While spare bedrooms often serve as a guest room or an office, some families might decide the best use for an extra space would be a large closet. With a few of the right touches, your extra room can be transformed into a storage paradise that serves to keep the rest of your house in order. Does this Spark an idea?
Decide on the Closet's Purpose
Walk through your entire house to survey your available storage space. What's laying around that could be put away? Do you need a step ladder to reach your sweaters because the only room you have is that too-high shelf? Do you wish you could save and re-use shipping boxes but lack a place to stash them in the meantime? Maybe you wear the same shoes everyday because you've forgotten what other pairs you own?
Once you've surveyed your current situation, decide if you want your new closet to be dedicated to a certain kind of storage--like clothes--or if you need it to be an all-purpose space. Consider what new storage space might become available in other parts of your house after certain items are moved into the new closet. For example, moving all the coats out of the front hall closet and into your new closet might provide all the room you need for your wrapping paper.
Install Shelving and Storage
Now that you've decided what's going into the closet, it's time to pick the storage hardware. Determine what types of shelving (actual shelves, cubbies, areas for hanging clothes, wall hooks) best fits your needs and what height each item will reach. Ideally, you'll be able to reach shelves that hold items you use frequently; if multiple family members are different heights, the taller person's items can go on the higher shelves.
Some items will go on or near the floor. You might be able to fit two hanging racks (one on top of the other) for shorter items like shirts and skirts, with one area for longer hanging items like overcoats and dresses.
Use painter's tape (which is easily removed from walls) to mark where shelving will go. If the room is large enough, consider putting an island in the center that can be used for arts and crafts, clothes folding, or gift wrapping, and double as extra storage.
Lighting and Color
There's no rule that a closet must be dark and drab. An advantage of converting a spare bedroom into a closet is that there is probably already decent overhead lighting; if not, install some. Lighting strips along the ceiling can help visibility.
Consider painting your closet a bold color. If you've got wall-to-wall storage that will mostly hide the walls from sight, think about painting the ceiling.
Move In
Once your new closet is set up, take your time putting items in their new homes. Wash or dry-clean clothes and blankets that have been tucked away for a long time. Check each item for small damages that you can repair on the spot. This is a great opportunity to review your collection for things to sell or donate. Don't consider this new closet a hidden cave; make it a fresh and inviting home for your belongings.
Tags: your closet, into closet, each item, items like, storage space, your house
