow the adhesive to dry. Place dowels across the plywood every 2 to 3 inches. Position the laminate over the dowels and centered on the plywood. Remove the dowels in the center and press the laminate to the plywood, smoothing from the center out. Remove more dowels, working from the center to the corners until the laminate is connected to the plywood. Roll the laminate with a heavy roller.
7. Trim the laminate using a router around the perimeter of the plywood. Measure, cut and apply end tape between the door trim section along the edge of the plywood. Use an iron to apply the tape to the wood.
8. Place the laminated desktop over the wall boards. Screw the desktop to the wall boards from the underside using short nails that don't penetrate the laminate. Screw every 8 inches along one side. Insert the base cabinet under the countertop. The desktop should overhang the cabinet by 1 inch along the front. The cabinet should not touch the back wall of the closet. Align the cabinet using wood shims if it isn't level.
9. Screw the rest of the desktop to the wall boards from the underside using short nails that don't penetrate the laminate. Screw every 8 inches along one side. Screw the cabinet to the desktop from the underside. Open the cabinet doors or drawers to access screw points.
10. Prime and paint the inside walls of the closet. Protect your new desk with plastic sheeting. Allow the last coat of paint to dry for 24 hours. Install a metal cleat the width of the closet along the top 2 inches near the ceiling. Screw the cleat directly into the top plate using long wood screws. Attach your hanging closet system to the cleat. This system uses hanging rails that allow you to install adjustable shelves and cubbies and move them around as your needs change.
Tags: wall boards, back wall, base cabinet, every inches, from underside
