Use Shelves & Storage Units to Conquer All That Stuff!
Stuff! Stuff! Stuff everywhere! The clutter starts to overwhelm. However, life can be simplified and clutter tamed with a few organizational hints and a good shelving or storage system.
Planning. Determine the purpose and style of the unit. Will it be for display or storage? Units come in varying depths and lengths. Identify a location. Making ample room for access once the unit is installed is also important. Measure the space and determine how many shelves or what size storage unit will be needed – what depth and how far apart shelves should be to accommodate the largest and smallest items in your collection.
Design. Blending various elements and breaking up long lines can make the completed project more interesting. Try arranging shelves around an important photo or piece of art. Get creative with graph paper and design something pleasing and functional.
Purchasing. Take your final ideas to the local hardware or home center. Everything needed should be readily available. Ask the store's professionals for help optimizing your design.
Layout. Save work by doing layout prior to installation. Begin by identifying wall studs for secure placement of your system. The easiest way to locate studs is with an electronic stud finder, such as the Zircon StudSensor™ Pro SL-AC. It finds studs without guesswork and includes a WireWarning® detection feature so you won't accidentally nail or drill into live AC voltage.
Level & Plumb Installation. This is the final key to success. Anchor the system to the middle of each stud along the wall, checking to be sure that it is plumb (vertically straight) on the wall. Then make sure the slots are leveled precisely. One of the easiest ways to do that is with the Zircon LaserBall 360™ that generates plumb and level lines in all four directions. This simple and affordable tool turns a once complicated task into child's play.
Final Touches. With the foundation of the unit level and plumb, all that's left is to position the shelves. Then create interest by personalizing the unit with mementos and other items that add to the décor as well as storage space.
