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Custom Closet Shelving ~ A Tutorial!

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So we live in this OLD house, right? And apparently 112 years ago, storage solutions weren’t on the forefront of home-builders’ minds. Because our old farm house is without a single coat closet, linen closet… and pantry (until we made our own).

But instead of complaining about our LACK of storage, I should just be grateful that we even have closets in our bedrooms! Because we’re pretty sure they were added some time after the house was built!

And yet, the bedroom closets have high ceilings and a ton of wasted space. Take our master closet for example:

Those builder-basic closets with a single shelf are wasting SO MUCH SPACE. Above AND on the sides! Come see how to customize your closets with DIY Shelves to maximize storage! {Reality Daydream}

I’m sort of obsessed with organization, (and would commute many miles to work at The Container Store just for the employee discount if there were one in our state), so the fact that all our towels have been piled on the floor in the hallway since we moved in 3 years ago is a serious problem, and the sheets/blankets have been stuffed into the guest bedroom closet… well to have all that wasted space in the bedroom closet started making us feel like there’s an obvious solution.

Knowing how EXPENSIVE custom closet shelving is, we decided to tackle it ourselves. We knew we could since we whipped out a few shelves in our ‘pantry’. And by we, I mean Nick.

I helped by first emptying the closet of all our clothing. Ya don’t realize how many clothes you have until you have to take every last piece out!

BEFORE shot of our builder-basic closet with SO MUCH WASTED SPACE! {Reality Daydream}

We started by removing that top shelf. Then, using 1×4’s cut to size, we put them up on the wall with drywall screws. These will act as ‘braces’ to hold up the shelf.

Adding more shelves to our builder-basic closet {Reality Daydream}

We ripped (cut in half the long way) the existing shelf. Who needs a shelf that’s 2 feet deep when it could be TWO shelves!

This was my view for much of the day. It was very scenic.

My view while 'we' added more shelving to our builder-basic closet {Reality Daydream}

Take note that when you’re putting screws close to the edge of a board, you should first drill a hole just smaller than the screw… otherwise the board may very well split. Which is totally a no-bueno-situation. This is called a’ ‘pilot hole’. Look at you absorbing so much new carpentry vocabulary today!

Drilling a Pilot Hole for our DIY custom closet shelving. {Reality Daydream}

This is what your joints will look like in the corners. Nothin’ fancy!

Process pic for adding DIY custom shelving to our closet to maximize organization and space {Reality Daydream}

I’m ALL about maximizing space, and I talked Nick into putting shorter shelves all the way down either sides of the closet. OH YES.

Adding braces for our DIY custom shelving in our builder basic closet! {Reality Daydream}

Next, we applied Edge Banding to the edges of our shelf boards. Because we’re using Melamine as our building material of choice (it’s cheap, and already white!), we needed to cover up the exposed edges. The Edge Banding comes in a roll, and has excellent instructions with it.

Basically you just cut it to size, iron it on, and slice off the little edges with a razor blade. Like so, yo:

Edge banding for DIY Closet Shelving. {Reality Daydream}

See how crisp it is with the edge banding, compared to the board without it?

Edge banding on melamine makes a HUGE difference. {Reality Daydream}

The boards got cut to size, and we tested them out to make sure they were the right fit!

Test fitting our DIY Shelves for our builder basic closets! {Reality Daydream}

THEN, I myself was able to contribute by filling the holes where the screws were on all the braces. I just used drywall compound and a putty knife. This will make it smooth and seamless once these boards get painted!

We applied drywall compound to the braces of our DIY custom shelving units.

After the drywall compound was dry, I sanded and painted! This went pretty fast, because only the braces needed painting since the Melamine shelves are already white! Score!

Adding braces for our DIY custom shelving in our builder basic closet!! {Reality Daydream}

Since the loooong top two shelves will wrap around the edges, Nick used a 3/4” router bit to create “T’s” that will merge the side shelves to the long shelf. This makes everything more structurally secure, AND it creates a seamless transition from shelf to shelf.

Since the loooong top two shelves will wrap around the edges, Nick used a 3/4” router bit to create “T’s” that will merge the side shelves to the long shelf. This makes everything more structurally secure, AND it creates a seamless transition from shelf to shelf.

So those “T’s” got pilot holes and then nailed on using little brad nails. You can just barely see the “T’s” where I added the arrows.

We used t's to seamlessly combine our DIY custom shelves.

Then we could put the side shelves in place! “Like a glove” (in Jim Carey’s voice)

The intersection of our DIY Closet Shelves. {Reality Daydream}

And because that long top shelf is SO long, we added an ‘L’ bracket in the center to help support things.

