DIY Network

Preparation From "Weekend Decorating" episode WDC-203

A jumble of shelving and wasted space can make anyone wish for a new closet. The owners of this closet are fortunate that it's a great size and has two windows that offer natural light, but the space has not yet reached its full potential. What's needed is new paint and a well-organized shelf system. Life is busy enough these days, and organization is the key to efficiency -- in life, home... and definitely the closet! The "Golden" rule here is "a place for everything and everything in its place."

On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the greatest degree of difficulty, this project rates a solid 3. It took 11 hours, spread over the course of two days, to complete. The budget for materials, supplies and accessories was $1,500.

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	Closet: before.
	Another "before" shot of the closet.
	Rejuvenated closet with custom storage and shelving.
	Upholstered boxes make for stylish storage!
	Computer plan for the preliminary closet design.

The first step in remodeling the closet was a floor plan to map out space utilization. Since this is a shared closet for both husband and wife, individual space needs must be considered. To help plan your closet, take inventory of storage needs in advance and eliminate unnecessary items. Golden suggests using the one-two-three method for clothing and shoes: Ones are worn on a regular basis. Twos are worn on occasion. Threes never leave the closet. All threes should be removed from the closet and donated to the charity of your choice.

Using grid paper, sketch out the closet plan. Indicate where you want shelves and drawers and where hanging clothes should be located. Take all your closet measurements, which helps customize the walls to be all you need them to be. Clothing on hangers will come out 24" from the wall, and different heights will be needed for blouses and trousers, which require less vertical space than dresses and coats. If you have a large collection of shoes, consider keeping only seasonal shoes in the closet. Choose containers that are clear or easily labeled to identify contents quickly. To make the most of small spaces or the backs of doors, install hooks when possible: this allows you to store belts, jewelry, scarves or bags in sight. The goal is to create an organizational plan that offers visibility, flexibility and access.

Before starting this project, gather all tools and materials in advance.

Materials:
Painting supplies
Two sawhorses
Plywood
Safety glasses
Work gloves
Nail gun
Awl
Elfa (TM) shelving unit
Stair tool
Stapler
Fabric
Hammer
Steel measuring tape
Level
Putty

Preparation

1. Remove shelving from the walls.

   Tip: Consider reusing the old shelving in the garage or adding more storage in another bedroom.

2. To make patching the nail holes easier, lightly hammer over them. Make sure they are as free of dust as possible to ensure that the patching compound will bond.

3. Fill holes with patching compound and when dry, sand to a smooth finish to avoid seeing variations in the wall surface.

4. Paint closet walls. The shade of light brown used here was chosen to create a coordinating color scheme with the bedroom and the bathroom. Use painter's tape to keep the moldings clean.

   Tip: Label paint cans according to the room in which the paint was used, in case touch-ups are ever needed. Also, always make sure you have plenty of ventilation when working with paint.