Everyone should have a way to expand their old house closets. Expanding your closets is a household improvement worthy of the time it takes, which fortunately is very little. Don’t worry if you have no idea how to use a power drill or table saw because using a closet expander is simple and requires very little construction experience.
Creative Closet Expander
Making room in your old house closets is an easy project. As long as you are looking in the right place at the hardware store, you will find everything you need for an afternoon of expanding your closets. If you are organizing a small closet, using a closet expander is the best route to take. Check hardware stores in your area to look at a variety of closet expander models. Most expanders work by hanging like a clothes hanger except you hang your clothes onto the expander. Most models feature a folding system the allows you to hang multiple garments on one hanger. If you go with one of these closet expanders, make sure that the bar in your closet is high enough so that your clothing will not drag on the floor. Also, make sure that you are not putting too much weight on the clothing rack installed in your closet. If too much weight is added to the bar, you might end up remodeling your entire closet the hard way!
Old house closets can also be expanded with closet expanders that feature a plank of wood, typically cedar. Cedar will keep your closet smelling fresh as well as prevent damage from various pests because the oils in the wood are a natural insect repellant. Many people prefer cedar systems over any other type for this reason. Plus, they are not much more expensive than a basic plastic model.
If you live in an area with seasonal changes in temperature, keeping a spring/summer and a fall/winter wardrobe can maximize closet space. Rotate clothes as the seasons change and store those you aren't using in plastic bins under the bed. You can also use vaccum systems that will remove all the air from clothes leaving them compactly sealed in special plastic bags that are easy to store and often wafterproof. This is a great option for bulky items like sweaters and spare bedding.
If you simply can't make your small closets fit the needs of your family, it may be time to look into actually expanding them. Unless you are a pretty handy with power tools (or know someone who is), this is a project best left to a professional. Generally, closet expansions are not expensive since they are usually small-scale jobs. The most difficult part of physically increasing the size of your old house closets is deciding where the space will come from. You'll need a floor plan or blueprint of your house to find the best place for the expansion. Once you know where you want to build, talk to friends and family to find a good contractor.
