How To Add Utility Closet Storage

At present we’re speaking concerning the inventory market! Simply kidding. Precisely because the title suggests, we’re going to point out you the way we earned some actually helpful further storage in our new kitchen by upgrading a previously VERY PACKED utility closet. It used to principally simply have a water heater and an HVAC system in it with out a lot room for the rest, and now there’s, say it with me… a lot room for actions. Okay, not for like cartwheels, however considerably extra room to retailer stuff than earlier than. Like perhaps 500% extra. Actually.

When you watched our drawer-by-drawer kitchen group video, you already bought a peek at what we have now occurring in there, however at the moment we’re sharing all of the angles, and explaining how we have been capable of take this closet from “principally water heater” to “a lot every part else.”

The Utility Closet Earlier than

We don’t have loads of “earlier than” photographs of this closet as a result of it was completely nothing to jot down residence about. In a smaller home like ours, you want a spot for the ugly stuff just like the HVAC system and the water heater and this closet was it. The picture beneath was taken proper after we moved in. The HVAC system is to the fitting of that doorframe (the black tubes result in it) and though this closet is fairly deep (it goes all the best way underneath the steps), the water heater fully blocked greater than half of the closet that continues to the left of the doorframe.

That is an instance of a particularly random pile of stuff we saved in there on that random patch of flooring house between the water heater and the HVAC system in our first few days of residing right here. I feel it was principally bins of Christmas stuff and miscellaneous gadgets we hadn’t discovered a spot for but. Don’t thoughts the (not actual) chihuahua skeleton. Our Halloween stuff now lives in a cloth bin in the laundry closet with the easter eggs and our pumpkin carving instruments. And all of our Christmas stuff is in one among the wardrobes in our bed room. Our home’s group had nowhere to go however up from the day we took this picture.

I already talked about probably the most irritating factor about this set-up, which is that the water heater was blocking A LOT of potential cupboard space underneath the steps, rendering it completely inaccessible and unusable. And particularly in a smaller home, it’s painful to know that there’s a giant empty cavity of completely purposeful cupboard space THAT YOU CAN’T GET TO.

In order that leads us to step one in our mini makeover…

Step 1: Replace (& Relocate) The Water Heater

In a transfer that may solely be known as the MVP of this undertaking, we had that cumbersome electrical water heater changed with a extra energy-efficient tankless mannequin. We used tankless water heaters in our pink seashore home and our duplex (see beneath), so we knew it could take up rather a lot much less house and provides us higher entry to the again of the closet if the change may very well be made.

And – to our nice shock! – we discovered that tankless water heaters are usually put in on the OUTSIDE of houses round right here (name us Florida novices). Thar she blows, mounted to the siding proper outdoors of that closet on the again of our home the place we put all of the ugly stuff as a result of no person can actually see it (it’s additionally the place our pool gear, gasoline meter, and generator dwell – all hidden behind a tall gate).

So not solely had we earned a way more environment friendly water heater, we instantly gained entry to TONS of additional cupboard space that runs all the best way underneath the steps. Which, if you downsize, is principally your love language.

We did our greatest to make the most of the brand new house, however it was type of a slapdash strategy for some time as a result of we weren’t fairly certain what would work greatest. We hung some wire cabinets to wrangle instruments and miscellaneous provides & threw some bigger gadgets we needed to retailer in that newly accessible space underneath the steps, however it was clearly a chaotic vibe (and never one of the simplest ways to retailer that stuff, we fairly rapidly realized), therefore having zero photographs of it. That is truly an outdated video screenshot from a fast spin round the home that Sherry does for insurance coverage functions each time we depart on a visit as a result of Shavonda says so. Observe: the speculation is in the event you’ve just lately recorded each nook & cranny of your own home, you’ve gotten that to reference if one thing occurs when you’re gone, and you’ll present your insurance coverage service to ensure they reimburse you for all of the gadgets you misplaced (which you gained’t neglect, as a result of you’ve gotten all of it on tape).

