The storage closet makeover could be my biggest accomplishment to date! I don’t expect the pictures to be very exciting to anyone else but me. However, I do want to emphasize that a project like this one, can be finished in one day. If I can do it, so can you.
A dysfunctional disaster.
As I was snapping the before photos, I said to myself, “How did this happen for crying-out-loud!” I swear this disaster happened overnight. With no one else to yell at, I decided to blamed the mess on the ridiculously deep shelves, that have prevented me from staying organized.
Demolition in process, removing shelves and supports
Demolition time! The first step was removing the shelves with a small sledge-hammer. What a workout! The builder used two-inch nails and a great amount of caulk around the edges, when these were originally installed. It felt more like super glue holding the shelves in place, so I knew the walls would look bad once the shelves were removed.
Patch walls and sand before painting
Kilz – primer and Sherwin Williams my paint of choice
Next, I patched all the nail holes and uneven areas with wood filler. (Joint compound would be the professional choice.) Once the wood filler dried, I sanded the areas needing the most attention. I applied Kilz primer over the wood filler and surrounding areas where the sheet rock was exposed. The last step, before installing the shelves was to repaint the closet. I used a white semi-gloss paint that I already had on hand to match the existing color.
Closet after walls were repaired and painted
Elfa shelves from the Container Store are amazingly simple to install. I would highly recommend their products as well as their professional staff, especially if you’re not sure where to start. The Container Store adds more and more components every year to help organizational addicts like me say sane. I’m like a moth to a flame, when it comes to organizing ideas and solutions.
Shelves are 12″ making this a walk in closet
The shelves I picked are 12 inches deep, making this now a walk in closet with room to spare. With the extra bonus space, I have a place to park the vacuum and loads of potential space on the walls for hooks. I even have room on the shelves for future project supplies. With the shelves extending up to the ceiling, almost everything I took out, went back into the closet. Only a couple of things found new spots in another part of the house. Amazing!
Storage room to spare on the walls.
I could stand here all day admiring my closet, but I have other things to do! Thank you for stopping by.
Cheers!