DIY Network

Great Walls of Storage Wall studs are the key to these storage systems. From "Wasted Spaces" episode DWSP-310

Stud-mounted brackets make these shelves super-sturdy.

This family's new storage areas are roomy – but they need some storage systems to keep them from becoming as cluttered and disorganized as the main basement was. To help bring order into chaos, host Karl Champley builds a swing-out-wall/door to create a secret storage room for hunting supplies and fits out the larger storage room with organization systems built right into the wall studs.

To transform this cluttered basement into an organized retreat, Karl worked with the homeowner to tear down a wall that was in exactly the wrong place. They then framed walls and doors and finished off the "public" sides of the walls with new drywall and doors. These finishing touches complete the makeover.

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Swing-Out Wall

Tools: carpenter’s pencil tape measure level safety glasses drill screw gun circular saw framing naiiler

Materials: 2x4s (treated and untreated) 1/2" plywood 5" casters screws nails heavy duty hinges

	This wall swings like a giant door.
	Figure A

• Frame out a wall. Follow Karl's procedure for framing a basement wall to create the basic wall frame. The frame should be slightly shorter than the space between the floor and ceiling; use pressure-treated lumber for framing members that will be next to bare concrete.

  Tip: Make sure to space the studs 16" apart on center. This will make it easier to install the 4' x 8' plywood sheets in the next step.

• Cover with plywood. This wall will take a lot of strain as it swings open and closed like a door. Instead of drywall – which will tend to crack at the joints under the stress – install 1/2" plywood to add strength and stability. Position the plywood sheets on the frame so that each sheet begins and ends on a stud; nail through the plywood into the studs.

• Hang the wall. Use heavy-duty hinges to attach the swinging wall securely to an existing stud. Shim up the wall slightly before attaching it so the wall won't scrape against the floor as it swings. Karl used three hinges for the wall in this project.

• Add a wheel. Attach a 5" castor to the bottom of the swinging edge of the wall so that it will be concealed when the wall is closed (figure A). Position the caster so that the wheel extends lower than the door frame but doesn't quite touch the floor; if the door settles due to heavy storage on the other side, the caster will keep it from scraping.

  Note: These homeowners used the swing-out door to conceal hunting equipment – including firearms. Always make sure any firearms are safely secured and out of the reach of children.

Storage Walls

Tools: carpenter’s pencil tape measure screw gun level safety glasses drill circular saw nail gun

Materials: 2x8s 2x12s lag screws nails 1 /2" plywood storage bins

	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

• Design the stud shelves. Determine the best locations for the shelves mounted on the exposed wall studs. Karl recommends measuring the actual storage containers or other items to get the correct shelf heights.

• Cut brackets. Cut 2" x 8" lumber into triangles to create shelving brackets to mount on wall studs.

  Safety Alert: Always wear safety glasses and use caution when working with a power saw or other power tools.

• Mount brackets. For each bracket, position the bracket on the wall stud and tack into place with a nail gun (figure B). With the bracket held in place, drill two holes through the bracket and into the stud. Drive lag screws through those holes.

  Note: Make sure to install the brackets level — and level with each other — or the shelves will end up crooked.

• Place shelves. With the brackets secured, cut 1/2" plywood to the correct shelf size. Position the plywood and secure with a few nails if desired; the weight of the stored items will help hold the shelves in place (figure C).

• Create a deep storage wall. Karl also helped these homeowners build an extra-deep storage wall, perfect for storing items that need support at the sides. Simply frame a wall as normal, substituting 2x12s for 2x4s as studs (figure D). This will create a deep space between the studs. Install shelf brackets as above, or install ledgers to hold shelves.