We lived with issues like that for some time, realizing it wasn’t working flawlessly, but in addition making an attempt to not rush into another concept that additionally wouldn’t work nicely, and over time because the remainder of the kitchen renovation began to come back collectively, we had extra readability on how we needed to make use of this bonus house. And let’s simply say it didn’t contain shallow wire shelving.

However earlier than we might usher in some better-looking storage, we had a number of issues in our manner. Fairly actually.

Step 2: Reroute The Pipes & Wires

The closet nonetheless had numerous wires, tubes, and pipes that prevented us from placing issues the place we needed them. So we paid round $280 to get two execs to come back out and transfer them for us. First our favourite HVAC guys rerouted the thick black tubing and white pipe for the HVAC system as far to the fitting aspect as potential (in order that they now not arc out so extensively into the closet). Observe: by no means compromise your system by altering issues with a handyman or DIY in the event you’re unsure how that system works. We at all times use a very good HVAC man once we’re making HVAC modifications as a result of a snug home temp is essential 😉

Later that very same day we had our favourite plumber out to re-route the water strains that run out to our tankless water heater, so these water strains are now not obstructing the again wall in any respect. We hid them behind the doorway so you’ll be able to’t even see it from the kitchen anymore! See the blue and pink water strains that run above the baseboards within the picture above? Now they sneakily snake behind the doorway (they’re these clear tubes you see on this picture beneath):

So with every part out of the best way, we have been lastly capable of get to the enjoyable half…

Step 3: Customise A Dice Storage Shelf

Maintain onto your butts, as a result of that is the place it begins to get much more thrilling.

We upgraded from that shallow wire wall storage to a fundamental dice shelf organizer – and we made it look somewhat less-than-basic by including 5″ brass furnishings legs and topping it with a chunk of butcher block counter that we minimize to dimension and sealed with 2 coats of slicing board oil (it at all times dries somewhat lighter as soon as it’s soaked in).

Since you’ll be able to see 4 of the 8 cubes when the closet door is open, we used matching taupe cloth bins to make the issues look tidier than they are surely. These bins maintain SO MUCH STUFF. Completely thrilling.

We use one among them to retailer pet food & treats, one other one has our steamer & vacuum attachments, one has random issues like spray paint & caulk & our a caulk gun. Let’s simply say it’s about 5X extra pleasurable than making an attempt to stability that stuff in shallow wire cabinets (which by no means might maintain our pet food anyway).

We left the opposite 4 cubes bin-less and open, and people additionally maintain a smorgasbord of stuff like further bathroom paper, overflow drinks, emergency provides, and even our Berkey water filter. A couple of folks have requested what occurred to it because it’s not out on our counter anymore, and the reply is that in the course of the last stage of our kitchen reno, we lastly ran a waterline to our fridge (which created filtered always-cold water on demand – plus ICE!). After over two years with out one, having a chilly water & ice dispenser has been superior. The fridge additionally dispenses sizzling water for tea so it has principally modified our lives. If this have been Cribs on MTV I might welcome you in and discuss my fridge for ten minutes.

Anyway, again to the Berkey. We had it assembled on the counter within the utility closet for some time, however all of us tended to simply use the fridge once we needed a drink. However we love our Berkey so we’re protecting it in case we ever want a very superb water filter (it will probably actually make pond water potable!), like a hurricane or different emergency. We now have one dice devoted to hurricane provides the place it sits, which additionally holds a crank radio, a solar-powered charger, some flashlights, and many others.

There’s further house past the storage shelf for some random larger stuff to take a seat on the ground. And sure, that’s a dehumidifier that you simply see operating as a result of, nicely, Florida. Because it sits between the consumption vent and our HVAC unit, it truly helps dehumidify the entire home.

And as a reminder, this was once the view from this angle. So yeah… huge distinction.

Step 4: Add A Floating Shelf

Actually, the dice organizer turned out to be more-than-enough storage for us in the intervening time, however we had some further butcher block after we made the counter and we thought it could be good so as to add a shelf for much more vertical storage.

