Coat closet redo ideas?

Ravendra Singh
by Ravendra Singh

I have a coat closet right at the entrance. We live in a condo. Picture shows what it looks like today. We just renovated our house, so some items that don't belong anywhere are in here, including the items that normally go in a coat closet. The other picture is a hand drawing of what I would like to make with wood.. a three layered shoe rack with 10 x 10 cubbies, and a talk shelf/rack which will have 10 x 10 cubbies. Both will have adjustable shelves sometimes making the cubbies 5 x 10 for smaller/thinner shoes/items. Drawing is not perfect, but shows what I am thinking.


The closet is 36" wide and 24" deep. Height from the floor to the hanger rod is 64".


Should I spend money on 200% over-priced lumber or do something else?



  15 answers
  • Mogie Mogie on Apr 10, 2021

    Perhaps you need to look around for wood. Hubby used to work at a lumber mill and they sell to their employees at a huge discount ($4 for a sheet of plywood that is considered a blow or not top grade).

    If you know someone who has a job like that they generally have access to wood at very cheap prices.

    If that isn't a possibility measure the exact size you need and then look for someone who is remodeling and ask if they have any leftover pieces in the needed size. Remember you can always cut the pieces down if they are too large but if they are too small that creates a problem for you.

    We have cleaned up at a small reno site just for the wood. The person who was doing the work was happy to get someone to clean up and haul the piece away and we got some free wood.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Apr 10, 2021

    People do leave their leftover wood laying around, whether it is pallets or reno projects. We picked up wood shelving at a local Aldi they were discarding.

    Also Lowes and Home Depot have bins of leftover wood from cuts they have done for customers.

    Some contractors take their reno leftovers to the local landfill in our area. People go there and pick it up.

  • Pallet wood is a great option. Check with local businesses, they will often give them away.

  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Apr 11, 2021

    Hello! This blogger I follow is doing a closet transformation that might be helpful for ideas.


    https://www.thenavagepatch.com/coat-closet-makeover-plan/

  • 17335038 17335038 on Apr 11, 2021

    To build a wooden shoe cubby from scratch like the one in your drawing is not going to be cheap, especially considering the price of lumber and finishing materials. Besides, it will take up a great deal of the closet room.


    I would not recommend using pallets to build any structure that should be level and squared.


    Have you thought about the possibility of using some space between the walls for shoe storage and making a recessed (floor-space-saving) shoe cubby instead? Here are a couple of examples:

  • 17335038 17335038 on Apr 11, 2021

    Here is my solution to improving the efficiency of the closet:


    1. Remove the upper shelf. It is too high to reach up to comfortably, and is too low to prevent stuff from piling up and falling over. Most of the area above the shelf is just wasted space.
    2. Remove the rod, and raise it up to the highest height that the tallest family member can reach up to when hanging up a jacket on a hanger.
    3. Install an additional rod at a lower height for shorter family members.
    4. At the very bottom of the closet, but off the floor to facilitate vacuuming, install a shelf (solid, not wire) that reaches across the full width of the closet.


    If not used for shoes, it will be easier to keep clean, and can then be used for purses, lunch bags, a basket for gloves, etc.

  • Michelle Michelle on Apr 11, 2021

    you could look into crates at the stores that you can order in sizes and screw them together. Saves you cutting wood etc

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Apr 12, 2021

    You could use shelving board that is covered particle board, it may be less expensive. Also, pre-fab shelving or wire shelves like you have against the wall may not have gone up. Although I don't like them, you could use them and add foam board and it would work fine. Check marketplace for boards that are discounted, may be used. You could also possible find a lumber yard/mill. Their prices are still about the same. My husband is in the logging business and the price hasn't gone up until after that point (he bought an entire pickup truck load for $400 2 weeks ago).

  • Deb K Deb K on Apr 13, 2021

    Hello, you could likely get these types of supplies at a home store or Walmart store, you can buy soft cubes in 12" sizes, even wire forms of cube storage to put together as you please, don't waste money on wood

    https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/Whitmor-Storage-Cubes-Stackable-Interlocking-Wire-Shelves-Black-Set-of-6/PRD50K8N6ZT1R7D

  • Simple Nature Decor Simple Nature Decor on Apr 19, 2021

    You can use laminate shelving which is cheaper than real wood!

  • Lindsay Aratari Lindsay Aratari on Apr 30, 2021

    Particle board may be more budget friendly

  • Dee Dee on Jan 15, 2022

    I had my husband build side shelves and then put the rod half way down for jackets etc. He also made a shoe rack on the bottom.. Since the rod is half way down he put more shelves on the top for storage.

  • Debi53 Debi53 on Jan 18, 2022

    icon Regardless of what options you choose, I highly recommend these shoe stackers. I have used them for years. They allow you to put double the number of shoes in the same space. Here's the link: https://www.containerstore.com/s/shoe-holders/d?q=shoe%20storage&sortField=sort_register_price_low&sortOrder=asc&productId=10029307