July 24, 2008
Closet Organizers
SHOES WERE EVERYWHERE, as if someone had gone over the top at a Nike sale.
My family keeps most of its everyday shoes in our attached garage near a door that opens to a laundry room. We rarely wear shoes in our home; it keeps the floors much cleaner. But that means the garage floor near the laundry room door is cluttered with footwear, from soccer spikes and basketball sneakers to sandals and work boots.
Our solution: wire shelves (and, of course, tossing some unwanted pairs into the trash). Attaching two coated-wire shoe shelves to the wall near the door allows our shoes to be displayed with department store flair.
Over the past 10 to 15 years, coated wire shelving and storage components have made a huge impact in the home improvement and building industries. Perfect for do-it-yourselfers because of their feather-light weight and clip-on components, these wire units, which are coated in a durable vinyl or epoxy finish, can work organizational wonders in bedroom and linen closets, pantries, kitchen cupboards, laundry rooms and garages. Many wire products for kitchens feature roll- out units. In closets, multi-tiered designs can double or triple wall space.
Several companies feature custom installation of coated-wire closet systems, and many have incorporated laminate units into their designs. But even homeowners with just a hint of handyman in their blood can build a system that looks as if it were done by a pro. All it takes is a little planning and the right tools.
First, parts for wire systems usually are available in home centers and hardware stores; many of the display areas include planning tips and instructions. Shelves usually come in 4-, 6-, 8- and 12-foot lengths with depths of 12 inches and 16 inches. They are easily cut with a hacksaw. Other tools needed for most projects are a screwdriver, tape measure, level and drill.
My simple shoe racks (photo) were made from parts manufactured by ClosetMaid and cost about $20. Two 4-foot shelves were $4 each, and four shoe brackets were another $8. A bag of clips was $2, and two containers of assorted end caps ran $1 each.
It took about 15 minutes to install both racks, and I had some leftover clips and end caps for another project.
Whether installing a unit in a walk-in closet or hanging a couple of shoe racks, the principle is pretty much the same. Measure your wall and sketch your unit on graph paper. Your first step is to make a level horizontal line across the wall; a level and a chalk line come in handy. Wall anchors will be inserted into the wall along this line, and manufacturers' directions usually are so specific they will give the suggested height, spacing and number of anchors needed for each shelf length.
Hardware differs slightly among manufacturers, but basic installation is the same for almost all units. Still, take a few minutes to read the instructions provided. Also, buy a few extra anchors and brackets. If you don't use them, keep them in a utility drawer; you never know when an anchor or bracket will crack or come loose.
After the shelf is snapped into the wall anchors, it will swing like a hinge. Brackets, braces and poles snap into place to provide support for the unit. In closet shelving, you'll probably need some L- or V-shaped braces, which also might need to be secured with anchors.
The two most difficult steps in the process are inserting the wall anchors and cutting the shelves or poles for closet installations. A 1/4-inch drill bit usually is needed to install the wall anchors, but the good news is that manufacturers recommend you avoid wall studs when inserting anchors. The anchors have expandable pins; after pushing the anchors into the hole you've drilled into the drywall, push in the pins to secure the anchor.
Mark shelves and poles accurately for cutting. Don't worry about sharp ends being exposed; they are covered by caps or inserted into support brackets.
These systems are so easy to install it's almost criminal to pay extra for custom designs or installation. To determine if you can do it yourself, visit these Web sites for ideas:
California Closet Co., www.calclosets.com, 888- 336- 9709
ClosetMaid, www.closetmaid.com, 800-874-0008
LeeRowan, www.leerowan.com, 800-325-6150
Schulte Corp., www.schultestorage.com, 800-669- 3225
You'll find ideas on hanging bikes in garages, as well as roll-out trash receptacles that fit inside a kitchen cabinet.
Schulte and Lee Rowan (a division of Rubbermaid) seem to have the best Web sites for ideas on organizing garages and utility rooms. The ClosetMaid site is excellent for making sense of walk-in and reach-in closets.
Whatever you decide - a simple do-it-yourself job or a large custom installation - you'll probably be a lot happier without the clutter.
Copyright © 2008, Newsday Inc.
