More Closet Shelving Thoughts

by Marjorie Dorfman | More from this Blogger

10 Feb 2007 06:06 AM

There are many decisions to make once you decide to design shelving for your closet, and you have to act quickly before the clutter takes over the room and your mind. Think things through before you start and you will have less trouble down the cluttered road to organization. Read on, if you dare.

Wire Rack and Shelving Units There are two basic organizational structures that work well with closets: wire rack shelving and shelving units. In the former, a system of prefabricated hangers and brackets hold lightweight wire shelving coated with rubber. They are similar in design and available in a variety of sizes and depths with accessories designed for hard items like shoes, which can be difficult to keep organized. Shelving units can be made from any material and the most significant difference between the two types is in appearance and price. The same hardware is used for installation of both types of shelving.

Materials and Supplies The quantity of material you will need to buy as well as the amount and type of hardware will obviously be tantamount to what type of shelving you want to create. Get started by measuring how many linear feet of shelving you are going to need and then add 10 percent. (Mistakes are often made and this way you will be prepared, like those annoying little boy scouts.) If you are installing a wooden pole for hanging clothes, make sure it's long enough.

Brackets Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for brackets, clips and anchors and buy a few extra. (Those kids in uniform again.) The way to hang your shelves almost always involves a long vertical steel channel, which is secured to the wall. Buy channels that go from floor to ceiling to insure maximum space and buy enough channel stock to place them 18" to 24" apart and enough supports to hold up each shelf that you want to place. If you are installing a pole for hanging clothes, you will need to purchase a special bracket for that. Most of these are inexpensive and very strong.

Happy Shelving!

Do YOU have any tips to add? Please share.

Related Reading:

"Closet and Wardrobe Care"

http://forums.families.com/kitchen-baths-amp-bedrooms,f392

"Clutter: Attack and Destroy"

"Spring Cleaning: What To Do After You Purge Your Closets"

Learn more about Marjorie Dorfman

Marjorie Dorfman is a freelance writer and former teacher originally from Brooklyn, New York.

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