L-Brackets for DIY Closet Shelving upgrade TO MAXIMIZE SPACE and organization! {Reality Daydream}

Would you look at this? Can you hear the angels singing?

You can add SO MUCH extra space to your closet by just adding some DIY Shelving! Click through for the tutorial {Reality Daydream}

Speaking of angels, my babes loved checking things out. (Check out the little shoe shelf Nick built me with the leftover melamine!)

Our cute babes in the newly 'remodeled' closet! {Reality Daydream}

I mean, custom closet shelving like this would have cost us hundreds of dollars if we hadn’t done it ourselves. And I personally don’t think it would have looked this sleek and AWESOME.

Add some DIY Shelving to your builder-basic closet, and get SO MUCH extra space for organizing! {Reality Daydream}

And now look with all our clothes in it. ANNNND, notice all the sheets and towels on the very top shelf! Our very own linen closet! Oh the things we take for granted when we have them!

The FUNNEST part for me was loading ‘er up! Gotta love having a place.for.every.THING!

Maximize space in your builder-basic closet by adding shelving on the sides... SO MUCH MORE storage and organization possibilities! {Reality Daydream}

I just keep going upstairs to look at it. It’s callin’ mah name.

Add custom DIY shelving to your builder basic closet... and get SO MUCH MORE storage {Reality Daydream}

We were slightly worried that adding shelves on the sides would make the closet seem smaller, but after having cut the original shelf down to 1’ depth instead of 2’, it actually opens things up a LOT. I can actually walk into my closet now without getting clotheslined by an excessively deep shelf.

Not only did we get all our clothes, sheets, and towels in, we also completely emptied our 5 drawer dresser into the closet as well!

Add custom DIY shelving to your builder basic closet... and get SO MUCH MORE storage {Reality Daydream}

I feel like we’ve maximized the heck out of this closet! …And for a small fraction of what we would have paid for custom closet shelving units! Ugh, can you even imagine?

Here’s our cost breakdown:

  • $29.99 ~ 4’x8’ sheet of melamine
  • $13.74 ~ 1”x6” (ripped in half) (Qty 2)
  • $1.49 ~ 1”x4”  (side shelves afterthought)
  • $10.88 ~ white melamine edge banding 25ft (Qty 2)
  • $0.79 ~L-bracket
  • Prime/paint ~ already had
  • Labor ~ FREE! (well, that’s a lie… maybe it cost me a backrub or two)

Total:   $56.89

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Be sure to check out how we maximized space and added TONS of unique storage ideas in the nursery closet, AND the twins’ bedroom closet!

Thanks for pinning!

Maximize closet space in your builder basic closet... by adding custom DIY shelves on the sides! {Reality Daydream} #organization #organize #storage

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Comments

  1. 56

    Hello! This was exactly what I was thinking about for my closet. So great to hear how much you like it. Can you tell me the dimensions of your side shelves? Also, how far apart did you install them?
    Thanks!

    Reply
  4. 61

    this is exactly what I wanted to do in my closet but had no idea how to pull it off. I nvr thought of changing the shelf depth to 1′! Can I ask: why did you cut the end of the braces at an angle? is there a reason or just more aesthetic?
    sorry for all my comments but I am loving your site! especially the breakdown of materials!

    Reply
  5. 63

    I love this idea! I’ve been looking for closet organization ideas and this has almost everything I’m wanting! We have been moved into out remodeled home for almost 3 months and it’s so unorganized and streading me out. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  6. 64

    I love this idea and want to try this method in my shed between the exposed studs. I see how you did the braces on the back wall but how did you attach the shelf part to the braces?

    Reply
    • 65

      Hey Nessie, the board that we use as a brace isn’t attached to the shelf at all. Since we wrapped it around both sides of the closet, the two opposing walls keep the board from moving out of place. And we put a bracket in the center to keep the board from bowing under the weight. Does that answer your question??

      Reply
      • 66

        Hi
        You have beautiful closet I love it by looking at ur closet I feel like dream come true ????I m mother of three kids one boy. 5 and twin girls 3 yr ..

        I have my sons closet like u but with one door . I m trying to make his closet similar to yours but I like to add rodes in one side corners (24 w , 24 d) with shelf . Is it possible ?
        I don’t even know how to use screw driver . But do you think liquid nail or wood glue will work instead of drilling?

