Tools and materials
Particle board panels 10 mm thick, or 3 mm plywood, wooden moldings 30 X 20 mm, wall plugs for frames, drill, screws or nails, screwdriver, level, plumb line and a metal strip.
Knowing the difficulties � Covering the walls of an embedded closet gives a sensation of warmth, keeps out dust and protects clothing from getting dirty by rubbing up against walls that are painted or finished in plaster.
� Before buying materials and getting down to work, you must work out a design of the entire project, from installing the wood lining to where to place the modules, shelves, empty spaces and drawers.
� Walls and ceilings of closets are often not done perfectly and can be off both horizontally and vertically. To find out what irregularities yours has, use a level, metal strip or plumb line.
� Work up a model of the extremes of the walls. To do so, with the plumb line mark a vertical line about 10 cm from each corner. Then measure several points to know the shape and total width of each of the panels you will use to cover the walls.
� Before you cut a panel, make sure you can fit into the closet. If it doesn't you will have to do the same job with several smaller panels.
Installing the moldings
� Set the moldings about 30 to 50 cm from each other. Place them in a vertical position. To overcome unevenness in the wall, use a wedge.
� Once you have confirmed the strip is straight, attach it to the wall using wall plugs for frames. All the moldings should be lined up. Use a metal rod if necessary.
� The moldings should be at least 2 cm thick. The minimum width is 3 cm.
� Work in this way on all the walls and ceiling, where you will also need to place molding if you want to line it.
Installing the panels
� Next, place the panel or panels on the moldings. The best way is to screw it into place, although you can also use nails.
� If one wall needs several panels, it is best to begin with the biggest one if they are of different sizes.
� The best way to start off is with the panels at the back of the closet, then the sides, then the ceiling.
� Keep in mind what kind of wood you are using - plywood, particleboard or solid wood - when choosing which kind of screw to use.
The finishes
� To compensate for unevenness at joints where boards meet, use couplers, beading, strips or moldings for joints.
� Measure the length of the space you want to cover, saw and cut. You can attach this wood with nails or adhesive.
� Depending on what material you have chosen, you can cover it with lacquer, paint or varnish.
Shelves or modules
� On these walls you can now set up all kinds of structures to store clothing, depending on the size of the closet.
� You can have modules custom-built, or use pre-fab pieces: shoe racks, metal drawers, bars to hang clothing.
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