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 How
To Get Your Closets Organized
To maximize all the space you have,
you want to make sure you're using every cubic inch in your
closets - but that means you need to be really organized.
That's no problem with ready-to-install storage systems. The
result is at least double the storage space and an uncluttered,
organized closet.
The challenge you're faced with is not
installing the shelving and getting yourself and your belongings
organized - that's the easy part. The tough job is going through
your closets to decide what you want to store, where and why.
Make
better use of the space you have with ready-made storage units
Make a whole house game plan for your
storage needs. Naturally, you'll want the linens near the
bathroom, clothing in the bedrooms, etc., keeping in mind
your special needs. Customize your manufactured home closets
to fit your lifestyle. If you live in a four-season climate
you might keep all change-of-weather clothing in one closet
and rotate as weather dictates. If your special interest is
sports, one closet may hold leisure-activity gear.
Get started by measuring each of your
closets, and then plotting them out on graph paper. Make sure
to note the location and type of door so you can plan your
storage system around door swing or gliding tracks.
At hardware stores, home centers, and
catalog retailers you'll find a selection of closet storage
systems. One option is ventilated, vinyl-coated wire shelves
and baskets that assemble together in virtually any combination.
They are mounted on the wall, suspended and braced with easy-to-install
brackets. These provide excellent storage space because air
can freely circulate around clothing and shoes.
Closet
design
Redesign your closets using the graph
paper. Before you buy anything, make sure you plot it all
out using the exact dimensions of each component. Most systems
come with 12" and 16" wide shelving in 2', 3', 4',
5' and 6' lengths. For linens and bulky items use the 16"
shelves. Shoe racks may be made from shelving mounted close
to the floor using angled supports.
Combinations of shelving and clothes-hanging
rods are endless. If, for instance, you have small children,
you can put hanger rods low with shelving above or double-deck
them for everyday and dress-up clothes. In planning your closets,
refer to the manufacturer's specifications about load capacity
to engineer storage of weighty items on fully-supported shelves.
Wire baskets can be used for small items.
Or rubber dishpans work well as drawers on the wire shelving.
Try using gallon ice-cream containers or plastic shoe and
sweater boxes; the possibilities are limitless.
Short sections of shelving may be combined
with longer sections to create custom lengths to fit your
closet. Spacers link sections together and end caps give a
final appearance.
Installation
With closet plan finalized, shelving
system purchased and closet emptied, you are almost ready
to begin installation. Before drilling any holes, take time
to wash and/or paint the closet walls. It's also a good idea
to contact your manufactured home manufacturer to find out
the location of your home's electrical wiring before you begin
drilling.
While each manufacturer provides complete
instructions and the necessary hardware to mount their units,
your manufactured home walls are most likely covered with
paneling that can not support the load of the shelving by
itself. Therefore, you need to find and mount wall braces
to the studs behind the paneling.
Use a studfinder to locate the studs,
which are most likely spaced 16" apart. When you locate
the studs, mark the location.
The larger shelf unit mounting brackets
should be mounted directly to the studs with wood screws.
To mount smaller units that require bracket spacing at closer
intervals than the stud spacing, screw a 1"x 4"
wood strip to the studs. Then attach the shelf unit to the
wood strip.
Keep
it going!
Your closets will be so organized that
you probably won't be able to tolerate other messy areas in
your home, so continue your neatness binge.
There are door-height shelving racks
suitable for kitchen items, cleaning supplies or just about
anything that stores on an 18" wide space. Small spaces
like the inside of a kitchen or bathroom cabinets can provide
convenience with shelving attached to them. Mount a small
unit over the shower to keep soaps and shampoos in place or
over the kitchen stove to store frequently used pots and pans.
Lawn and garden utensils hang from hook and rack as will a
pitcher's mitt or track shoes. Storage shed clutter can be
cleared away with wire baskets holding small tools and odds
and ends.
Your home, lifestyle and interests dictate
your use of these ready-made, simple-to-install storage systems.
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