DIY Network

Home Organization If you feel like your stuff is out of control, here are some tips that can help you tame it. From "Today Show Tips" episode DTST-112

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A dropdown shelf mounted to the closet door provides a handy work surface.

Workshop in a Closet

Even if you live in a smaller home or an apartment, you can still have a workshop. Here's how to fit one in a closet.

1. Identify a closet that you can take over completely. It doesn't have to be huge. You won't be doing a lot of sawing in it, either. Mostly it's just a central location for all your tools. Consider access to electricity; ideally there would be an outlet within a few feet of the closet.

2. Install shelves. Make sure the cleats that support the shelves are nailed into studs, not plaster or drywall. The middle shelf could be a little shallower to give you room to get inside the closet a bit. Plan to put the heaviest items on the floor.

3. Reinforce the closet door by attaching a piece of 1/4" plywood with glue and screws. (This step may not be necessary if you have a solid-core door that's at least an inch thick.)

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4. Add accessories to suit the kind of work you do most: building furniture, making model ships or just routine household repairs and maintenance. You might start with pegboard for hanging hammers, then add nails for hanging levels, etc.

5. A pop-up workbench is very handy and simple to build using plywood and the kind of brackets used for architectural drawing boards.

6. To maximize the light in your closet workshop, you can use light-colored floor covering and light-colored paint on the walls and ceilings.

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