Author Topic: Mustachian closet organizer? (Read 6780 times)

junk4c2 · « **on:** February 02, 2016, 09:11:13 AM »

We are working on getting rid of some clothes and organizing the rest - anyone have a suggestion for cheap closet organizers - we found some $35 a piece at Home Depot, but I want to see if its something I can build myself for cheaper?

GuitarStv · « **Reply #1 on:** February 02, 2016, 10:12:37 AM »

Milk crates can often be found at the dump or on the side of the road and make excellent closet organizers.

junk4c2 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 02, 2016, 10:18:58 AM »

Ok, let me rephrase this - closet organizer that has high spouse acceptance chance :)

Currently everything is in some kind of boxes - desire is to have those cloth in some kind of shelves were you can see what you have (kind of hoping that will prevent any unnecessary purchases as well).

Thank you.

GuitarStv · « **Reply #3 on:** February 02, 2016, 11:33:26 AM »

Spray paint the milk crates black?

If you tilt them on their sides and stack 'em they really do a pretty good job of what those cloth closet organizers are designed for. You can zip tie them together through the holes to create a mini wall of organization that will fit any sized closet. You can see/access anything you have this way.

shadowmoss · « **Reply #4 on:** February 02, 2016, 12:03:10 PM »

I used to use these:
http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/storage/lockers/ventilated/6-pack-modular-mesh-storage-cube-black-29w-x-14-1-2d-x-43h?infoParam.campaignId=T9F&gclid=CKHiu9rh2coCFU4WHwod9HAOMQ

I got them at Sam's Club a long time ago, and had enough to do 2 entire wall units. I used them in closets, I used them to store pretty much anything. You can customize them however you need to fit the space you have. A basket can go inside to hold smaller stuff. Some of the units come with shelves to split the cube in half vertically or horizontally. Google wire mesh cubes and you can see more pictures, which is what I just did and posted the first link that showed up.

I ended up leaving mine in Honduras, sold them to my landlady. Figure if I ever need them again I'll just buy new.

andy85 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 02, 2016, 12:25:49 PM »

are you want something quick and easy or something a bit more DIY and involved to build?...because i have a pretty good idea what i'm going to do with my closet.

Stlbroke · « **Reply #6 on:** February 02, 2016, 12:46:41 PM »

I just diy'd our 2'x3' coat closet. It was the basic pole and shelf system with junk and shoes laying on the floor and the top shelf was a catch all. now it has a storage tower for shoes, boots, gloves, etc and two poles for coats, etc. I spent
$20 for mdf
$5 for a 4'dowel for clothes poles
$3 for plastic brackets for the poles
Leftover Screws and paint from other projects.

I found a lot of examples on Pinterest and yahoo. Just search reach in closet (or walk in closet) setups.

sisto · « **Reply #7 on:** February 02, 2016, 04:29:31 PM »

I built all of my own just using melamine shelving from Home Depot. I designed several different ones depending on needs. You can do a combo of shelves and rods for hanging clothes. You could do drawers too, but those cost quite a bit more. If you have pictures of the space and ideas of what you plan to put in it, I can make some specific recommendations.

BudgetSlasher · « **Reply #8 on:** February 02, 2016, 05:34:33 PM »

Do you have a link to the Home Depot product? That would help us compare if you could accomplish it cheaper. I have also notice that at the lower cost end of the spectrum often mass production can trump DIY in terms of cost, much less often the case as you enter the fancier end of the spectrum.

pbkmaine · « **Reply #9 on:** February 02, 2016, 05:45:14 PM »

There are all kinds of things you can use for hanging rods: pipe, old broomsticks, thick dowels. If you have friends, family or neighbors who work with wood, they should have boards you can use for shelves. Or you can get a sheet of plywood and cut your own. They key is to draw out the space using software or graph paper and plan for a good fit. Then install and paint or stain.

lthenderson · « **Reply #10 on:** February 03, 2016, 08:00:08 AM »

Here is what I did with our master bedroom closets. The first one with all the shelves is my wife's closet so she has places to store all her shoes and handbags. Since I took this picture, I did convert several of the shelves to drawers. My closet is the second one with the four clothes rods (since none of my clothes are long dresses) and plenty of drawers. Closets are one of the most under utilized spaces in my opinion and doing something like this allows you to max them out.

Stlbroke · « **Reply #11 on:** February 03, 2016, 08:55:10 AM »

That's what I need to do to our closets next. Where did you buy the kit and how much?

sisto · « **Reply #12 on:** February 03, 2016, 09:56:16 AM »

This is typically not a kit and just melamine material for the shelves. You then cut it to size yourself. The pictures are very similar to what mine look like. I already had standard wooden closet rods that I was able to repurpose and cut down to fit the new configuration.

lthenderson · « **Reply #13 on:** February 03, 2016, 11:39:38 AM »

Quote from: Stlbroke on February 03, 2016, 08:55:10 AM

That's what I need to do to our closets next. Where did you buy the kit and how much?

Normally I build stuff like this but the wife was in a hurry so this was a kit I got through easyclosets.com. It's been four years ago so I don't remember the cost but it only takes about ten minutes on their website and it will show you a cost. It was pretty simply to design and install.

