If you’ve been following along, you know that my husband and I purchased a new construction townhome in 2019, and while we love our place, it came with the dreaded…wire shelving (gasp!)! I’m not a fan of the wire shelving (I mean, who is??) plus there is always so much wasted space. So we’re slowly remedying that one closet at a time. All the supplies for this project are linked here!
Several years ago my Dad’s health went downhill and he ultimately ended up losing his eyesight, so he came to live with my husband and I so we can help take care of him full-time. For those who are low vision or blind entirely, organization is super important so that belongings can be meticulously organized and more easily located as needed.
Prior to this simple reno, my Dad’s closet had one basic wire shelf that spanned the length of his closet (about 6 feet), and there was tons of vertical space that was also not being utilized – so I knew I needed to fix that. I know so many of us can relate to this lackluster closet setup, amiright?!
I knew I also wanted to do this on a small budget, but without sacrificing style and functionality. Having used similar closet organization systems before, I headed to Home Depot and grabbed this Closetmaid system, 2 shelves plus support kits, and an extra rod (which I did not end up as using as the three that came with the kit were more than sufficient). The kit was $64.98, each shelf was $15.98, the bracket support kits were each $9.98, and the extra closet rod was $9.98 (which again I opted not to use). I also used a 1″x2″ pine board board to trim out the top, paint I had leftover from another project, spackling, and some caulk. You’ll also need some additional tools / supplies like a measuring tape, plyers, sandpaper, a Dremel multi-tool, screwdrivers, a level, saw, and drill.
I started by clearing out the closet then removing the wire shelves! All wire shelves have a series of clips with wall anchors attached to them, and in all the years I’ve removed these types of shelves I’ve tried several different ways, but always find it’s easiest using just a basic pair of plyers. I simply grab ahold of the plastic clip with the plyers (don’t worry about removing the nail) then start twisting while pulling away from the wall. Eventually the wall anchor will release and then you simply repeat this until all the clips are removed. Next, you’ll need to remove the wall anchors / nails from the vertical support bars. Since the wall anchors sit flush against the support bars you may need to use a flathead screwdriver (or something similar) to loosen it a bit, then you can use the same twisting / pulling technique to remove the wall anchors. After you remove the vertical support bars you can easily remove the wire shelf since at that point it will only be sitting in the side support pieces. After you lift out the wire shelf piece, you can remove the side supports using the same method as above – boom! Just like that, that lackluster shelf is goooone.
Next up you’ll need to lightly sand away any rough edges around the holes left behind by the wall anchors, then spackle over them. Allow the spackle time to try, then lightly sand until smooth and flush with the wall.
I assembled the shelves where the shoes would be stored, then I placed the bottom unit exactly where I planned to install it flush up against the baseboards and marked the baseboards on either side of the shelving unit. I then used my Dremel multi-tool to notch out the baseboards so that the shelves can sit perfectly flush against the wall once installed. If this is your first time using a Dremel multi-tool to notch out the baseboards, be sure to use only light to medium pressure and take your time! If you feel like you hit something, you’ll want to back off as it’s likely a nail that was used to attach the baseboards to the wall. If this happens, don’t force the blade. Instead just adjust placement and carry on! And always be sure to wear protective eyewear and a mask – safety first! 🙂
Once the baseboards are notched, and the spackle has completely dried and it’s been sanded, you’re ready for the fun part – PAINT! At least I think it’s fun haha! I went with a beautiful blue color by Clare Paint called Sublime because I thought it would pop nicely against the white shelving unit! Sublime is a bright, bold color, but it took on a deeper hue in the closet since it naturally won’t get a ton of light. I love how the color looks in this space! After painting I let it dry overnight before installing any of the shelving or closet rods.
Build the shelving unit following the instructions provided by Closetmaid (which are suuuper simple btw), then place the bottom shelf into the grooves in the baseboard. Be sure to use your level to ensure the shelf will be even once installed (don’t assume it will be level just sitting on the flooring), then mark the locations for the provided brackets and wall anchors and install (again referencing the provided instruction guide). Add the top portion of the shelving unit using the provided wooden dowels, then secure it to the wall using the remaining two brackets and wall anchors.
Next, you’ll need to measure how long your top shelves need to be. To accomplish this, I simply placed one shelf on top of the shelving tower, then slid it all the way over until it touched the wall, then I used a pencil to mark where I would need to cut off the excess length. If the shelf is also too deep (which is what happened in our case) you can use a similar technique to mark the shelf (just be sure to trim from the backside of the shelf where the piece is unfinished). To trim the boards we used a circular saw and this Kreg Rip Cut saw guide and it worked perfectly (and this was our very first time using this saw guide – highly recommend!)! If you have a table saw that would most definitely work as well, and a jig saw would work in a pinch (though your lines will likely not be as straight). Then, use the bracket support kits to install each shelf, and if possible, another set of hands is super helpful here! Have someone help hold the shelf up while you use your level to get the shelf perfectly straight then mark where the wall anchors will go.
If you want to make this unit look a bit more custom like we did, then simply add a pine 1″ x 2″ across the top and adhere with wood glue and a nail gun, then paint it a similar white color. This is totally optional but just adds a little something extra! You could even take it a step further and add trim down the front of the shelves as well to help cover more of the seams and make it look more built-in – the sky’s the limit! I simply wanted to use wood that I had on hand, otherwise I would have definitely added more trim down the front of the shelves (I still might do so down the line!).
After your shelves are installed, next add your top closet rods. I always like to test out depth / height by hanging a shirt or sweater on the rod to give me a better idea of placement. After experimenting a bit with several pieces of clothing, I ended up installing the rods about 9 1/4″ away from the wall which seems to have provided just the right amount of clearance so that the clothes aren’t jammed up against the wall. In terms of height – and this will partially be determined by whether or not you add the optional trim piece I just mentioned – make sure that the rod is low enough from the shelf that your hangers won’t constantly come into contact with it when removing and placing hangers back in the closet. It’s those little details that will drive you crazy down the road if you don’t get them right at the time of installation! After your top rods are installed, I highly suggest hanging a few articles of clothing to once again gauge the appropriate height for the lower rod(s), then repeat the same steps to install! And don’t forget to use your level when installing the closet rods!
After the shelves and rods were installed, I used caulk to fill in the tiny gaps between the baseboard and the shelves.
And now…you’re ready to start filling up your new, beautiful closet with all your stuff! I’m a big fan of organizing by color, season, or clothing type (i.e. short sleeve, long sleeve, outerwear, etc.), then using baskets to organize the smaller, more random items. And if you haven’t already, I highly recommend investing in some quality velvet hangers (which you can find really inexpensively at places like Home Goods or TJ Maxx!) as they make all the difference. I also find that this is the perfect time to do a little ‘spring cleaning’ and donate items no longer worn – ahhh organizing is the BEST!
And lastly, you need to simply sit back, relax, and admire your new closet – and try your best to keep it organized 😉
Thanks for following along!
