Skeletons in the closet

No actual skeletons, but if there had been any in my front closet, I never would have found them.

Exhibit A. The disaster that had become my front closet:

I searched Pinterest and all the building supply stores and measured and sketched and came up with my plan of attack.

My list of current must haves for the closet were:

-       -storage for LOTS of shoes

-       -hooks for kids coats

-       -baskets for hats/mitts

-      - place for kids backpacks

-       -storage for totes/purses

-       -storage for running gear

-      - storage for shoe maintenance stuff

-      - protection of hardwood floor

-       -no space in which shoes could be piled.

My original idea (and probably most cost effective) was to have some sheets of plywood cut to size and to paint them and build my own shelves – but there is no time for that, and the garage is too cold to paint in. I also thought about baskets to put the kids shoes in so they could just toss and be done with them – but the thought of dirty or wet shoes being tossed in on clean ones did not sit well with me.

I measured and found Lowes had shelves that would fit the closet perfectly. I bought an everyday utility mat ($10) to protect the hardwood floor and the wall behind the shelves from any kind of markings, and a metal shelf to match the existing one.

There were a few glitches.

1.     If you look at the top of your coat closet and see glorious unused space – there might be a reason for it. Once you install a shelf above where a coat rack would normally hang MAKE SURE your shelf depth gives allowance for stuff to actually be put on said shelf. In my case it was only empty totes and purses so they could squeeze through the few inch clearance, but a basket would probably be pushing it.

2.     Make sure you understand construction terms. I was instructed to drill into the wall with a 1/4^th  bit, but do not punch the hole? Um, what? What is punching? The shelf had anchors that needed to be put through the holes and then nail type things through those. Still not 100% sure I did that right, but nothing heavy is going up there.

3.     Install the top shelf BEFORE you install the shoe shelves or anything below it. Drywall dust everywhere!!!

4.     If you experience winter where you are – avoid white shoe shelves. Or, go ahead and get them just spend a lot of your time washing them.

What you can’t see in the newly organized picture is:

1.     Black hanging boxes moved to other side of closet – not taking up prime coat space, but still accessible.

2.     Coat hanger for winter scarves, and one for T’s belts

3.     Inside baskets A. Hats/Mitts B. Baby carriers C. Baseball caps.

A few things I would have loved to add if I had more space and an electrical outlet

1.     A key hook for T's keys, the shed key, etc. – next trip out I’ll pick up

2.     An electronic charging station.

T caught me standing starring at the beauty of the closet. He says if it makes me happy when I’m coming and going from the house it was money well spent. Now, if I could only get him to hang up his coat!!!

Next up – Laundry room, kids play area, spare bedroom, and maybe a bathroom – before spring?  Probably wishful thinking.

Ironically, I sent an email with this exact same title to my high school boyfriend years after we split up telling him I had indeed set him up to see if he'd admit he had a girlfriend once he went off to university. Super nice guy, super wrong answer.