ShoulderThingThatGoesUp · « **Reply #14 on:** February 03, 2016, 12:09:03 PM »

I built a pretty sweet one out of nice 3/4" plywood; I had Home Depot cut the plywood in thirds lengthwise so it would fit in my car. I used iron-on edge banding and stain to finish.

junk4c2 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 03, 2016, 12:48:27 PM »

Great ideas so far - to answer a question I am looking for something I can DIY for cheap. I looked at some kits - they are not cheap ...

Melamine might be the way to go, but question is how do you make drawers ? One problem I had with plywood is it does not look good for shelf because has unfinished edge.

sisto · « **Reply #16 on:** February 03, 2016, 02:26:56 PM »

Quote from: junk4c2 on February 03, 2016, 12:48:27 PM

Great ideas so far - to answer a question I am looking for something I can DIY for cheap. I looked at some kits - they are not cheap ...

Melamine might be the way to go, but question is how do you make drawers ? One problem I had with plywood is it does not look good for shelf because has unfinished edge.

Drawers would definitely increase the cost. You might want to consider getting a cheap small dresser off of Craigslist or similar and then build the melamine shelves around it. Also if you have an Ikea near you, there are some great ideas you can get for storage and organization. They sell some stuff too, but it might be out of your budget, but you could look at it and see if you could build something similar yourself. Also if you find something you like you could check on craigslist for it. Sometimes people buy too much or realize it's too much work for them to DIY and resell the stuff. I would also google closet storage ideas and look at images that other people post for ideas. Much of my DIY stuff is inspired by recreating something for much less.

yodella · « **Reply #17 on:** February 03, 2016, 02:31:12 PM »

Yes, if you are near an IKEA I highly recommend their SKUBB series. They have all sorts of hanging nylon organizers perfect for shoes, clothes, etc. in all different sizes.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/series/12555/

lthenderson · « **Reply #18 on:** February 04, 2016, 01:45:39 PM »

Quote from: junk4c2 on February 03, 2016, 12:48:27 PM

Great ideas so far - to answer a question I am looking for something I can DIY for cheap. I looked at some kits - they are not cheap ...

Melamine might be the way to go, but question is how do you make drawers ? One problem I had with plywood is it does not look good for shelf because has unfinished edge.

It would be hard to make drawers on the cheap. To make some sturdy drawers, you would at least need a tablesaw and a small amounts of different types of wood. Cheaper wood for the drawer body, a nice wood for the front if you aren't painting and thin plywood for the bottom. Then you have a lot of leftover wood unless you make a lot of drawers. I find the cheapest way to do drawers is to buy old dressers or desks at auctions or garage sales and just build something around the drawers. Old drawers are almost always built better than drawers found in modern furniture these days.

I almost always use plywood for box construction or shelf construction because it is really easy to work with a cheap compared to solid wood. It is also much stronger. For the unfinished edge, just buy iron on veneer edge banding. I just picked up a roll of it a week ago for a office remodeling project I'm doing and I think it was selling for $12 for a 25 foot roll of the stuff. I got mine at Menards and you could choose between oak, cherry and pine. For shelving, I like to but a stick of 1-1/2 by 3/4" solid wood and glue it to the edge of the plywood as a nose. It strengthens the shelf from sagging over time and the wider look gives it a much more robust and expensive look all while covering up the plywood edge.

andy85 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 04, 2016, 02:00:54 PM »

I'm going to go for a french cleat closet system like in the video below when i do my bedroom closet. A lot more work, but it is highly customizable...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYbexqIH4IY

GuitarStv · « **Reply #20 on:** February 04, 2016, 05:31:46 PM »

Still gonna have to boost the milk crate idea. :P

junk4c2 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 08, 2016, 08:40:41 AM »

Ok I am sold on milk crates - where can I get them - preferably for free, but even if I need to pay something, as long as it is not too much.

GuitarStv · « **Reply #22 on:** February 08, 2016, 09:00:21 AM »

I've had good luck finding them at the dump, or picking them up when people toss them out on garbage day. It'll probably require some legwork.

sisto · « **Reply #23 on:** February 08, 2016, 03:49:53 PM »

Quote from: GuitarStv on February 04, 2016, 05:31:46 PM

Still gonna have to boost the milk crate idea. :P

That's a very nice setup. It's too hard to find milk crates here in CA though. I used to use them for bookshelves back in the day. I think I only have a couple of ratty looking ones left that I use in the garage now.

William Cannon · « **Reply #24 on:** February 27, 2016, 08:53:16 PM »

I like the Rubbermaid Home Series closet organizers. They are not cheap but they are highly functional and MUCH cheaper than Elfa. The large kit is $400 or so at lowes and work for closets 8' to 12' long (depends on hiw dense you make it). These kits allow you to configure the closet how every you want. We live in a small house so storage efficiency is critical to preventing the dreaded upgrade move. So for me, it's been the highest ROI purchase if I consider the alternative. :l

Tapa

RunningWithScissors · « **Reply #25 on:** February 28, 2016, 01:14:39 PM »

I bought all of our closet organizers (wire shelf + brackets) at our local Habitat for Humanity. Cost about $40 for a 8' long double sided walkthrough closet.

One side is clothes rails (double for short items, single for tall/long) and the other is split between angled wire shelves for shoes (flip standard wire shelving upside-down so there's a slip lip at the front so shoes don't slip off) and an as-is Billy bookcase from IKEA which holds cheap plastic bins of socks, tshirts, and exercise wear.

Easy-peasy!

News:

Author Topic: Mustachian closet organizer? (Read 6780 times)