Get matched with top closet pros in Keshena, WI

If you’re on a tight budget, the least expensive material you can buy for DIY closet shelves is chipboard, a.k.a. particle board. This inexpensive material is made from a pulp of sawdust, resin, and glue that’s pressed together under high temperature and pressure. As you can imagine, it’s not very sturdy and might buckle under your blue jean collection, so you should only use it if you’re storing very light items. 

If you have a bathroom closet with movable shelves, you can place them at virtually any spacing that works for you. Useful measurements between shelves in the working, or middle, section can be 10 to 16 inches for towels or linens. Lower or higher shelving could be up to 24 inches between shelves to store lesser-used or bulky items or boxes. 

There are certainly luxury upgrades you can make but you can seriously improve the look and functionality of a closet without spending much money. Color matching will make the closet seem bigger so any shelves painted the same as the wall is a good tip. While pre-made closet organizers may seem expensive they offer an aesthetic look that's hard to achieve with DIY methods. Lastly, removing clutter and unworn items will help the closet seem bigger and cleaner.

You can design your own closet, but it’s usually better to hire a professional to do the work for you. Not only will you get years of design experience to guide you toward the right layout and material choices, but you’ll also only pay slightly more hiring a professional than you would creating your own plans and hiring a carpenter. A high-quality closet designer can provide insight into how to lay out your closet, and they may be able to find you a good deal on the carpentry or complete the work using an affordable, in-house team.