Build a pantry closet under your stairs to use the extra space.
That awkward space beneath the stairs in many homes is often not used effectively. However, it can easily be converted into extra pantry space. You can determine how much of the space under the stairs you want to use and design your own closet accordingly. The project allows you to design a pantry suited to your specific needs. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Create a doorway for your closet. Begin by cutting the drywall where you want the door to be, making sure you do not affect any electrical wiring or plugs in the area. Use a stud finder to be sure you are not cutting into a stud. Measure the area for the door frame and cut out the drywall. Cut out the wall studs that will block your door to the height of your door frame plus two inches. Nail a 2 by 4 across the bottom of the hanging studs. Cut the frame away from the bottom of the door. This provides the place to install the closet door.
2. Measure your stairwell to determine the dimensions you will need to convert the stairwell into a pantry. Determine how wide you want your shelves and then frame out a wall to attach your shelves. Determine how far apart you want your shelves; cereal boxes need more space than cans. Create shelves that are a uniform distance apart or create shelves for specific storage purposes.
3. Install the drywall along the bottom of the stairs and the back of the closet if the area is not already finished. Use screws to install the drywall and you will need a second person to hold it in place why you install it. Spackle the seams and the screw holes before you paint so you have a smooth wall.
4. Frame out the wall for the shelves. Use 2 by 4 boards cut to the correct dimensions for the space. The studs should be about 16 inches apart from each other. Nail a top frame and a bottom frame to the long 2 by 4s. Nail the frame into the floor and the ceiling of the closet. The top of the frame should meet up with the bottom of a stair so you nail it to wood instead of the drywall. Attach drywall to the frame, spackle and sand the wall smooth.
5. Cut your shelves out of the plywood according to the dimensions you planned. You will also need to cut 2 by 4s for each shelf: one long piece that matches the length of the shelf and two shorter pieces that are 2 inches shorter than the width of the shelf. Sand the cut edges.
6. Paint the walls and the pieces for the shelves.
7. Mark where you want to put the shelves in the closet. Use the stud finder to locate the studs and mark where you should nail each item.
8. Nail the 2 by 4s into the closets to act as the braces for the shelves. The top of 2 by 4s will be where the shelves rest. Use a level to make sure the 2 by 4s are level so your shelves will be level.
9. Put the shelves on the 2 by 4s. You can nail the shelves into the 2 by 4s for added stability, but you can also leave them loose to make it easier to adjust the shelving. Nail the shelves into place if your shelving is deep or very wide. Install the closet door into the frame you created.
Tags: your shelves, closet door, door frame, Nail frame, place install, shelves into
