There’s no excuse for having a closet jammed full of your stuff, because wire storage components are readily available and easy to install. Add a few roll-out baskets, drawers and racks, and you’ll be surprised at how you can create order and organization to a closet. The components are sold in a wide range of sizes and custom configurations in off-the-shelf boxed kits and as individual components, in home centers, hardware stores and online.
The most difficult part of the job is not the installation; it’s emptying the closet and sorting what to keep, what to give away and what to pitch. When you’re planning the project, allow enough time to go through this pruning process. If the closet walls need painting, do it when the space is empty before installing new shelving.
To explore options, go to www.closetmaid.com, where you’ll find storage ideas for different spaces along with help planning the job. Installing wire storage involves laying out where the wall brackets supporting the shelving will be attached, and then fastening clips to the wall to hold the brackets. The best part of the job: filling the closet with your stuff and seeing you actually have empty shelf space.
To install a basic wire shelving system designed for a 5-foot-wide, 36-inch-deep closet, a handyman will charge $635, which includes labor and material. But you can buy the components for $205 and install them, saving 68 percent. Measure the width, depth and height of the closet to determine the size and length of shelves and the amount of clips and brackets you'll need. If additional components are part of the design, make sure you’ve allowed for them in the layout and your budget.
To find more DIY project costs and to post comments and questions, visit www.diyornot.com and m.diyornot.com on smartphones.
Pro Cost—DIY Cost—Pro time—DIY Time—DIY Savings—Percent Saved
$635—$205—6.0—8.0—$430—68 percent
