Claim two extra square feet in your closet with this amazing easy plan!
It's taken me weeks to get the courage to share the closet of a three year old with the world, but it's taken me months to take what was just a clever idea and turn it into . . .
Here's the bottom. You can see how I simply built bookshelves, attached them to the inside of existing closet doors, put the doors on hinges, and added a couple extra square feet of storage to a tiny closet. Oh, those hooks are Command hooks from 3M - So easy to use, I love them!
When open, the doors opens completely flush, giving you the most room to access the inside of the closet (as long as there is not a wall or something in the way). No those are not my bookcases (the saggy white ones), they are the last of the flat pack particle board furniture that I have in my home.
When closed, the bookshelves sit in the door frame, taking up what used to be completely wasted space. And in a house the size of mine, with exactly three closets, every square inch of a closet is prime real estate.
These are super easy to install. Simply remove the bifold door hardware and attach the bifold doors with standard hinges as shown in the photo
The weight of the doors rests on wheels, so you can load the doors up. In one closet door, I was able to store ALL of Grace's books.
Think of the possibilities - pantry items, toiletries, towels, accessories, and did anyone mention shoes?
And best of all? I can close the doors live my dream of a simple, bare home, free of clutter. No one (besides you, my friends) would ever know what's behind my closet doors. All for around twenty bucks a door!

So wanna make your own? Here's how I did. You will need to alter your shelves to your own closet specifications. So get your measuring tape out!
Preparation
1x6 Boards
Heavy duty hinges
four caster wheels
1x2 Boards
Anchoring bolts for hollow core doors
Screws
Cut your boards to fit your closet and closet doors.
The success of this project greatly depends on building square, and installing level and square with a square closet opening.
Instructions
Step 1
First, measure your closet doors. If they are a standard 24″ wide, you will need to subtract 5 1/2″ to get a total door shelf of 18 1/2″ wide. That means all of the shelves will need to be cut at 17″ wide.
Measure the overall height of the doors and subtract two inches. Cut two 1x6s to this length. You will also need to cut as many shelves as desired to the shelf width (in my example, 17″ wide). Also cut 1×2 shelf trim to the shelf width, one more than the number you cut for shelves.
Step 2
Step 3
Then you attach the 1x2s as shelf trim and supports. I used my Kreg Jig™ to build Grace’s closet doors, but you could also simply use 2″ wood screws countersunk. Don’t forget the glue.
Comments
noolygirl (not verified)
Mon, 08/23/2010 - 20:49
absolutely brilliant!!!!
absolutely brilliant!!!!
Tracy (not verified)
Mon, 08/23/2010 - 20:53
LOVE this!! It is something
LOVE this!! It is something I have been struggling with in my home. Lack of storage and messy kids closets!
It is now on the honey do list!! :)
BarefootTams (not verified)
Mon, 08/23/2010 - 20:56
Absolutely LOVE it! Great
Absolutely LOVE it! Great idea!
Paula (not verified)
Mon, 08/23/2010 - 20:58
I LOVE it. Her closet looks
I LOVE it. Her closet looks so great! I don't even have closet doors and now I want some, just for this... maybe in our next home.
senovia (not verified)
Mon, 08/23/2010 - 21:08
That's SO AWESOME!! Why
That's SO AWESOME!! Why doesn't every closet have those!?!!
southies (not verified)
Mon, 08/23/2010 - 21:29
OMG.... you are
OMG.... you are amazing!!!!!
Do you come in a bottle??!!
elei (not verified)
Mon, 08/23/2010 - 22:49
IN-CREDIBLE!!!
IN-CREDIBLE!!!
Suzan (not verified)
Mon, 08/23/2010 - 23:02
I have you beat! I have
I have you beat! I have exactly ONE real closet in my house!! (This is what happens when you buy a renovated home built in 1898 and the renovator was a man!) This is a fabulous way to make my large closet more storage effective. Thanks so much for the post!
diycat (not verified)
Tue, 08/24/2010 - 00:27
I love this idea! Could I
I love this idea! Could I attach it to a hollow core door though? Does that matter? Thx!
rudoo (not verified)
Tue, 08/24/2010 - 00:54
That is the coolest idea!!!!
That is the coolest idea!!!! I need to do that for my 2 year old!!!