Friday, December 11, 2009

Build a Closet Out of the Closet DIY

Closets are notoriously cluttered and too small. You can organize, create storage, use vertical space, but you still may be left feeling like whoever designed your closet must have been a minimalist. Sometimes it is helpful to build space outside of the closet to expand on your storage space.

Closets outside of the closet are becoming more and more popular. These are commonly called wardrobe closets. Some people use extra dressers or an armoire for extra space. You can also use a rolling garment rack for more room. These usually have a zip-up cover and make a great space for storing out of season clothing, coats, or suits. But, if you want something more permanent that you can use for your everyday clothes, then you might consider a wardrobe closet.

The designs for wardrobe closets are really endless. For an industrial feel, you could hang a metal bar from chains attached to the ceiling. Place a shelf below for shoes and you’re done. You might dress it up a little by using sturdy metal hangers or black velvet hangers.

If the industrial feel is not for you, you can go with something more classic. Wooden shelves always look beautiful and are very sturdy. Decorative wooden brackets can turn a board into a beautiful work of art. If you’re into do it yourself projects, this one is really simple. Take your sculpted brackets and a board for a shelf and stain them to whatever color you want. Use a good varnish to finish it off and hang it.

You can even buy prefabricated shelves with hanging bars, perfect for extra hanging storage. Get some decorative baskets or bins for the tops of the shelves. Top it off with some nice clothes hangers, like a wood hanger or coat hanger and you’re done.

If you need even more space, consider some cabinetry. Cabinets can be purchased unfinished so that you can stain them whatever color you would like. Another option is to go with cedar and some cedar hangers, giving your wardrobe closet a really unique and beautiful look. You can install cabinets with hanging bars in between the different sections.

Another way to do it is to build an encased exterior closet. Install your shelves, bars and cabinets like normal, then encase it in solid pieces of wood. This “built-in” look is really popular. Add some finishing touches to make it your own and to keep it from looking homemade. You can use small 1”x2” boards on the fronts of each shelf. Use more to line the sides of the whole closet. With a little bit of crown moulding around the top and bottom, you’ve got yourself a professional looking closet outside of the closet. Use matching, high-end clothes hangers to keep the look sophisticated and you’re all done.

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

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