Columnists > Shauna Smith Duty > ArticlesAugust 19, 2005

Closet Conversion

By Shauna Smith Duty

Need to tuck your television or computer into a nook so that you have more floor space in a bedroom? This simple closet conversion is inexpensive, functional, and just plain cute. Often the things tucked away in spare room closets can be discarded or stored elsewhere. That extra closet is wasted space.

What you'll need:

  • Tools to remove closet doors
  • Shelves or a desk that fits into the closet without sticking out past the inner wall
  • Curtains and curtain rod (or shower curtain rod)
  • Somewhere to store all the junk that was in the closet

Directions

Remove and store the closet doors. You may need them if you ever plan to sell your home, or if you convert the space back into a closet. Just store them in the attic, out of the way, with the hardware attached in a plastic baggie.

Measure the shelves or desk you want to use in the space to make sure it will fit without sticking out past the interior closet wall. This conversion looks best if the furniture in the closet fits properly. The shelves in the photo were created by cutting down an old shelving unit. The two doors beneath the television are a pre-existing VCR cabinet slid onto the shelves. Painting the whole unit solid white to match the trim of the closet makes it look custom built to fit the space. Electronics wires can be hidden behind the unit and fed through a hole cut in the shelf, behind the television.

In the photographed entertainment area, lace sheers were hung on a shower curtain rod and pulled back with tiebacks. To conceal the area, use drapes, bamboo shades, or tab curtains and pull them closed.

This project works for not only entertainment centers, but also for bookshelves, computer desks, or a child's dress up area.

About The Author: Shauna Smith Duty is a freelance writer with a penache for writing family and parenting articles. She composes articles for both print and web publications, reviews children's books and movies, writes short plays, and provides editing services. Visit her online at http://www.shaunasmithduty.com

Feedback

Read feedback for this post below.

By Tami (Guest Post) 09/20/2008

I think its a great idea. You do with what you have. That's the name of frugality. Looks nice.

By red (Guest Post) 03/06/2007

I guess you get what you pay for...sorry I don't like this. The shower curtain is not a good suggestion since you can get real curtain rods at target for ten dollars, and that shelf looks cheap. The hanging pictures are different distances from the molding, this bothers me if your giving design advice...maybe this is good for a poor college student trying to get by, but not for an adult trying to have some sort of style...

By Carrie (Guest Post) 08/19/2005

Be very careful to anchor your TV, cabinet, or other heavy equipment that can fall and kill a child, who will try to climb or hang on to these items to tune them.

Related

Post Feedback

Your thoughts are welcomed and appreciated. Enter your feedback here!

Feedback:

Image Upload:

Add an image to your post! Click the "Browse" button above and select an image from your hard drive. Please only select gifs or jpegs. If you have any problems, please contact us.

  

facebook like arrowLike ThriftyFun on Facebook

Browse Topics

Over 80,000 tips, recipes, questions & crafts.

Ask a Question

Submit a question to the TF community.

Subscribe to ThriftyFun Newsletters!

Email: