HOME IMPROVEMENT IDEAS: SHELVING
Shelving is one of the most versatile and useful things you can have in your home. Organizing is almost impossible without shelving. There are two basic types that you should consider when adding shelves to your home. You can build them yourself and make them adjustable or fixed. Here we will discuss how to build shelves to get your home organized. Plus, we'll give you ideas about how you can optimize the use of your shelves to get the most benefit from them.
1) Wood shelving is relatively easy to build and can last for many years in your home. Wood is sturdy and doesn't cost very much. You will, however, need some basic carpentry skills and tools to get the job done. You can purchase planks and cut them to the size that you need using a table saw, a circular saw, or a miter saw. Another alternative is to buy the wood in the dimensions that you need. When you buy wood for closets and other shelving around your home, you should look for boards that are not warped. You can buy finished pieces that do not even require sanding if you want to make the job easier.
2) Building adjustable shelves is a great idea to keep your storage space versatile. Use 1"x4" boards as supports around the walls where you want to install shelves. Use long wood screws and secure the boards into studs all around the area. Make sure that everything is level before you permanently affix the supports to the wall. You can space these support structures about a foot apart, even if you plan on having your shelves two or three feet apart. Simply slide the shelf board into the space and it should sit nicely on top of the level plane. Use finishing nails to secure the board in place. They are easy to remove later and will allow you to move your shelving around, add shelves, or take shelves away as necessary.
3) Closets and cabinets usually have fixed shelves. Try to alter the height of your shelves so that you have plenty of storage options. Some may be 12" apart while others have a much wider opening. You can add secondary shelves to create cubby-hole areas or risers for smaller items.
4) Larger containers will need more space. You may want to consider this when installing closet shelves because you will most likely want to store out of season clothing in large containers. You can work in varying lengths of hanging bars to give your closet extra space. If you adjust the height and depth of your bars, you'll be able to work in plenty of hanging space with your shelving.
5) When you're done, you can stain and varnish your shelves, or you may decide to leave them natural. Get organized by adding hooks, baskets, bins, and some high quality clothes hangers. You can create more space in your closet by using clothing hangers that are designed to hold more than one item. Consider wooden hangers that match your shelves for a really nice look.
About the Author: Jo Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers. For more information, please visit https://www.onlyhangers.com.