How to Cedar Line a Closet

Makeover your closet with a cedar lining.

Installing a cedar lining in a closet creates a fragrant, insect-resistant area to store clothing and linens. Evaporating natural cedar oils produce the sought-after cedar smell that deters bugs. Cedar offers supreme protection against moths and other fabric-damaging insects. Cedar resists warping, bending, twisting and shrinking, making it a stable closet liner. Choose fragrant Eastern red cedar to achieve the maximum benefits of a cedar closet. Other types of cedar lack sufficient amounts natural oil necessary to repel bugs.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Cedar planks
• Sawhorses
• C-clamp
• Safety glasses
• Dust mask
• Circular saw
• Standard wood cutting blade
• Construction adhesive
• Stepladder
• Cedar molding

Instructions

1. Measure the width and height of the back wall inside the closet. Write the measurements down. Measure the width of the wall at the top, middle and bottom. Measure the height at each end and in the middle. Closets are rarely square. Typically, it takes several measurements across various areas of the surface to cover the walls properly.

2. Lay a cedar plank across two sawhorses. Clamp the cedar to the sawhorse with a C-clamp to limit movement while cutting. Mark the cedar plank with a pencil using the dimensions from your closet measurements.

3. Equip a circular saw with a standard wood cutting blade. Put on safety glasses and a dust mask. Cut the cedar plank along the marked line. Continue to measure, mark and cut cedar planks based on your closet measurements.

4. Run a bead of construction adhesive in a wavy pattern along the back of the cut plank.

5. Climb a stepladder to access the top edge of the back wall. Align the cedar plank to the top of the wall and press in place. Rub your hand across the plank to adhere it to the wall. Hold the plank in place for 20 to 30 seconds while the adhesive sets. Construction adhesive is fast setting and does not require bracing. Continue to apply adhesive, set the plank tightly abutted to the previous plank and work your way toward the floor. If there are gaps along the floor line, you can cover them with base molding later.

6. Measure the side walls of the closet using the same approach as with the back wall. Lay the cedar across the sawhorse, clamp, mark and cut. Hang the cedar on the side walls with construction adhesive, beginning at the top and working your way to the floor of the closet.

7. Step into the closet and use a stepladder access the header above the closet door and measure the area. Cut and glue cedar pieces above the header using the same techniques as for the rest of the closet.

8. Measure the walls along the bottom of the closet and cut cedar molding to match the size. Glue the cedar molding at the base of the wall, touching the floor.

Tips & Warnings

• Use 320-grit sandpaper to smooth rough spots on the cedar wood.

• If the cedar loses its fragrance, lightly sand the surface with 320-grit sandpaper to release the natural oils.

• Keep the closet door closed to seal in the fragrance and provide a barrier from damaging sunlight.

References

• "Grandpa's 5001 Handyman Secrets"; Dr. Myles H. Bader; 2006
• "The Book of Skills and Tools"; Family Handyman Magazine Editors; 1993
• "Natural Pest Control"; Andrew Lopez; 2003