Space is at a premium in our small London flat, so we need to maximize every single corner to not live in complete clutter and chaos. Enter DIY closet shelves for an oddly shaped corner closet in the hall near the front door.
The closet is quite spacious (by London standards), but it had no shelves or clothes bar. It was useless as storage without some structure. I had scoured the interwebs for a corner shelf, but they were too big or too small. We used an Ikea shelf in the closet for a while, but there was so much wasted space because the shelf was about half the size of the closet.
Building DIY closet shelves is a rather straight-forward task. But in this case, the electrical box is in the closet, and drilling multiple holes in a wall sure to have wires running through it did not seem wise. The shape of the closet is also odd, with several angles, so the shelves would need to be bespoke.
Freestanding closet shelves would be perfect, as I could maximise the space while avoiding drilling into the walls. So off I set to B&Q, my local big box store, to purchase the supplies.
Pro Tip:
I made a cardboard template of the shelf size and shape putting cardboard packaging on the floor of the closet and tracing around it. More precise than just measurements, it allowed me to hold the template to the boards to determine how many boards to purchase.
The Materials
I purchased 2 large sheets of 18mm (3/4-inch) MDF, which would allow up to 6 shelves for the closet and is easy to work with. (In the end, I only needed 4 shelves, but I was able to use the other two for other projects.) I had the large panels cut in half to fit into my car, and I purchased 2×4 pine boards for the shelf legs.
The challenge was that I need a rather large miter cut for the front of the closet shelves. My miter box cannot cut the largest side of the angle. I can flip the board over and do my best to match it up, but even still, the span of the cut is not enough. (At this early stage of my DIY journey, I do not own any other cutting equipment ; with limited space, I need to be careful about what I purchase.)
In all my research, neither the big box stores nor the lumber yards can (will?) do miter cuts.
A Proper Woodworking Space
Enter BLOQs, a local workshop where you can hire out a space for a half-day or a day (or more). Have you heard of these types of spaces? A brilliant concept: a fully equipped workshop complete with every power tool you could possibly need, for hire by anyone at a reasonable price. You pay to be trained on the tools you want to use. Once you’ve done the training, you just pay for the workbench and use the tools as you need.
I signed up for a half day, with training on the miter saw. Total cost was £60, so a little steep for a closet shelf, but I felt that the experience would be worth it. Plus getting trained in proper miter saw technique could be both helpful and build my confidence a bit more. (Spoiler alert: it was absolutely worth it.)
Working with the Professionals
I showed up at opening time on the day, not sure what to expect and a bit nervous. Rob welcomed me, showed me around the impressive space, and then trained me on the miter saw.
He kept an eye on me throughout the morning, and fortunately, he was there when I went to make the large angled cut and realised that even their machines would not be able to do it. I would need to use the table saw, which I had never used and would require additional training and cost. My shoulders sank at the news.
Donning his super hero cape, Rob assured me he could help. He made the cuts for me on the table saw. No formal training needed, no more expense. In mere moments, I had 6 pieces of MDF, cut to a perfect size for my closet shelves, and Rob had a coffee and muffin to thank him for his help. (BLOQs has a lovely cafe on-site as well.)
I used the rest of my time at the space to cut the legs and drill the holes in the boards, then I loaded everything in my car to assemble at home. I also spent a bit of time watching all of the amazing woodworking going on around me. Someone building a guitar, two people building gorgeous shelving. The craftsmanship was amazing and humbling, as I took my simple shelves out to my car.
Breathing New Life into a Useless Space
Once home, I quickly assembled the closet shelves, making a few adjustments. I had pre-measured the legs so each shelf sat at a different height according to its use. The floor holds our outdoor heater for the nearby terrace; shelf 1 holds bags and umbrellas; shelf 2 holds hairdryers and styling products; shelf 3 is our medicine cabinet; and the top shelf is where I store most of my paint and supplies.
I used 3″ woodscrews, 2 per leg, 3 legs at the back and one at each of the two sides. Then I checked for level with each one to ensure they were even, as the floor can be a bit uneven. Left-over wall paint was used paint to paint them grey. (I’ve since learned you need to prime MDF with a special paint, but for this purpose, I am fine with a bit of imperfection. Live and learn.)
Look at that! Space maximized with closet shelves that fill the space and are sized for my needs. What more does one need?
The closet shelves, while certainly not a fine piece of craftsmanship, do the job and have turned an unusable closet into an organised and well-functioning space that makes me quite happy whenever I open the door.
More important, this effort reminds me of the power I have to create, to make things better, even if in just a small way like an organised corner of my life. What is next? I feel unstoppable!
A Final Thought on BLOQs
If you live in and around the London area, I highly recommend BLOQS if you are a woodworker, no matter your skill. This is not a promotional post, I am just a fan of what they are doing. Not only is it a beautiful space filled with loads of machines and tools (even 3D printing!), but the staff are amazing. Helpful, passionate, supportive. And just being in the space, I saw such amazing skills at the many work benches. I left humbled by my little shelf, but also inspired but what could be possible as I build my skills. Would you consider using a space like BLOQs? Have you already tried a space like this? Let me know in the comments.