Home Improvement

How to Convert Closets to Built-In Shelves

A step-by-step tutorial for changing closets into DIY inbuilt cabinets & a lounge workplace transformation.

We’re within the ultimate stretch of the McNay challenge! It hasn’t been a quickie makeover (hardly any of our initiatives are actually), however good issues take time. And our newest DIY inbuilt cabinets turned out so wonderful!

UPDATE: See the total lounge / workplace reveal of this house right here. 

And this huge change we made on the workplace aspect of the McNay’s lounge is gooooood!

Feast your eyes on the “earlier than” first although:

I imply… can we simply respect that Sixties moist bar inside that left aspect closet for a sec? Groovy, child.

And now take a look at that after!

white office in living room with built-in shelves and desk in front of window

These little squatty closets have been so tiny and the doorways have been so skinny that King and Heather stated they only wished them gone with inbuilt cabinets put of their locations.

However then we thought possibly we may work with the present constructions to transform closets into inbuilt cabinets.

It wasn’t precisely a simple job, BUT it was at the very least simpler than ripping all of it out and beginning over from scratch. (The irony isn’t misplaced on me that in our own residence workplace we DID construct closets from scratch.)

closets before

Find out how to Convert Closets into Constructed-In Cabinets

(Some affiliate hyperlinks are supplied beneath. Full disclosure right here.)

Provides

Steps

1. Take away closet doorways and use a hammer and pry bar first to take away the door body and trim.

closets with wood paneling

2. Use a framing stage and tape measure to mark with pencil the brand new opening measurement you wish to create for the built-in cabinets.

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3. Reduce alongside the pencil line with the round noticed.

circular saw cutting closets open for built-in shelving

4. And utilizing the oscillating multi-tool, lower away any wooden items on the corners and edges for a clear lower.

oscillating multi-tool for cutting open closets to make built-in shelves

oscillating multi-tool for cutting open closets to make built-in shelves

5. Measure the scale of the brand new opening of the closet and use it to chop a 2×4 with the round noticed and a noticed information to its size.

6. Place the two×4 flush on the prime of the opening and nail in place. That is the brand new header.

7. Repeat Step 5 utilizing a 1×6 board.

adding a frame to closet opening to make built-in shelves

8. Measure the edges of the closet opening to mark and lower lengths utilizing 1×6 boards.

9. Nail the 1×6 boards in place on the sides.

framing closets

closet doorway frame

10. Caulk all edges and cracks, and use wooden filler in any nail holes or knots.

closet doorway frame

11. Sand wooden filler easy with a mouse sander and medium grit sandpaper.

converting closets to built-in shelves

12. Then prime and paint. (We used Behr Polar Bear in satin.)

painting wood paneling

13. Screw the pilaster strips to the edges of the closet partitions, and connect the brackets at your most popular peak.

built-in shelf brackets

14. For the cabinets, lower out MDF panels to the scale of your closet.

And enhance!

closets converted into built-in shelves in an office

For the previous month, I’ve been amassing vintage retailer finds and portray objects from my thrifted stash to present the cabinets a country, coastal really feel.

rustic coastal shelf decor

Like these cute vases I acquired for $2!

rustic shelf decor

That sweetgrass basket I discovered in an vintage retailer jogs my memory a lot of Charleston. And the urn in entrance of it’s from the low nation of SC.

closets converted into built-in shelves in an office

I can not wait to indicate the remainder of this house quickly after a couple of ultimate touches!

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Only for enjoyable, right here’s yet one more earlier than and after of this aspect of the room as a result of I can’t assist myself.

living room office before

closets converted into built-in shelves in an office

I couldn’t resist giving y’all a peek as a result of the suspense is KILLING ME!

If you wish to save this publish for later, you possibly can pin it right here:

How to Convert Closets to Built-In Shelves: A step-by-step tutorial for converting closets into built-in shelves & a living room office transformation.

signoff

Incessantly Requested Questions

What do you do with deep inbuilt cabinets?

The benefit of deep inbuilt cabinets is you possibly can layer objects extra simply like paintings, e-book stacks, and baskets. Labeled bins are probably the most versatile for benefiting from extra storage functionality on deep cabinets. However bear in mind, you don’t need to refill each little house simply because it’s there. Much less is extra.

How do I replace my outdated constructed ins?

Attempt eradicating any molding or decorative particulars that may date the look. Go for a recent coat of paint or stain. Change the {hardware}. Add some new lighting. You may even strive changing simply the cupboard door or door fronts with one thing extra trendy for lower than rebuilding the whole inbuilt shelving unit.

Are inbuilt cabinets outdated?

Under no circumstances. They’re a type of parts that may by no means actually exit of favor and can seemingly all the time stay a basic. Some particulars would possibly date inbuilt cabinets, however there are methods to tweak them to alter the look comparatively simply (see query above).

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