How to Build Closet Cubicles

Cubicles makes it easy to sort and store many things.

Increase the functionality of your closet's storage space by building closet cubicles. Cubicles are "cubbies" or shelves divided into square compartments. Use cubicles to sort your clothes or accessories by type, or let them merely function as open storage substitutes to a chest of drawers. Minimize your work time by using solid wood boards instead of cutting plywood into the necessary board sizes.

Things You'll Need

• 1-by-12-inch wood
• 1-by-1-inch wood strips, 8 feet or more
• Compound miter saw
• Pencil
• Tape measure
• Straight edge
• Level
• Wood glue
• Pneumatic nail gun
• 2-inch brads
• 2-inch finishing nails
• Hammer
• Sander
• Paint or stain

Instructions

Take the Measurements

1. Measure the length of the wall in your closet that will house the cubicles. Record this measurement as the length of your shelves. The shelves will form the bases and tops of the cubicles.

2. Measure the total height of your closet's wall, up to the height that you want to build your cubicles.

3. Divide this height measurement by the desired height of each cubicle. If your cubicles will measure 12 inches high, divide the total height by 12 inches. Do not worry about extra inches; treat any remaining inches as extra space between the base of the cubicle unit and the floor.

4. Multiply the shelf length by the number of shelves you will use for your cubicles. If your shelves measure 4 feet, and you want four shelves, then purchase 16 feet of the 1-by-12-inch wood.

Cut the Shelves

1. Mark the width measurement of the closet wall onto the 1-by-12-inch wood as the length of the shelf. Use a straight edge to draw a straight line for cutting.

2. Layer two to three shelf boards to make the same cut once through all the pieces.

3. Cut the shelf wood with a compound miter saw. Set the boards aside until all are cut.

4. Mark every 12 inches on the 1-by-1-inch wood strips until you have two 12-inch pieces marked for each shelf. Cut the wood strips with the compound miter saw and set aside.

Cut the Dividers

1. Determine the desired height of your closet cubicles and cut the 1-by-12-inch wood using this height measurement. Cut 12-inch boards if you want your cubicles to be 1 foot high.

2. Determine how many cubicle sections can be made on each shelf. If your shelf is 4 feet wide and each cubicle measures 1 foot wide, then cut three pieces of 1-by-12-inch wood to your height measurement.

3. Cut the same amount of dividers for each shelf.

Assemble the Closet Cubicles

1. Mark the position of each shelf on the wall and nail the 12-inch, 1-by-1-inch wood strips to the closet's walls where the ends of the shelves will rest. Nail the 1-by-12-inch wood pieces to the walls with the pneumatic nail gun and brads or with a hammer and 2-inch finishing nails.

2. Lay each 1-by-12-inch wood shelf board onto the 1-by-1-inch wood shelf supports. Nail the shelf boards into the shelf supports at each end.

3. Insert the divider boards vertically between each shelf and evenly space them according to the width measurement of each cubicle.

4. Apply a bead of wood glue at the top and bottom of each divider, and nail each divider into its top and bottom shelves using the pneumatic nail gun and brads or a hammer and finishing nails.

5. Sand the cubicle unit once all dividers are nailed in place and the wood glue is dry; paint or stain your closet cubicles.

References

• Ask the Builder: Shoe Storage
• Ask the Builder: Closet Organizers

Resources

• Organize.com: Storage Cubes