D.I.Y. Saturday #8 – Installing Closet Organizers

Entry #208, July 10, 2010

Are you tired of going in your closets and not finding what you went in for? Closet organization is a necessity for sanity and

Organize your closet into a showpiece!

efficiency.   Depending on the quantity, and different categories of clothes, you will want to pick the material that matches your use.

Steps:

1.) Declutter and purge!

Before you can organize a space, you need to clear out what you don’t wear, doesn’t fit, or needs to find a new home!  Donate items to charities, churches, or others who may benefit from your ‘treasure’!

2.) Take inventory of what is left.

You should now be able to look at your belongings and figure out what needs to go where.

3.) Planning your closet.

Do It Yourself.com has some simple tips on how to plan out your closet organization unit(s).

Everything has a home, including your sanity!

Begin by making a list of the kind of things you want to keep in the closet. Do you have a lot of shoes? Do you hang your clothes or do you need shelf space for folded clothes like sweaters? Maybe your closet space isn’t for clothes at all, but instead a space where you want to keep old records or files. Whatever it is, you will need to plan accordingly.

The best way to begin a plan is to measure the space that you have. Measure each wall and get a blank piece of paper for each one. Make some rough sketches to help you decide how the space should be laid out, and use those sketches in conjunction with your measurements to figure out how close the shelves should be and how many you can potentially fit on each wall.

Maybe you have already decided what kind of material you want to use for your shelving system, but if you haven’t, you need to do so while you are designing your space. There are two basic ways to build an organizational structure in a closet. The first is to use a system of prefabricated hangers and brackets that hold lightweight wire shelving coated with rubber. There are several manufacturers of wire rack shelving, but they are all similar in design and functionality. This wire shelving is available in a variety of sizes and depths and can be arranged to incorporate rods for hanging clothes. There are also a number of accessories available that are designed for hard items like shoes, which can be difficult to keep organized.

The second method is to build shelving units. The actual material that you choose is entirely up to you, and we will discuss a few of them, but the basic construction premise is the same for both. The most significant differences in the materials are found in aesthetic appearance and price. Other than that, you can count on using the same hardware for whatever you choose.

Once you have taken the time to design a closet shelving system that will meet your needs and you have determined which materials you want to use, you can move to the next step and put together your shopping list.

You will need several supplies, and they will vary based on the type of shelving units you are installing.  Do It Yourself.com

Closet organizers aren’t just for clothing!

recommends:

5.) Ask questions!

Your local home improvement store can help you, as well as online resources.

Questions may include:

• What is the estimated time to complete?
• How many people are suggested to install?
• If you are missing pieces, do you call the manufacturer or bring it back to the local store?
• What types of materials and shelving types last longer.
• Is there a toll free phone number or online support, should you have questions once you begin installation.
• If you have extra materials, can you get a full refund?
• What is the recommended weight limit for shelving. (Make sure you are using shelving that will hold what you are trying to store!)

For more helpful advice, look at this Lowe’s You Tube video on installing your own closet organizer:

For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture, & Stagetecture’s YouTube Channel, click here.