Closet Shelves

The walk in closet seems to be a catch-all most of the time. When something doesn't have a proper place, it gets thrown in the closet. Closets that are actually used for clothes can be an unruly mess as well. In order to make this chaotic area more organized, closet shelves might be just what is needed. A closet shelf is something that we utilize more than we think. If you are smart you already have some sort of closet shelving systems implemented but if not then we are going to get you started right away. Just about every closet has at least a rod and shelf installed.

Closet organizers are the perfect answer to many of our closet organizing issues. The problem is we need multiple closet shelves hung to make it complete otherwise we are going to end up with organized confusion. The tips below should be useful in the construction of closet shelving to help with your closet organization issues

The first step in getting your walk in closet design ready for shelves will be to completely empty the closet free of everything and start from scratch. In order to know exactly what is needed for the project, you will need to take some measurements of the closet itself. Be sure to double check all measurements before heading out to purchase materials. Make note of the height, width, and length of the closet, as well as the distance you will want between shelves.

Keep these numbers with you when going to purchase materials, in order to get the right quantities and sizes. Deciding what type of closet shelving you want is also a good idea. There are many choices; wood planks, wire, or even plastic. If you aren't sure what type you would like, check out the selections once you have your measurements written down. ClosetMaid shelves are a brand name that are extremely popular especially in your home improvement stores. Closetmaid closet shelving is among the most popular home do it yourself systems on the market.

Now once you have your measurements in hand, head to the nearest store to purchase your materials. If you have decided on using wood planks, many lumber stores will cut wood to the measurements you've selected. This will save on time when you get back home, as well as being much more convenient. Be sure to find brackets that fit the planks you will be using. Some wire shelving also requires some sort of bracket. Check to see what accessories are needed when purchasing shelf material. If you need any type of hardware; screws, nails, drywall anchors, be sure to make note of how many you will need. It's a good idea to grab one or two extras, just in case something gets bent or lost.

When building your own closet shelving systems from planks of wood, the brackets will have to be hung on the walls before the planks can be set in place. Mark on the walls where the brackets are going to be placed. They will need to be evenly spaced, both the width of the shelf as well as between the shelves. The shelf should hang over at least 2 or 3 inches past the location of the brackets.

Once one bracket has been attached to the wall, make sure it is level, by placing a plank on one of the brackets and supporting the other end with your hand. Place the level on the plank and raise or lower the board until the bubble is centered on the level. Attach the next bracket below the shelf at this point on the wall. It is easier if there are two people available when building a closet shelf because they require leveling.

This leveling procedure will be required if metal closet shelves are placed on brackets as well. If the wood closet shelves are free-standing then leveling shouldn't be needed. Many free-standing shelves come with instructions on how to set them up. Once you've finished building your closet shelves, it's time to put all the items back in your closet systems. Having a place for everything now will make finding an item much easier.

When installing wire closet shelving depending on how intricate the shelves are going to be, you might be able to get away with just having a hammer, screwdriver and a tape measure. If more is needed, make sure you have access to them; either your own tools or are able to borrow what is necessary. Some other items that might be needed include a drill, level, saw, pencil, or even a stud finder. This type of closet organization system is very common in homes that need some closet shelving. Garage shelving is a great opportunity to use the wire closet shelves to store some of your automotive and cleaning supplies.

These are a great way to complement your garage cabinets as well.