Revamping Our Closet: From Clutter to Chic Storage Solution

Do you ever find yourself wondering where to put your shoes, only to discover them scattered around your home? We’ve all been there! That’s why we embarked on a journey to transform our neglected space into a functional and stylish show and coat closet. Join us as we share the ups and downs of this project and how it all came together beautifully.

Upon entering our house from the garage, our eyes were drawn to an overlooked closet. Its potential was undeniable, so we decided to transform it into a combined show and coat closet. Yet, this project wasn’t without its share of challenges.

During our initial visit, the fresh paint aroma masked an underlying issue: the closet smelled strongly of cigarettes and cats. Our youngest feline, Kassidy, didn’t hesitate to point out this fact! The closet’s shelving system posed another challenge, with unstable brackets and pre-finished MDF wood stained beyond recognition.

While the closet featured two bars along the back wall, their small size left much to be desired. To provide support without studs, we installed white-painted boards that seamlessly blended with the walls. The floors were graced by old, faux-wood glued-down tiles marred by paint stains. The walls, too, bore the scars of time, covered in stains and scuff marks. It was clear that ridding this space of its unwelcome odor would be no small feat.

Our first step involved clearing out the closet’s contents – a mishmash of shoes, random boxes, and cat paraphernalia. Next, we dismantled the shelves and tracks from the wall, removing hanging rods and wooden pieces. The overpowering smell prompted us to wage war with white vinegar, spraying it on the walls, waiting a few minutes, and then cleansing the area with more vinegar. To rid the closet of the vinegar’s scent, we turned to Febreze, applying it generously before allowing everything to dry.

My go-to paint brand is Sherwin Williams, but for combating odors, I rely on Killz. Once the walls were dry and the vinegar’s ghost had vanished, I applied a coat of Killz, hoping it would do the trick. The trim and baseboards demanded attention too, as they had absorbed the lingering cigarette scent. One coat wasn’t enough; I had to apply a second layer to conquer those persistent stains.

With the second coat dry, the stains vanished, making way for the transformational color. Our choice – Dirty Martini by Sherwin Williams, a hue I adored and coincidentally, one of my favorite cocktails. Originally intended for the living room and bedrooms, the color revealed its true brilliance in this space, graced by yellow and green undertones. My paint ritual involves two coats, so after the initial layer dried, I proceeded with the second.

Meanwhile, I turned my focus to the shelves we were adding. Balancing storage for coats and shoes meant shoes had to be above coats, a solution rooted in space constraints. Opting for 1″x12″ boards and a 2’x3′ piece, we aimed for a blueish-grey stain – Phantom Gray from Minwax. While skeptical at first, my partner’s color intuition proved spot-on.

Preparing the boards involved sanding to eliminate rough patches, followed by applying Minwax Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner. This step ensures even stain penetration. After a 5 to 15-minute wait, I wiped off the excess conditioner. With a 2-hour stain application window, I stained one side at a time. A second coat of stain proved transformative, and I reduced the Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner’s wait time to 5 minutes, leading to a richer stain color. Overnight drying was followed by two coats of water-based matte polyurethane on both sides of the shelves.

With polyurethane dry, assembly began. A rod spanning the back wall was supported by white metal brackets, doubling as a top shelf. More white brackets hung in place, forming an “L” shape with a shorter 2-foot board. One of the boards was cut in half.

As the final pieces fell into place, our shoes, coats, and even hats found their new home. While it’s not a full-fledged mudroom, the result exceeded our expectations, proving that functional storage can be both practical and aesthetically pleasing. Join us in celebrating this closet’s remarkable transformation!