What Should I Do With This Cedar Closet?

Tracy Osborne
by Tracy Osborne
When I moved into my new house, the previous owners left a stand-alone cedar closet. I don't need it as a closet, but I want to try to repurpose it. Any ideas of what I can do?
  23 answers
  • Vicki K Vicki K on Jun 01, 2014
    Add some shelves and use it for a craft closet, linen closet, fabric stash closet, whatever you need it for. It is a beautiful piece.
  • Sandy Brackens Sandy Brackens on Jun 01, 2014
    Clean really good with wood-oil soap Blankets in bottom shelves on top for whatever you want
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Jun 01, 2014
    Since good storage space is always needed, clean this and oil it down with dark Old English Oil and put it to good use. I would put shelves in it in various heights and store things not often used in it...like that crock pot, the electric skillet, a shelf for wrapping paper...use it like a pantry! Set it in the living room or den in a corner with a small chair in front of it (easy to move). No one visiting has to know they are sitting with a crock pot!
  • DARLENE D DARLENE D on Jun 02, 2014
    I used mine for my Stereo...added a couple of shelves/bookcase to store cds and albums.
  • Laurie C Laurie C on Jun 02, 2014
    What a beautiful piece! Yes, just touch it up with some Old English or Restore-a-finish, Add some shelves for storing what ever!
    • Candi Corn Candi Corn on Dec 22, 2014
      @Laurie C I have shelves in one and layall my quilts in it, openingit during the holidays and displaying my Christmas quilts over the doors. With shelves it can be used for linens or sweaters and jeans.
  • Lori Lumley Lori Lumley on Jun 02, 2014
    I have one that belonged to my great grandmother. My smart and talented husband refinished, and repurposed. It first was a media station, and now it is a bar. I love it!.
  • Paulette Montoya Paulette Montoya on Jun 02, 2014
    I just bought one of these things that was repurposed into a birdcage. If you have birds it would be great!
  • Anji41 Anji41 on Jun 02, 2014
    put in shelves and keep your sweaters in it
  • Angie W Angie W on Jun 02, 2014
    If I had that to redo, I would clean it up , get shallow drawers put in, use it for a jewelry armoire , or a better idea, clean and oil it, wallpaper the inside to match dining area, have 2-3 shelves put in, and store decorative dishes, leaving the front open......kinda like the photo below...or put linens in and store in bathroom, (see photo below)
  • Laurie B Laurie B on Jun 03, 2014
    you can be creative enough to convert this to a gun cabinet
  • Cyndi Cyndi on Jun 03, 2014
    Lookup angel wings wardrobe chest on interest, I saw a cha by chic one ... if you're into angels;-)
  • I love the idea of using it as a linen closet or as a pantry closet... It's beautiful piece!
  • Sheryll S Sheryll S on Oct 30, 2014
    Why is it green on the inside? Natural Cedar is a treasure to my thinking. I live in Florida and used to have Cedar closets growing up and they are the living end. All you have to do after so many years is sand down the inside and voila, lovely, gorgeous, wonderful smelling and no bugs.
    • See 1 previous
    • Sheryll S Sheryll S on Nov 01, 2014
      @Linda T Yes, I agree with you. I never store ANYTHING for a season, without first thoroughly cleaning it.....plus I never hand anything back into ANY closet that is not cleaned. I agree with you except for the scented stuff. I find I am allergic or at a high risk of being allergic to those. I know you can buy cedar disks (sp) too. I so agree with you otherwise... it is mostly being clean and I do both spring and fall cleaning of closets..... and more, because I have to here in good ol', humid, hot FLA.
  • Jennifer Jennifer on Oct 30, 2014
    You can give it to me! : )
  • Kathleen Kathleen on Dec 22, 2014
    Turn it into a craft storage closet gosh you are so lucky what a gift. A great tv storage unit as well. You could hide everything in there games recorders stereo systems. No wonder you can't decide. Let us know how it goes.
  • Deb Swett Deb Swett on Dec 22, 2014
    Whatever you do, just love it. I would love to have one!!!!!! Over your lifetime, it can be used in many ways.
  • Linda Raymond Linda Raymond on Dec 22, 2014
    Give it to me, I love it ! Since I don't have a coat closet at the entrance of my 1916 home, I would use it for that. Enjoy it, the right idea will come to you.
  • Vikki L Anderson Vikki L Anderson on Dec 22, 2014
    I had one I acquired from a elderly relative(Cy). I took it apart, cleaned all the wood inside & out & put it back together with glue & clamps. Had shelves cut to fit, cut flannel fabric to wrap around the shelves. The flannel helped the shelves fit tighter. It was used as a china cabinet, bookcase for mostly photo albums, fabric storage and back to a china cabinet. I think I moved it too many times, after it's 6th move in the 20 years I had it, Cy's cabinet literally fell apart. Cy's cabinet was so delicate it was shrink wrapped each time it was moved.
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Dec 23, 2014
    Since there are never enough storage places in homes, I would just give this a good rub down with dark Old English and clean the inside. This could fit anywhere...in the living room across a corner behind a chair...put in some shelves for those bulky things you use twice a year (like a roaster or over-sized platter)! I have a cabinet I bought that has a bottom fitted in with 2 pieces of wood making the lower shelf...fitted with pull rings to pick up one at a time to access! I have this in my bedroom and use it as my "home office papers". You can always use it for something different later on as your life styles change. (P.S. This is a very distressed new piece and I love it)
  • Jonnie Hammon Jonnie Hammon on Sep 20, 2015
    Add shelves to it, to use for storing linens, use as a pantry, craft storage, a television armoire, the possibilities are endless. Use it as a hidden office, or anything else that strikes your fancy.
  • Amii Amii on Sep 20, 2015
    Cut it halfway up, (remove door,of course ) build bottom, and upholstery on sides and back, great reading nook
  • Kittye Kittye on Sep 20, 2015
    I would take the front panels out of the top doors. Replace them with etched glass. Put shelf in at lease three, one with a plate rail. On the bottom, remove panel cut in half make two pull out draws. Wa la you have a one of kind china cabinet.
  • You could put shelves in it and make it a craft closet of office space. I did that with one and it's been quite handy. https://www.exquisitelyunremarkable.com/2014/09/my-dream-craft-space.html