We created a easy shelf with the assistance of those steel shelf brackets that we spray-painted Rust-Oleum’s Sunlit Brass to match the toes that we added to the dice storage shelf beneath. We truly used the identical paint on the steel legs on the dice shelf after realizing they have been extra of an orange brass, and now every part matches.

The shelf and the countertop do retailer some purposeful issues, like mugs and additional cups, a pitcher Sherry makes use of to water her 438 vegetation, and a handheld vacuum that’s straightforward for the youngsters to make use of. However Sherry threw some ornamental issues in there too as a result of, nicely, we now have room for that. This closet actually went from feeling like a wasted underutilized house to giving off an almost-pantry or bonus-bar vibe that we recognize a lot.

So yeah, framed illustrations of your canine and fairly vases can dwell in a closet too. Reside your greatest life.

Sidenote: in the event you’re in search of extra shelving concepts, this put up has 16 straightforward DIY shelf initiatives for you.

Step 5: Cowl The Ugly

We nonetheless had that extraordinarily utilitarian-looking HVAC unit proper subsequent to the realm we had simply spruced up… however I had an thought.

We constructed a easy cowl panel from a sheet of skinny plywood that we trimmed across the edges with 1 x 2″ boards and painted the wall colour (SW Pure White).

The entire thing hangs from some eye hooks that we screwed right into a fundamental wood closet rod that we added close to the ceiling.

This implies we will simply take away the panel at any time when the HVAC unit must be serviced.

And, because the consumption is on the underside of the unit, it doesn’t block an inch of airflow, and we will simply change the filter with out having to take it down.

The general impact of including that panel is surprisingly useful. It feels MUCH much less like a utility closet in right here, however nonetheless has all of the operate.

Step 6: Take Benefit of Hidden Partitions

Final however not least, we utilized the within wall (reverse the dice shelf, to the left of the doorway) to wrangle some final remaining gadgets: a dustpan, some cleansing wands, a fly swatter… you recognize, the actually horny stuff.

We additionally hung this 24″ under-cabinet mild vertically alongside the door molding to provide us some further mild in there. It simply plugs into a standard outlet (we had that added once we eliminated the water heater since energy had been run to that spot for the water heater) and it provides two brightness settings. Toggle the change a technique for 50% brightness, and toggle it the opposite manner for 100%. That is simply 50% beneath, so it’s PLENTY brilliant.

In order that’s the story of how we took this unassuming utility closet that actually solely had this a lot accessible flooring house…

… and gave it fairly the glow up.

As a P.S. – I do know it appears to be like extremely shallow in there, however we will each simply stand absolutely inside the closet, stroll all the best way to the again nook to get the storage gadgets that we have now again there, and many others.

If it helps, right here is Sherry standing inside:

Since that possible didn’t assist as a result of she’s 5’2″, I’ll repeat this image for you, as a result of you’ll be able to see that I’m standing absolutely within the closet (see the doorframe in entrance of me) to take away that HVAC panel. Thrilling, proper? I can absolutely stand in that spot with out hitting my head, and each of us need to duck to get to the again of the closet because the ceiling dips down, however that’s par for the course for a closet underneath the steps.

One final notice about that black upright vacuum, since I do know somebody will ask. We broke our beloved Shark Navigator that you simply’ve heard us discuss roughly 42 occasions (it was our fault, not the vacuums’) and it was now not bought at that second we broke it, so we caved and bought a Shark ION P50 – however don’t fall for it. The Shark Navigator is endlessly and at all times our favourite cordless vac (so glad it’s again and accessible once more! Sherry needs we had waited). I’ll admit that we hardly ever use a “actual vacuum” now that Eufy has come into our lives, besides primarily for doing the steps (which we generally do with our handheld vacuum as a result of we’re cool like that).

To learn all about our kitchen renovation, this put up has you coated (together with the associated fee). And in the event you’d prefer to see how our total kitchen is organized, we throw open all of the doorways & drawers proper right here on this put up.

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