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Closet Makeover

Cristy Gies

Cristy Gies

Designer and Founder - DIYGirlfriend

A messy closet is a dysfunctional closet. Without organization it is easy to lose track of what you do and don’t have. Shoes can become hidden, and clothes can become wrinkled. This is an even bigger challenge in smaller closets but, with a little bit of work and the addition of some shelves you can help that small closet function better for you.

One of the best ways to organize your closet is with a variety of shelves and hanging racks. Many stores sell organization systems that you can customize and install but, they come with a hefty price tag. Some of the off-the-shelf systems can feel flimsy or just cheap. Others can be very complex and the thought of installing them can be overwhelming.

That is why this week, in our final installment of the bedroom makeover, we are going to show you how to build your own shelves and create your own hanging system. In our tutorial we are using wood which will give you a solid rack system that will last.

Let’s get started!

Here is What you will need:

Materials:

  • Paint supplies
  • Paint of your choice
  • Drop cloth
  • Paint brush
  • Paint roller and brush
  • Paint tray
  • Paint stick
  • Paint can opener
  • Paint cup
  • Paint gloves
  • Rags
  • Painters tape
  • Spackling
  • Putty knife
  • General purpose sanding sponge
  • Wood for shelving – we used 16” white melamine shelving and had Home Depot cut them to the length we needed
  • Corner support braces
  • Angled shelf supports
  • 2.5” cabinet screws
  • Finishing nails
  • Heavy duty clothes rod sockets
  • White melamine edging to hide the rough edges of the shelves (if needed)

Tools:

  • Rubber mallet
  • Prybar
  • Utility knife
  • Drill and drill bits
  • Carpenter square
  • Level
  • Miter saw
  • Measuring tape
  • Stud finder
  • Nail gun or hammer

You can find these items in any local home improvement store. At the bottom of this article we have provided some links to make locating these items easier.

Watch the video below to get started on your accent wall.

Or you can follow the step-by-step instructions below.

Step 1: Prep the closet

  • Clean out the closet to start with a fresh design. Remove any existing shelving, hooks, etc. If needed, use a utility knife to cut through any paint or caulk that may have dried between the cracks.
  • Use a pry bar to loosen shelves, trim and baseboards from the walls.
  • Paint the closet:
  • Prepare the closet for painting by filling in any holes with spackling. Allow the spackling to dry and then sand down all rough spots in the walls.
  • Wipe the walls down to remove any dust or dirt from sanding.
  • With a paint brush, paint the corners and edges of all walls. If needed, you can put painters tape against any wall trim or any material you don’t want paint on.
  • Now use the paint roller to paint the rest of the walls. If you have tight areas in your closet you might also need a 3” smaller paint roller for hard to reach places.

Step 2: Plan out the design of the closet

  • Measure the closet width, length and height to know how much room you have to work with.
  • Make a list of requirements for the closet like how many shoes you’ll have, how many clothes you have to hang, what things will need to be hung on the wall like belts, hats, etc. Don’t forget to add in some additional room for storage in case you forget something.
  • Based on the specifications, draw the closet out on graph paper using a scale for the exact width, length and height of the closet. Websites such as Pinterest will give excellent design ideas if you need help with the design.
  • Made a supply and tool list of items needed to ensure you have everything before beginning the project. Refer to our supply list for ideas and examples.

DIYG Tip: To make sure the closet will be functional and meet the requirements, measure and cut masking tape to draw out the design on the closet walls.  This allows you to adjust the length and width of clothes rods, shelves, etc… before actually buying and cutting the materials.

Step 3: Build closet shelves

  • Take the 2 outside walls of the shelving unit and drill ½” holes in the sides of the walls for the shelf supports. We drilled holes in the front and back on both sides, 3” from the edge and every 2” down. This can be adjusted according to your specifications.

DIYG Tip: To make sure you don’t drill too deep, put painters tape on the drill to mark where you need to stop drilling.  See video for example. 

  • Attach 2 permanent shelves at the bottom and near the middle to hold the shape of the shelving unit. Measure and predrill the holes in the two permanent shelves to align with the holes in the sides. Attach the permanent shelves with the cabinet screws. Be sure and use a carpenter square to make sure shelves are square and level.
  • If needed, cut the carpet in the closet where the shelves will sit. It is important to put the support shelves on a solid, level floor for support and to make sure the closet shelves are straight and level.
  • Put the shelving unit in the closet and use a level to make sure the permanent shelves are level. Adjust if needed.
  • Attach the shelving unit to the wall at the studs using 2” screws. If a stud is not available, you can use support brackets to ensure the closet unit stays securely in place. Use a level to make sure the walls of shelving unit are straight and level!
  • Do not install the remaining shelves until the end

Step 4: Build support for clothes rods

  • Using an extra piece of the shelving, measure and cut support brackets at least 4”x12”. (You may need a larger piece based on the size of your shelves and clothes hangers.) You will need 2 supports for each clothes rod
  • Secure the support brackets to the wall using the 2” screws. Be sure and attach the brackets on the studs to handle the weight of the clothes.
  • Attach the clothes rod sockets on each side where you want the clothes rods using the screws that came in the package.

DIYG Tip: Prior to attaching the 2nd clothes rod socket, put the clothes rod in the sockets and adjust the height of the 2nd socket to make the clothes rod level.  Once level, mark the holes for the 2nd socket

Step 5: Install top shelf of closet

  • Measure and cut a 1”x2” support bracket for the top shelf.
  • Attach support bracket to the wall using 2” screws. Once again, make sure the support bracket is level and attached to the studs.
  • Predrill and screw the top shelf in the support pieces and the shelf sides to make sure it doesn’t fall
  • If needed, touch up any scratches in wall with a paint brush.

DIYG Tip: If a little bit of paint topcoat paint seeped through the tape you can use a small paint brush and touch it up with your base coat paint

Step 6: Install baseboard and trim

  • Measure and cut baseboard and trim
  • Attach baseboard and trim to walls using a nail gun or finish nails and hammer
  • Fill nail holes with spackling and allow to dry
  • Paint with paint brush
  • Touch up any additional places that may have been scratched when installing the shelves with the paint brush

Step 7: Install Shelves

  • Put shelf supports in predrilled holes where you want to place the shelves
  • Place shelves on top of shelf supports

Step 8: Final Touches

  • Install any additional hooks or racks on walls if desired
  • Hang clothes on rods
  • Put shoes on shelves

Enjoy your new Closet

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