A well-organized storage space looks neat with doors open.
A well-planned storage closet will help keep a home much neater. Contents of a coat closet, kitchen pantry or kids' room can be better organized and function well. Planning a closet's layout and design for which items it will hold is key. By sketching where and how everything will fit inside a closet, you can put away items easily and retrieve them at a moment's notice. Make selecting boxes, bins and shelving to hold everything part of the planning process. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Measure the closet's height, width and depth focusing on the interior space that will be used after its door or doors are closed. Decide whether standard doors, sliding doors or pocket doors might cover the closet best. Add space to the closet by subtracting area from a nearby room or hallway to make the closet large enough for the contents you want it to hold.
2. Use graph paper to define sections within the closet. Sketch two or three hanging rod spaces if the closet will hold clothing or coats. Designate one rod for dress clothes and one for casual, for example. Define shelves, space for a chest of drawers or spots to hang hooks. Store seldom-used items in the top of the closet and heavy items on or near the floor.
3. Choose an interior wall covering. Vinyl wallpaper, for example, could be an option for a closet that will experience a lot of wear and tear. Install a stronger grade of wallpaper to resist scuffs if sports gear will be tossed in the closet several times a week. Bead board paneling can be an option for closet walls if canned goods or gardening supplies will be stored on shelves in the closet.
4. Choose an organization system. Select shelving or a small cabinet with a smooth wood finish for inside a master bedroom closet. Use metal wire racks in closets that will hold toys and canned goods. Or, add large labels on plastic storage bins kept in a closet so that young children can find and store items easier. Add shelves inside a basement storage closet using 2-inch-by-4-inch boards and 1/2-inch-thick plywood to create shelving for paints or outdoor chemicals.
5. Plan details and colors. Select sliding doors with mirrors attached, for example, if the closet is in a dressing area. Consider whether recessed lighting is necessary in the closet's ceiling. Use light tan bins that can hold scarves or other accessories so that the closet looks neat when open. Buy glass or white wire shelving to give a bathroom closet a more modern look. Paint the closet's interior a color that harmonizes with the room.
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