When winter arrives in Minnesota, it brings an avalanche of gear: coats, boots, snow pants, hats, mittens, scarves and more. Finding a way to store and organize the winter necessities is essential to getting through these long winter months. The Family Handyman came to the rescue with these easy DIY mudroom lockers. Read on for step-by-step instructions, and visit our Minneapolis equipment rental catalog for all the tools you need to finish this project.
Buy the Doors
The mudroom lockers are made easier by using premade bifold closet doors. Use louvered doors for ventilation of wet boots and mittens. Since the doors come in pairs, plan to build closets in sets of two. The dimensions of the doors will also determine the size of the closets you build.
Build the Closet Exterior
Cut plywood to the appropriate size and assemble with trim-head screws. Make sure that the opening is 1/4 inch wider and taller than the door. Take diagonal corner to corner measurements to ensure that the box is square, then attach the back. Use wood glue to cover the front edges of the closet box with screen molding.
Install Shelves
Building slatted shelves instead of solid plywood will help with ventilation of wet shoes and clothing. Use wood scraps to get an even space between slats. To find the proper shelf heights, stand the closet up and mark shelf locations based on the gear that will go on each (i.e. tall boots, backpacks, etc.).
Mount Hinges and Hardware
Remove the hinges from your closet doors and reinstall them based on the direction you want the doors to open.
Install Closets
Remove the doors, fasten the locker boxes together, and attach them to the wall. Then reattach the doors, and you’re done!
Ready to get started on your DIY mudroom lockers? Broadway Rental has the saws, drills and tools to help you get your mudroom lockers built and installed in no time. Not sure what equipment you need? Give our Minneapolis tool rental experts a call. They’ll help you get started, and our affordable equipment rental prices will let you get the job done quickly and easily.
