A well-organized closet adds beauty to any home.
Installing shelves and cabinets in a closet area can help organize any room. Design these organizational tools by sketching the space in detail. Utilize every square inch by designing the closet on graph paper. Incorporate pre-made plastic-coated wire systems and cabinets already built. Add to these materials by building additional shelves and cabinets that harmonize with store-bought units. Use recycled cabinets and materials to reduce the overall budget. The time investment for this project can be as little as one weekend. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Measure the closet space to figure out how much room is available for shelves and cabinets. Sketch the closet on graph paper to include room for hanging rods. Design shelves and cabinets to fit around hanging clothes. Design the closet space storage makeover by reviewing home design books, magazines and closet systems at home improvement stores.
2. Create the design on graph paper using one square to represent 4 inches of space. Install at least two hanging rod sections to separate formal and informal clothes. Build or buy at least two cabinets with four to six drawers each. Place these cabinets in the bottom section of the closet. Construct cabinets with 2-by-4-inch board framing covered with 1/2-inch plywood. Install shelves inside these cabinets with pre-made doors that close over them. Buy small cabinets with drawers already in place, since drawer construction requires detailed carpentry skills.
3. Purchase wall systems from a local store to create cubbyhole systems in the closet. Buy a storage system in a color that will match any cabinets or shelves you will install. Use an electric screwdriver to drive 3-inch stainless steel screws into wall framing to hold shelves. Never underestimate the weight of stored items in a closet, so do not substitute shorter screws or simply nail systems into place. Use a carpenter's level, also, to check each section.
4. Utilize space at the top of the closet for longer shelves 5 feet or longer. Install L-shaped angle-iron by securing hardware to house framing with 4-inch stainless steel screws. Allow shelves on either side of the closet, for shoes or folded clothes. Use 1/2-inch plywood or finished lumber boards to construct the shelves. Build these shelves about 24 inches across the front and 15 inches deep. Cover the shelves with fabric or vinyl if sweaters or clothing will be placed on them.
5. Paint all sections of the shelving and cabinets to match. Line all drawers and shelves with vinyl-coated paper in cabinets. Install carpet in the bottom of the closet before you place heavy cabinets on hardwood flooring, for example. Double-check all hardware for rods and screws for each shelf section, so the systems are secured to wall framing correctly. Tighten all screws before adding stored items, since going back to make adjustments is harder once clothing or other items are in place.
Tags: cabinets with, graph paper, shelves cabinets, 2-inch plywood, closet graph, closet graph paper, closet space
