Simple Organizing Using Wasted Closet Space

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Adding a few extra shelves opens up a lot of possibilities!

This month I’m teaming up with a talented group of bloggers who are going to WOW you with some organizing tips, tricks, and projects!! But first, here’s a look at mine!

Organizing has always been my first love. (Yes, even before my husband, he knows this and it’s ok.) Then I married organizing with my love of DIY, and it’s been a match in efficiency heaven! It’s safe to say that most of my DIY projects have been associated with some way to make our home more organized. This past year it’s been the year of the closet and the latest victim, our playroom/ guest room closet.

**WARNING** Some of the photos are not the best quality and mostly due to the fact that I 1) needed this project done quickly 2) chose to do this project during one of the busiest weeks thus far 3) had a sick kid at home and nobody had time to set up lighting. Just a dose of real life DIY for ya. 🙂

To appreciate the after, you have to see the before…

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Yep this closet is a hot mess.

It’s where the remaining toys live, the keepsakes are kept, and where guests can put their things. Although honestly, the thought of a guest opening this closet makes me cringe. The cool part about this closet is that it’s sort of a walk in closet, but as with most builders, they didn’t utilize it’s full potential. There was wasted space galore in this closet.

But I don’t have time to do a full overhaul, now what?!

This closet was deeper on one end making it the logical space to add shelving.

Materials
1″ x 2″ X 8 ‘ boards (2)

1″ x 12″ X 8′ Board (1)

Wood Screws 2 1/2″

I have been on a mission to take out all of the wire racks in the house, but for right now, I’m leaving it. I am using it as part of the support for the top shelf. I decided to only add three shelves for the time being. Just like with the hall closet refresh, I cut the 1″ x 2″ support pieces for the width of the all, cut two additional pieces for the width of the board, and attached them all temporarily with my Ryobi brad nailer.

Next I cut the 1″ x 12″ boards for the shelves and I dry fit them into the closet.

Next, I marked the studs on the wall using my Ryobi stud finder.

Once the studs were marked it was time to use the 2 1/2″ wood screws to attach the 1″ x 2″ supports into the wall. I pre-drilled the holes for the screws so as not to split the wood. I also counter sunk all the holes so I could cover the screws with wood filler. I painted the supports white to match the wall with paint I had on hand.

I stained the shelving using stain I also had on hand called “Weathered” by Old Barn Milk Paint. Once dry, I gave a coat with polyurethane.

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Just like that, I was able to expand the storage in this closet!

You know wha else happened? I was able to move even more things into this closet like the bed linens for the guest bed. By moving the bed linens to the guest room, I was able to free up space in the family linen closet. PLUS, there’s still room in the closet to spin around (believe me I tried) and all of this cost me less than $40.

Want to see??

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Now when you open the door you don’t see a mountain of dolls and there’s plenty of space for guests to hang stuff and put their suitcase inside the closet.

The back of the closet door can now hold odds and ends for the guests.

Is it magazine beautiful? No. Is it functional? Yes! Will it change our lives? You better believe it! That’s the part I love about organizing, just a few simple changes and you can completely change a space.

Guess what!! Check out these amazing organizing ideas too!!

1905 Farmhouse, Abbots at Home, Bitterroot DIY, By Brittany Goldwyn, Creative Ramblings, Cribbs Style, Delicious & DIY, DIY Beautify, DIY Danielle, Dukes and Duchesses, Girl, Just DIY, Happily Ever After, Etc, Health, Home & Heart, House by the Bay Design, House on Longwood Lane, Just Measuring Up, Kenya Rae, Little Bits of Home, Living Letter Home, My Kitchen My Craft, Pinspired to DIY, Red Cottage Chronicles, Refashionably Late, Renovating Mapleson Manor, Savvy Apron, Shine Your Light, Shrimp Salad Circus, Songbird Blog, Southern Revivals, T.Moore Home, The DIY Dreamer, The DIY Village, The Frugal Homemaker, The Handyman’s Daughter, Two Feet First, What Meegan Makes, Zucchini Sisters

XOXO,

Brooke