How to Build Cheap Closet Shelves
Need more storage space? Adding shelves to a closet can increase your storage space, letting you store possessions out of the way, in an organized and safe manner. Adding shelves to a closet doesn't have to be hard or expensive. With some simple plans, basic materials and some common tools, you can be on your way to building inexpensive closet shelves in no time. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Two 8-foot pieces of lumber
- Eight 8-inch brackets
- 3/4-inch wood screws
- 1 1/2-inch wood screws
- Saw
- Chalk
- Measuring tape
- Screwdriver
- Drill
Instructions
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1
Measure the width of the back wall of your closet. This will determine how wide your shelves can be. For purposes of illustration, we will build shelves for a closet that is 4 feet wide across the back wall.
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2
Find a stud in the back wall of your closet that's near to the side wall of the closet. You can use a stud-finder, or make several small holes in the wall with a nail until you hit wood behind the drywall. When you've found the stud, mark a line along its length, using your chalk or a long straight edge and pencil. Now measure over 32 inches from the first stud and you'll find another (studs are placed on a 16-inch interval). Mark the wall where this stud is as well.
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3
Starting from the floor, place a mark every 18 inches up the length of the lines you've drawn. This marks the height and placement of your shelves.
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4
Take your shelf brackets and screw them into the studs so that the top edge of each bracket is even with your marks. Use the 1 1/2-inch wood screws for this. You may find it easier to screw them into the wood if you make a small pilot hole with a small drill bit or finishing nail.
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5
Saw each of your 8-foot lengths of lumber in half--you'll now have four 4-foot shelves. Lay them across the shelf brackets.
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6
Screw the shelves into the brackets from underneath. This will secure them against slipping off of the brackets. Use the 3/4-inch wood screws for this step. Your shelves are ready to use!
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