How to Build Easy Closet Shelves
Adding simple shelves to a cluttered closet is an easy project almost anyone can do. You will want to remove everything from the closet and decide how many shelves you are installing and how far apart they should be before getting started.
- Locate and mark the studs. Use a stud finder, a tool which detects and locates studs.
- Measure 16 inches horizontally from the first stud. Test to see if the next stud is here. If not, move eight more inches and check again. According to the American Wood Council, standard framing construction calls for 16 or 24 inch spacing between each stud. Locate and mark the studs.
- Measure and record the closet's lrngth. Measure from the back left corner to the back right corner. This will be the length of your closet shelves. Measure the depth of the closet by measuring from the back corner to the front corner on one side. This can be the depth of your shelves, but it doesn’t have to be. You can make them as deep as you wish.
- Measure one of the 1 x 4 inch pieces of wood to the length of your shelves and cut the piece. This is the back cleat, a support for the shelf. Cut two side cleats from the same wood, but make them 1 inch shorter than the depth of your shelves.
- Measure and mark the lumber for the depth and length of your shelf. Cut the shelving after using a carpenter’s square to check measurements and angles.
- Sand the cut edges for a smooth finish.
- Paint the shelves with two coats and allow drying between.
- Select the height you want your shelves to be. Use a level to mark a line with a pencil.
- Use nails to attach the back cleat to the wall. Attach the cleats to the studs with two nails; one approximately one inch from the bottom of the cleats, and one approximately one inch from the top of the cleats. Do this at each stud's location.
- Attach the side cleats the same way, using the level to confirm they are all even.
- Place the plywood so it rests on the cleats. Screw the shelf on, placed using 1 ½ inch screws. The cleat is only 1 inch wide, so place the screws neatly at the edge of the plywood shelf. Install screws about every 12 inches.
- Repeat for additional shelves.