As I mentioned in my introduction to this project, I’m working on decluttering, and bringing you along on my journey. My first area of attack was to find a way to declutter the problematic rickety old bookshelves. My solution was to repurpose a clutter attracting (but otherwise unused) closet in the library and turn it into a book nook.
The old bookshelves were definitely aged and cheaply built to start with. Probably some deal we ran across at some point, but I know we’ve had them for 20+ years. They’re just pieces of pressed board for the sides and shelves, and all that stabilizes the entire thing is this one piece of paste board stapled across the back. I decided we needed a better solution all around.
One option was to put the bookshelves in the closet, and we had tried that in the past, but we can’t put more than 2 bookshelves in there. The closet is 5′4″x8′, and the bookshelves are 2′x6′ so we’re stuck only putting 2 in there and having alot of wasted space. That obviously isn’t a good solution.
In the end, I decided to make built-in bookshelves in the closet. While I got things ready and started moving furniture out of the way, my Mom went to Lowes and spent $43.00 on wood for the shelves. Unfortunately, she got the wood cut to 54″ instead of 5′4″ (64″). Ah well, at least she brought the wood pieces that were cut off back with her so I was able to piece the boards back together and stabilize the joints.
I took a break for a few days after finishing the first 2 shelves, and then got back to it over this last weekend and finished up 2 more. Then I went to Lowes again and picked up some edge molding, and a can of white paint (the walls in the closet are white), so that I could paint the hardware and supports under the shelves so they blend in with the wall.
Unfortunately, the rain got in the way of my plans. It’s been raining for several days now, and I’m not sure when it’s planning to let up. I don’t want to paint when it’s raining, the paint never dries right that way. I’m also considering adding additional shelves later, but for now I’m going to just finish off these 4 when the rain lets go.
I’m also planning to repurpose the old bookshelves in a more practical way. I want to take them apart and use the long sides (effectively 2′x6′ boards) to create wall shelves in my sons room to get some of the toys out of toy boxes and off the floor. I’m also thinking of using the shelves inside as display shelves that can be mounted along the walls in different places in the house (perhaps to put photos on?).
Other small bits of progress…
I went through all my daughters boxes of toys, art supplies, random game pieces, hair twisties, jewlery, etc… To give you an idea of how much junk she has… I’ll just say that it took me about 6 hours, and I didn’t even quite finish. But I also picked up a plastic shoe rack for $3.50 at Walmart, and now she has organized shoes. I also picked up some poster sized picture frames pretty cheap (under $8 each) and put a piece of her art in each.
I still want to have a yard sale (or put an ad in the paper) to get rid of some of the big toys in the backyard that they outgrew, but I’ve just not been motivated to do it yet. It’s on the list.
Either way, some definite progress. Hopefully by the time I finish those shelves I’ll have a new digital camera and can take a picture to put on here.
Posted by tszujmeister on December 17, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Hi, Just wanted to say a big thank you to you. I first came across this fabulous shoe storage product on your blog and, as they say in the classics… was so impressed I bought the company! Well not really but am now selling and distributing Clear Shoe Boxes in the UK through tszuji the Shoe Storage store. Thanks again. Shoe Wheel by Rakku is also now available! By the way if you loved the girls from Sex and the City have a look at what Sam and Carrie think of us!!