I’ve already shown you one part of this closet make over here and while Wille was away in London the other week I took the opportunity to revamp the part above.
As you can see Wille hasn’t completely inherited my organizing gene but I figured it would be nicer to keep the space organized if it looked nicer.
So for the first 50+ years this closet has been bare wood and Masonite inside. To me it just cried out to be made over.
Aside from sprucing it up for good looks it also needed some minor repairs due to cracked drawer fronts etc.
The drawer front was an easy fix with some wood glue and a couple of clamps.
Then I gave the inside, drawer fronts, drawer tops and undersides of shelves three coats of paint. I used primer for the first coats and a top coat of wood paint.
For the insides of the drawers and for the shelves I used wallpaper. I was a offered a free roll of my choice of Mr. Perswall wallpaper over a year ago and initially intended to use it on the headboard wall in Wille’s tiny bedroom but then decided against it because I worried that it would be too busy.
For the drawers I measured the inside bottom and sides and cut pieces accordingly. I also pre-folded the large piece so it would be easier to insert. The left side needed a separated strip because the wallpaper wasn’t wide enough.
This wallpaper doesn’t need to presoak the wallpaper paste so I could cover the inside with wallpaper paste and then immediately insert my precut pieces.
Then it was just a matter of covering the shelves too which was super easy, just a rectangle that goes on top of the pasted shelves, over the edge of the shelf and then about 5 cm (2 inches) on to the underside.
After leaving the closet door open for 24 hours+ to dry out completely Wille’s stuff went back I inside. By this time Wille was back home and was pleased to see the inside revamped and mended.
This was over a week ago and let me tell you right away that this is not the state of these piles anymore, haha!
Hi Benita! My comment isn't quite related to the post (although I love the paper you chose!), but I have to say that you and Wille seem to have such a close relationship and it is really lovely to read about it. I have two sons, aged 7 and 6, and I truly hope that when they become teenagers we are able to maintain such a beautiful bond like you have with Wille!
Posted by: Rita @ the busy woman and the stripy cat | April 05, 2012 at 08:26 AM
Awww!
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | April 05, 2012 at 08:36 AM
Closet posts are my favorites! Nice job!
I used to have the same pile problems with my husband's tshirts
He really can't keep a straight pile even if his life depended on that!
So i did some rearranging and now every top he has is hung and only pants are piled
Why didnt i do this years ago??
:)
Posted by: calliope (greece) | April 05, 2012 at 08:41 AM
Haha, I knew I should't have transformed that other hanging closet to one with shelves...
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | April 05, 2012 at 08:53 AM
Oh I really need you to come a stay!
Posted by: Hxx | April 05, 2012 at 09:07 AM
Great work! Great mom!
Posted by: jja | April 05, 2012 at 09:08 AM
I agree it's easier to hang men shirts as the guys dun bother to fold them back esp if it's a large pile.
Posted by: ed | April 05, 2012 at 09:14 AM
boys will be boys :P
Posted by: Yazmak İyidir | April 05, 2012 at 10:30 AM
Looks great! Love that wallpaper, but only in a small dose. Definitely very busy!
No one in my house can keep a pile straight either. sigh. Feel like it's a losing battle everyday. That's why I come to your blog. For serenity and straight lines :-) I need my Benita-dose with my morning cup of coffee or I get very grumpy . . . .
Posted by: Dana from CT | April 05, 2012 at 12:59 PM
That wallpaper is great, and what a great use of it! Every few weeks I reorganize my entire closet and make sure everything is neat and tidy, and within a few days it's a mess again! And I'm not even a teenage boy ;)
Posted by: Erin | April 05, 2012 at 01:12 PM
Love it! But now I am curious as to what is in the middle closet. I also love to organize closets.
Posted by: Elisabeth | April 05, 2012 at 01:20 PM
Life is life and it's hard to keep things perfect all the time. From what we've seen so far on your blog, it seems that Wille is a very tidy teenage boy anyway.
I like the closet makeover. Looks clean and fresh and the letters add variety.
Posted by: Zosia | April 05, 2012 at 01:26 PM
I thought at first, the original closet was quite alright. Now seeing the transformation, it made such a difference! Really a good job done!
Posted by: Annika | April 05, 2012 at 02:01 PM
That's up for a makeover next. I'll show you when I've done it.
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | April 05, 2012 at 02:02 PM
Probably not many 18 year old boys with tidy closets I'd think:)
Awesome job BTW!
Posted by: Michelle | April 05, 2012 at 02:10 PM
Vilken fantastisk garderob! Du är en riktig toppenfixare, men det visste du redan va? ;)
Posted by: Monnah | April 05, 2012 at 02:25 PM
Love the paper and the white - makes it look nice and fresh. I'm in the midst of redoing our front hall closet and am planning on using wallpaper on the back wall, this just confirmed the plan for me.
Posted by: Giulia | April 05, 2012 at 04:15 PM
Maybe u can add little cubes in the shelf so that u roll the t-shirt into each cube ...something like wine shelf. This way, it keep each t shirt separated without messing the rest up
Posted by: ft | April 05, 2012 at 05:36 PM
Beautiful! Do you use folding boards for the shirts? If so, what kind? If not, what's your secret for folding them so perfectly?
Posted by: cammie | April 05, 2012 at 05:48 PM
Åhh så snyggt minsann! Du är helt galet duktig på att fixa till det. Här hemma hos oss är det KAOS kan jag lätt säga. Önskar att jag hade ditt sinne för ordning och reda nu...
Glad Påsk!
Kram Jenny
Posted by: Lilla huset på prärien | April 05, 2012 at 06:36 PM
I don't use a folding board. I just hold the shoulders of the T-shirts with both hands and fold the sides in with my pinkies and lay it down. I guess working in retail for years helps...
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | April 05, 2012 at 08:06 PM
Ohh I love this! I have some extra wallpaper laying around and having been thinking of ways to use it for a long time. The light bulb just went off! Awesome closet!
Posted by: emily @ go haus go | April 05, 2012 at 08:38 PM
your decorating style & organization skills just make my day! as another reader mentioned... I so enjoy my daily visit to your blog... truth be known, I miss my visits on the weekend when you are completing new projects...
HaPpY.... SPRING.... to you & Willie.
Posted by: christine e-e | April 07, 2012 at 05:47 PM
love the alphabet paper, really funky. having my wardrobes organised is my eternal quest!
Posted by: mum of all trades | April 13, 2012 at 01:21 PM
Hi Benita, Mrs Perswall (sadly) doesn't seem to ship internationally. I was wondering if you could ship some of that wallpaper u have? I'd really like to use it cover my pinewood Tarva bedside table from Ikea but nooo they don't have a store in Singapore. but provided u do have spare paper? would really appreciate it much!
Posted by: Tracy | May 24, 2012 at 06:05 PM
haha I meant Mr Perswall
Posted by: Tracy | May 24, 2012 at 06:05 PM
Hanging is really not so good for knits. I guess I would put up with uneven piles! :)
Posted by: Lee | August 21, 2012 at 05:49 PM
I've used the file fold on my children's folded clothing- it makes it possible for them to see everything they have without rifling through the pile and unfolding everything. Here is a link to a blog about it:
http://blog.abundanceorganizing.com/2012/04/t-shirts-can-have-style-too.html
It has made a huge difference!
Posted by: Amanda | December 01, 2012 at 03:15 AM