The closet next to our front door seemed like the obvious spot for coats when we first moved in. But our idea of a “coat closet” included more than just outerwear — cleaning supplies (vacuum, handheld vacuum, etc.), miscellaneous files and bags — so we soon realized the deeper closet under the stairs made more sense. It’s slightly closer to the garage, so it’s actually a more convenient place for daily coat access (although I’m not ready to admit summer’s over yet).
That left the shallow closet by the door without a clear purpose. The opposite of having a job: playing with toys. At least that’s the direction we chose.
It wasn’t so much about actively playing in that space as using it for storing toys. I’ll explain why we turned it into a toy closet in a moment, but first the how: the closet needed better shelving. We considered building fixed shelves like the existing one at the top, but wanted adjustable shelving so we could change shelf spacing as our needs evolve. After looking at options in stores, we settled on a Rubbermaid-style wall track system with wooden shelves rather than wire.
Installation was straightforward, but it does require care so the tracks stay straight and level. I used a laser level to mark drill spots so the tracks would line up and the shelves would sit evenly.
The hardware pack included anchors and screws, which simplified the job. I drilled a hole for each anchor, tapped them in, and then screwed the tracks securely into the wall.
When installing the second track I again confirmed it was level with the first. Once both tracks were mounted, I clipped the brackets in and rested the shelves on top. The closet was about an inch narrower than the 36″ stock shelves, so each shelf needed a quick rip on the table saw.
The shelving isn’t glamorous, but it was quick to install—about an hour—and it will mostly sit behind a closed door. Most importantly, it made the closet far more functional and gives us the flexibility to adjust shelf spacing depending on what we store. Cost breakdown:
- Four 12″ x 36″ shelves: $14
- Eight 12″ brackets: $28
- Two 48″ twin tracks: $13
- Two hardware packs: $4
- Total: $59
After the shelving was in place, Sherry primed and painted the existing blue shelf and baseboard in white. Once everything dried she organized and loaded the closet with toys.
Some readers might wonder: a toy closet in the foyer, and with items out of reach? Why do this? Clara is at an age where only a few favorite toys hold her attention for long. She can quickly blitz through a basket of cars, balls, puzzles, and games in minutes. We also own some materials that require supervision — paints, markers, play-doh — which we don’t keep fully accessible. That inspired the idea of a toy closet functioning like a toy library.
We call it a “toy library” because it works similarly to how library books feel different from the books she sees every day. Library books feel new and special, and they tend to hold her attention longer. So we kept a small selection of favorite toys in baskets in a few play areas, but the rest of the smaller, quickly dumped toys live in the closet. Because the closet is centrally located, it’s still convenient for us.
How the toy library works:
- Some favorite toys remain out in baskets, but if Clara wants something from the closet she asks us and we retrieve it for her.
- She can “check out” only one item at a time, so she must return one thing before taking another. This rule encourages her to clean up before requesting something new.
- We hope the system will remain useful as she grows. Both Sherry and I had closets in our childhoods stocked with board games and DVDs, so adjustable shelving should work well for older kids too.
We considered picture labels to help Clara since she can’t read yet, but because adults will be guiding the activity and retrieving most items while they remain out of her reach, we stuck with text labels for now. Sherry even repurposed a frame as a quick “menu” of what’s inside so she can suggest choices without opening every bin.
The toy library has been in use for several weeks and, after a testing period, it’s working better than expected. I worried a three-year-old wouldn’t adapt to a system, but Clara really enjoys the setup. It seems to improve her attention span and how long she plays with an activity — we’ve had extended marker coloring sessions lately — and it definitely helps reinforce cleaning up one activity before starting another.
Yes, we may be the family that greets guests with a basket of finger paints and an oversized dinosaur puzzle, but I’m proud of our little closet and the way it’s encouraging play, focus, and tidy habits. If you’re looking for more shelving inspiration, there are many DIY shelving ideas and projects available to browse for similar solutions.