Free-standing Closet Made With an Old Door

by Lori Rowe

Easy

So I live in an old house that has small closets. That led me to have to be creative on adding more closet space. I love the open closet look that I've seen on various blogs. This is what I came up with and I LOVE how it looks and helps keep me organized.

free standing closet made with an old door

Materials needed:

Old door (mine came with my old farmhouse)

2 1x4's cut to the height of the door. Mine was 77.5"

6 1x4's cut to 13.75"

Wooden dowel 1.25" in diameter cut to 50.5" (or whatever your space allows)

2 1x6's cut 50.5" long for top shelf

Before the clothes...

Steps:

Cut your wood to length, including the wooden dowel. Sand if necessary and paint. i used leftover white paint I had on hand.

Drill 1& 5/8" or 1 & 3/4" holes in the center of the 1x4's that are going to run parallel to the door 6" down from the top end. This is what the wood dowel will run through to hang your clothes. This will allow a 6" clearance from the bottom of the top shelf to the wood dowel that you hang your clothes on.

Using 1 & 5/8" drywall screws, screw the short 1x4's that will run horizontal to the door to the door on either side of the door so they are flush with the back of the door. Two at the top of the door, two halfway down, and two at the bottom. I am also huge on pre-drilling holes to prevent the wood from splitting. Next, attached the long 1x4's that run vertical to the 1x4's that run horizontal to create the "walls" of your closet. The long 1/4's should be attached inside the horizontal 1x4's and and be flush with the ends. I used 1 & 1/4" drywall screws for this and pre-drilled.

Now stand it up :). Trust me to get leverage for drilling you'll be flipping it every which way....haha. Then run your wooden dowel through the drilled holes of the 1x4's that run parallel and are in front of the door.

Finally attach the 2 1x6's that will be your top shelf to the 1x4's at the top. I placed my 1x6's flush with the back of the door and the front of the horizontal 1x4's. Now hang your clothes and use baskets or whatever on the top shelf :).

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2 questions

Pamela on Dec 11, 2015
Could you use boards in back and use the old door in front like a closet door if you wanted less showing?

2
Liliana Wells on Dec 28, 2015
Neat project. Is this attached to the wall for stability? Or is the door sturdy enough to hold the weight of the clothes and baskets? Thanks

1

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3 of 23 comments

RhondaForsyth on Sep 26, 2016
This is so smart love

1 Reply
Pat Soan on Jan 09, 2017
This is an awesome idea. I live in a mobile home and the only closet is a very small one in my room, so this would ideal for the other 2 bedrooms. Tysvm. I can see what I'm going to be doing this summer IF we survive all this snow this winter . LOL

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- Lori Rowe on Jan 09, 2017
  So glad you like it. It's been a lifesaver for me.
  
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