While you can pay hundreds and even thousands of dollars by hiring a designer to help you realize that ideal closet and more storage room in your home, there are also plenty of useful ideas that won’t cost you much at all! Those of us who are frugal minded, whether it is a financial requirement based on budget limitations or we just choose to be conservative in our spending, are always searching for ways to save a few bucks while also getting what we want. Here are some suggestions for gaining storage space and maybe adding on a walk in closet while we’re at it.
The dream walk-in closet!
If you have an extra bedroom that is seldom used that can be considered wasted space. Why not convert that room into a huge walk in closet? It may be a small bedroom but will make a fantastic closet.
The first consideration must be the closet location
You won’t want your closet to be on the other side of your house so that spare room needs to be next to your bedroom if possible. You may even be able to knock out some of the wall between and make it into a doorway. Then add on shelves, built in chest of drawers, and hanging space. Depending on how many clothing items you have or plan to have you can either buy the shelving yourself or purchase modular sets that are very affordably priced. When you buy at many stores such as Target, OurPad, or Rock Bottom Closets they will provide you with designer suggestions and advice free of charge!
Windows or no windows?
If your spare room turned closet has several windows you may choose to cover them because not only will sunlight damage and fade clothing but the excess solar heat may be too warm. Install lighting to keep a closet cool and dark.
Add glass covered cabinets to help you see what’s in there
Some built-ins cabinets with glass windows will look great while adding the practicality of seeing what’s inside before opening the doors. Also consider adding an island down the center of your new closet to vastly increase storage space. This could simply be some back to back chest of drawers with a piece of plywood cut to fit on top. Then add more cabinets over them if you wish. Fasten down the upper cabinets by running screws between.
A well lighted vanity will complete your custom built walk in closet
A vanity, complete with mirror and designer lighting can complete your fancy new closet without costing much. You can easily build one or look for a used vanity and just repaint it to match your other furniture in the closet. By running an electrical hookup into your closet you can also use your hair dryer or electric shaver at your vanity. These are just ideas that you may choose as guidelines or add on your own.
If you can’t spare the extra bedroom or don’t have one you still have lots of options for making more storage space in your home. Look for wasted space in areas such as under beds. You can buy plastic storage containers made to fit under most beds and use them to store bedding, winter clothing (during summer or summer duds during winter), or just about anything else that will fit there. If you don’t already have shelves in your closets, add some above and below your hanging clothing. Pants are short enough to add a small chest of drawers beneath.
Add more shelves on walls for additional storage
By adding storage shelves in your bedrooms, dining room, bathrooms, and even the kitchen you can utilize some otherwise underused wall space.
- A few shelves in the kitchen can be added to keep your cookbooks handy.
- Shelves added in the dining room can store linens, decorative cups and saucers and salt & pepper shakers among other items.
- Shelving added in bedrooms can be ideal space for books or even a jewelry case. Use hooks attached beneath shelving to hang robes or sweaters.
- Make your own video storage shelves to keep all those video tapes, DVD’s, and Blueray’s you have accumulated.
Each of the above ideas and suggestions are based on using a basic knowledge of using a hammer and some nails, maybe some wood glue and a tape measure. If you are in doubt you can find lots of info by using a search engine like Google.com or Bing.com. There are lots of articles written by knowledgeable folks glad to help you.