        Thank u so much

        Reply
  7. 68

    This is a great idea, and now I’m trying to figure out how to incorporate it into my walk-in closet/laundry room for my apartment.
    – Krys

    Reply
  8. 69

    What is the T piece for? Does it hold up one end of the corner shelf? I don’t understand why it has lips under both front and corner shelves – seems like you only would need an L shaped piece with nails into the front edge of the long shelf and then the corner shelf just sitting on the lip? Or am I misunderstanding? Thanks for the post!

    Reply
  9. 70

    I hadn’t seen this post yet. I am SO doing this to my office closet and guest bedroom… the doorways are atrociously small but I don’t feel like opening the doors up since the carpet and everything are all replaced already!

    Reply
  10. 71

    Hi Peggy! I’m sorry but we aren’t doing any consultations at this time. Keeping up a blog with 3 small children is about as much as we can handle right now! If you use the dimensions of your closet and adjust measurements accordingly, you should be able to pull it off!

    Reply
  12. 73

    How wide is your closet? My husband says ours isn’t wide enough to do but I I tried to do the tension rod idea and it worked till it got to heavy and I believe the length of the rod was 28 in. In the end it was bent so I would say the closet is between 26 and 28 inches wide and about 2 to 3 ft deep sides a “cave closet” is what I heard it called.

    Reply
  13. 76

    I have a loooong closet, but not tall in a 1940’s farm house. I’m so thankful for your time of putting this together! The rod is already there, but today, I feel confident enough to build shelves for the side walls!!

    Reply
    • 78

      Btw…our house was built in 1945 by my grandparents, and storage space still wasn’t an issue by that point in time.

      Reply
  15. 79

    Your kids are real cute.
    Well, It’s almost two years later and i hope that closet is holding up. I will be using it as a model fo a closet I want to do in my bedroom. I live in France so a some of the technical words went over my head — That T piece for the where the shelving meet. I will try and figure that out.
    Thanks much for the tutorial..

    Reply
  16. 80

    Looks great! Thanks for sharing your how-to. Curious about the dimensions of your closet. Also, how deep are the shelves on the side?

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • 81

      Brilliant job! Just love it! I only have one question. What is the depth and width of your closet. I don’t know if I overlooked that info in your explanation or I’m too stupid to understand.
      Thanks.

      Reply
  17. 83

    Super inspirational – ready to tackle mine! And awesome sense of humor you got – love reading your tutorials! Thanks!

    Reply
  23. 92

    i think you should spraypaint all the hangers the same color…maybe something bright like yellow…it would look even more perfect!!! LOOVE IT

    Reply
  27. 96

    Love your new closet organization. It’s absolutely fabulouse. I agree with suzieq. I, too, organize my closet by color….it makes it so easy to find things!

    Reply
  28. 97

    O.K. I am going to give you a great closet tip, ready? Organize your clothes by color-that way, when you are looking for a green top, they are all together, etc. I am not OCD at all but I do this and it is wonderful when I have to get ready. Try it and let me know if you like the idea, but I know you will. It is so helpful and you also will see if you really need another black tank top, etc.

    Reply
  30. 99

    LOVE the closet.
    But, the funny part is unrelated. As I sit here and read your blog, my fiance (oh yes, I got ENGAGED this weekend!) says to me, “Is that sawdust and grenades?” So I said yes, but corrected him of course. And he says, “Pretty much the same thing, they both just sit there for a minute and then change your life.” LOL- the sad thing is, HE IS RIGHT! (we are both pro-baby, the grenade thing was not meant to be negitive.)
    LOVE LOVE LOVE reading your blog!

    Reply
  31. 100

    I have lived in many houses with little or no closet. Currently We have 2 closets and 3 bedrooms so we are still short. But If we could do that to our closet rainbows would come out my eyes and ears.

    Reply
  32. 101

    Great job – I totally see how you could fall in love with a closet! The best is the picture of the two little beauties on the shoe rack! I can see that shoe rack being used in heated game of “hide and seek” in the future!

    Reply
  34. 103

    Nice job, I really need Nick to visit me! My husband can’t use a hammer let alone a saw, but he can do laundry! So I’m keeping him. Mary in NY

    Reply

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Attention: Almost any do-it-yourself project involves risk of some sort. Your tools, materials, and skills will vary, as will the conditions at your project site. Reality Daydream has made every effort to be complete and accurate in the instructions of the plans on this website. Reality Daydream will not assume any responsibility or liability for damages or losses sustained or incurred in the course of your project or in the use of the item you create. Always follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions in the use of tools, check and follow your local building codes, and observe all commonly accepted safety precautions.