Size up your clothes before you build a walk-in closet.
A walk-in closet offers more space for clothes and other items like sports equipment, ornaments and even tools. However, the closet needs to be installed properly with the right amount of storage space, shelves and clothing rods to be effective. If you are planning a new walk-in closet design, build it using tried-and-true methods to improve your closet's function. It will take some skill and several days' worth of work to complete this task. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Determine the location of the clothing rods and shelves by drawing them on a piece of graph paper. Use a scale of one square equals 6 inches and lay out the closet size, then draw the shelving and clothing rods on the page. Use double-stacked rods to enhance clothing hanging space and at least one set of shelves for more storage room.
2. Cut 1-by-4 cleats to 2 inches shorter than the width of the shelving boards and closet rod shelf, the shelf installed above the closet rod, with a power saw. This is typically 10 inches, since most shelving boards are 12 inches wide, or deep. Cut another set of cleats to the length of the shelving boards and closet rod shelf.
3. Mount the cleats to the wall using your drawing as a guide. Usually the cleats mount at 80 inches to accommodate a double-stacked set of rods, and the shelving is installed below this. Install the cleats on studs, located with a stud finder, or install anchors in the walls and drill through the cleats and into the anchors with 2-inch wood screws.
4. Cut the closet rod shelf to the appropriate size. Measure the space inside the closet again if necessary.
5. Mount the closet rod shelf to the cleats with 1-inch screws and a screwdriver.
6. Cut two 1-by-15 inch boards for the vertical shelves to 60 inches long. Mount these boards to the wall spaced 3 feet apart, using 1-by-2 cleats and wood screws. Mount the shelving cleats to the sides of these boards with 1 1/2-inch screws and a screwdriver.
7. Cut 1-by-15 inch shelving boards to 3 feet in length and slide this on the cleats inside the 1-by-15 vertical boards. Mount the shelving boards to the cleats with 1 1/2-inch screws.
8. Install the closet rods between the shelving boards and the closet wall. Measure 78 inches on both sides and mount the brackets to the wall with the provided hardware. Mount another set of brackets under the top closet rod at 40 inches high. Slide the closet rods into the brackets.
Tags: shelving boards, closet shelf, boards closet, clothing rods, shelving boards closet, walk-in closet, with 2-inch
