Most closets don't make full use of available space.
Most homeowners are faced with the same challenge, regardless of the size of the house--inadequate storage space for their clothing. Often, the problem is not lack of space, but lack of the proper design to maximize the space that is available. With some pre-planning and a few man hours, the do-it-yourselfer can double her storage capacity and convert an inefficient space into an organized workhorse of a closet.
Instructions
Get Organized
1. Organize your closet based on the type of clothing.
Look at your clothes to determine what type of closet system will work best. If you have a lot of dresses or dressy clothes, you'll need more single rods. If you live in separates, stack rods one on top of the other to double the hanging space. If you have tons of shoes, plan for more shoe cubes. If accessories are your thing, you'll need drawers.
2. Measure your space accurately.
Measure the space. Measure each wall that can be turned into shelving. If you have a walk-in closet, consider using the farthest wall for shoe cubes and drawers, while placing rods on both sides for the clothing you wear frequently.
3. Experiment until you like what you see.
Draw some rough sketches of each wall. Experiment with several designs to see what will work best. All closet systems have four basic components--rods, shelving, drawers and baskets.
4. Wood adds style to your closet.
Decide on the material you want for your closet. Wood adds elegance and luxury, but it's more expensive. Wire shelving or melamine is less costly, and you can quickly see what's being stored on each shelf. If you live in an apartment, you may want stackable cubes that can move with you.
5. Locate each stud in the wall with a stud finder and mark its location with a pencil. Buy a steel channel for each stud, preferably one that extends from the floor to the ceiling, for maximum usage of the space. Measure the height of to get the proper measurements.
Purchase and Install Your System
6. Buy either a pre-packaged organizer system or the individual pieces you will need. Purchase a steel channel for each stud, shelves, drawers or cubes, brackets for each shelf, and rods.
7. Steel channels extend from floor to ceiling
Install the steel channels at each stud, making sure that each is level vertically. Since you'll be attaching each to a stud, you should drill holes first, then screw the channel to the wall.
8. Place the brackets in the channels to support the shelving and rods. Place the brackets where you think you want them, and experiment with the spacing until you get it to your satisfaction.
9. Add drawers and cubes to the pre-determined space. These are easily assembled with a few screws, following the manufacturer's instructions.
Tags: each stud, your closet, channel each, channel each stud, drawers cubes