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Hallway closets can be the odd cousin in home decor, evolving into a catch-all for everything from coats and shoes to linens, craft supplies, pantry items, or necessities for your bath or office. The clutter these storage areas often attract can cause major stress for homeowners who are embarrassed every time they open the door. With a bit of forethought, these black holes for stuff can become orderly receptacles for life’s essentials. Here are three strategies for accomplishing a hall closet makeover. A Multipurpose Solution Creating a simple organizing system can turn a single closet into a multipurpose space. To counter a shortage of bathroom storage space, consider dividing a hall closet into separate, functional storage areas for bedding, towels, bath supplies, and cosmetics. This will work best if you create zones and label the shelves in a pleasing color and script. The key to making a storage plan work is to train all users to return everything to its place after they are done. Consider making your closet space more appealing by giving the inside a coat of high-gloss paint in bright white or another color for a clean, minimalist look that sparkles. Expand Capacity From Chaos to Calm The Surprising Power of a Hall Closet Makeover
CREATE A WOOD SLAT WALL THAT WOWS
Vertical wood slat walls are a popular decorative accent for living rooms and other areas of the home, but the cost of hiring a contractor to create a wood slat feature can be steep. Despite this, a wood slat wall is among the easiest beginner projects for a wannabe home remodeler. Check out the easy steps to create your own DIY accent wall! What You Need At a lumber store, buy 1-by-2-inch slats of pine or poplar wood cut to a length that fits the height of your wall. Select slats that are straight, not warped, and save scraps for later use. If you are using pine, sand the slats with fine-grit sandpaper and stain them to the wood tone that best suits your decor. Although poplar slats cost more than pine, they offer a more high-end look. Additionally, they don’t require staining or sanding, as they’re beautiful in their natural state. For either type of wood, add a layer of polyurethane as a sealant. Assemble your supplies, including the slats, a nail gun, and wood conditioner, plus wood stain if desired. Remove any baseboards from your accent wall. We recommend painting the wall behind the slats a dark color to accent the natural beauty of the slats. For this, you need the usual painting supplies, including paint, painter’s tape, a drop cloth, and paint rollers or brushes. Attach the Slats To help you envision the final look, use painter’s tape to position the slats at different distances. If your slats are 1 inch wide, experiment with spacing them 1/4–7/8 inch apart. (Any farther apart, and you risk creating a zebra-stripe effect.) Use a scrap piece as a spacer between slats. Then, attach the slats to the wall using the nail gun, inserting one nail each in the top, middle, and bottom. When nailing slats to an area without a stud behind the wall, use two nails, driving one downward and a second upward, creating an X behind the slat to hold it firmly in place. Use the spacer as you drive a nail into each piece, ensuring your slats are vertically straight. Once your slat wall is finished, relax and enjoy the warmth of the wood tones and the visual interest you’ve created! You’ve transformed an ordinary wall into a highlight of your home.
Placing large wicker or cloth baskets or plastic bins side by side on closet shelves will increase the closet’s capacity. Alternating lacquered pastel pink or green baskets with white ones can lend a fresh, clean look, and labeling the baskets across the front can save you time hunting and searching. Sort items by category and keep the most often-used items on lower shelves. For smaller items, such as mittens and scarves, consider installing back- of-the-door hooks or over-the-door organizers to maximize every cubic
inch of open space. Hang hard-to-store items, such as brooms and irons, on the walls. To convert a hall closet near the kitchen into a pantry, consider installing sturdy lazy Susans on lower shelves for easy access to oils and other ingredients. A Space for Fun Some hallway spaces offer special challenges, such as narrow, deep closets beneath stairs. If you don’t need the space for coats, consider converting it into a reading nook or quiet cave for kids. Invite the children to help choose colorful pillows, chairs, or bean bags, or include stuffed animals, textile hangings, and a soft area rug for added comfort. With a little time spent decluttering and organizing, you can ensure every storage space in your home works for you, rather than against you.
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