Custom Closet Shelves

Maximize the space you have with roomy compartments tailored to your needs

- BY CARMEN DE LA PAZ

Is the area above your closet clothing rod going unused? With standard ceilings, you could have 24 to 30 in. of valuable real estate there, just waiting to be put to work. Throwing a single shelf in would be easy, but why not take it a step further? A customized shelving system allows you to optimize the space for plastic shoe bins, fabric boxes and all your favorite gear, keeping everything neat, visible and accessible.

1 CUT AND PREPAINT

Following the cut list, cut all the pieces from 1×12 primed lumber. Paint the pieces before building the closet shelves to make touch-ups easier with fewer coats to build up at the end.

2 BUILD THE OUTER BOX

Construct a rectangle from the top and bottom (A) and sides (B). Use wood glue and 1½-in. 18-gauge brad nails to pin the top and bottom into the edge of the sides, and countersunk #8 x 1½-in. screws to set the pieces into place. I used this assembly method (glue and brad-nail, then set with screws) for all the pieces in this project.