How to Turn a Closet into a Closet

When you are the type of person who tends to come up with creative solutions for problems, sometimes you don’t immediately see the obvious ones. This closet, for example:

I think it was probably intended to become an ensuite bathroom, but was never converted. Its in a bedroom that we use for computer/exercise/guest space. It houses a kid’s dresser, some suitcases and a bunch of B-list stuffies that I am not yet allowed to send to the Goodwill.

The bedroom itself has become something of a chuck-it-in:

Which is funny, because we already have another bedroom that is serving as a chuck-it-in (just until the yard sale - I promise!)

This is - you might have gleaned from prior articles - an obvious case of there not being handy and convenient HOMES for the various items that get chucked into the room. So we have a large and poorly utilized closet next to a room that is essentially being used like a closet. Hmm…

It takes me a while sometimes, but eventually it did dawn on me that I needed to turn the closet into a closet.

So I made some shelves, beginning by marking the height of the tallest suitcase, to make sure that the suitcases could fit underneath:

shelves in process

My shelves consist of boards supported by 2x4’s on each end. The method is fairly straightforward:

• eye the wall and consider how many shelves are needed for what you intend to store

• figure out at what height to place the shelves, then make a mark on the wall, on one side, at that height

• hold up a small level horizontally at that mark, when it registers level, draw a line along the top

• drag a stud finder along the shelf line to locate studs

• make an x at middle of each stud, on top of shelf line

• cut two 2x4’s to the same depth as the shelf board

• hold up the cut 2x4 under, and in line with, the shelf line

• screw 3” screws into the 2x4 and through to the wall, at each stud location (at least 2 points are necessary, or shelf support will pivot)

• with pencil and level in hand (or pocket) rest one end of shelf board on the attached 2x4

• place level on shelf

• when board is level, mark the wall at the other end with a line under the shelf - this makes your shelf level left-to-right

• remove board and use level to level out line that you have just drawn on the wall, this makes your shelf level front-to-back

• repeat process that you used for putting up the first shelf support

• put shelf board on top of supports - you can leave the shelf loose or screw the top into the supports (if you are concerned about child/animal/etc. climbing on or bumping into the shelves)

• if shelf boards are sufficiently stiff relative to their span, the shelf will not sag in the middle - though it still might sag if you are using it for heavy things

• if it does sag, a thicker board and/or support along the back may be necessary

Keep in mind that when you are using a long screw to drill into a wall, you need to be very careful not to drill into wires or pipes. Here is a basic video about how to use a stud-finder for this purpose. And below is a 4-minute video if you would like to see in more detail how I installed the shelf supports.

The stuffies found a new home in what had previously been an old, overcrowded linen closet:

And the linen found a new home in this closet:

The bureau went into the bedroom:

The closet went from this to this:

And the room, from this to this:

The closet isn’t either finished or fancy, but it is very functional. I consider that to be 90% of the way to just right, and it will do for the time being.