The arrangement of a closet will depend on who
will use it and what types of items will be
stored. An organized closet has everything easy
to see and reach, so scale the design to the
user. You can adjust vertical dimensions as long
as there are at least three inches of clearance
beneath hanging clothes.
There
are several types of storage helpers to choose
from:
Closet
Rod:
For shirts, blouses,
pants and suits, you can stack two rods
vertically. For longer items, such as dresses,
robes and full-length coats, allow only one rod.
As many as three rods may be stacked vertically
in a child's closet with in-season clothing in
reach on the lower level.
Shelves
and/or Drawers:
These are convenient for
folded clothes, socks, sweaters, and underwear.
Storage
Organizers:
Shoe racks, tie/belt
racks and hooks for sports equipment and the like
can also be added. If space is tight, consider
using the interior of the closet's door frame for
these types of items.
The following two
projects cover a typical 6-foot-wide, 8-foot-high
reach-in closet shared by two people. However,
you can apply the basic design principles and
installation methods to any type of closet.
The most common
prefabricated organizers are made out of
vinyl-coated or epoxy-coated wire, laminated
particleboard, and veneered plywood. Coated wire
units are popular because they are lightweight,
sturdy, and allow for ventilation. They are also
snag-free and require no finishing or
maintenance.
Figure 1 shows a
typical closet using prefabricated wire
organizers. After installing it, the closet will
contain 7-1/2 feet of hanging space and 16-1/2
feet of shelf space - a 25 and 175 percent
increase, respectively, over the standard closet.
To start, familiarize
yourself with the materials necessary for
installing this coated-wire organizer by studying
Figure 2. Adjust material quantities for a wider
or narrower closet or for a different design.
Also keep in mind that materials and assembly may
vary by manufacturer
Fig. 1
A typical 6' wide, 8'
high reach-in closet organized for two people.
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1. Make a mark 78 inches up from the
floor on the back wall of the closet. Using a
level, draw a horizontal, level line running
through the mark and extending to the side walls.
2. Drill two holes, one at either end
of the back wall; each 2 inches from the side
walls, and 5/8 inch above the line. Use a
1/4-inch drill bit for drywall or a 5/32-inch
drill bit for plaster and wood.
3. Drill additional holes every 10 to 12
inches along the line. Place a back clip into
each hole and secure with the screw provided.
(For wood walls use down clips.)
4. Cut a 71-inch length of wire shelf
using bolt cutters or a hacksaw. (Shelves are cut
1 inch less than the closet width to allow for
the end caps.) If necessary, many building
material suppliers will cut the material to the
length you need for a small fee.
5. Slide a
plastic end cap over each end of the cut wires.
Snap the back of the wire shelf into place in the
back clips.
6. Level the shelf front to back.
Temporarily slide the shelf/rod end caps onto the
wire shelf and mark the hole locations on the
side walls of the closet. Tilt the shelf back out
of the way.
7. Drill
5/32-inch holes through the marks and insert a
plastic anchor into each hole. Secure the end cap
with the screws provided. Slide the shelf back
down and snap into the end caps
Use the same procedure
to install a lower shelf on the left side, 42
inches above the floor. Cut the shelf 35 inches
long. The right side of the shelf is secured with
a support brace. Attach the brace to the front of
the shelf following the manufacturer's
directions. Add a down clip to the back of the
shelf opposite the support brace. Secure the down
clip to the wall with a plastic anchor and screw.
Position and level the brace, then mark the
bottom hole through the support bracket on the
closet wall. Remove bracket and drill through the
mark. Insert a plastic anchor. Set the brace back
into place and secure with a screw.
Assemble the wire drawer
system frame following the manufacturer's
directions. Slide the wire baskets into place in
the frame, and then slide the entire unit into
the closet. If the unit is to be anchored to the
wall, follow manufacturer's directions. If you
want, add a coated wire shoe rack at bottom
right.
Always wear eye, mouth,
and ear protection when using a power tool. Use
tools and materials only in accordance with
manufacturers' directions.
Fig. 2
Coated wire units are popular because they are
lightweight, sturdy, and allow good visibility
and ventilation.
MATERIALS REQUIRED
2 Wire basket towers (stacked vertically
9 Linear Feet Wire Frame Shelf and Rod
11 Back clips (none for wood walls)
1 Down Clip (12 for Wood Walls)
1 Shelf/Rod End Cap
3 End Brackets
1 Support Brace
14 Wire End Caps
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