Hobby Spaces

Two homeowners create functional and colorful storage areas.


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Almost every hobby or activity comes with a range of equipment and supplies. Although these two homeowners’ interests are different, their needs for organization are the same. Read on to see how two simple makeovers create attractive hobby spaces.


Recreation Station

This on-the-go young family enjoys a variety of activities including golfing, football, and camping. They needed a centralized location where they could store all of their sporting equipment. Luckily, they found just the right spot in the garage. The family organized the space by each activity, painted the surrounding walls in a neutral gray, and added interlocking floor tiles to define the space and give extra cushion underfoot.

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Good To Know

You can cut foam floor tiles using a utility knife to fit perfectly in your space.

The doors of one cabinet were removed for visible, easily accessible storage. Flexible bungee cords keep balls secured inside the cabinet. To do this, first drill holes in the middle shelf and in the bottom of the cabinet. Then knot the cords to create the desired length, and hook them through the holes.

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The homeowners installed track systems with organizational accessories and painted the wall between the two cabinets a vibrant red to make items stand out. To create mobile storage on the floor, casters were attached to two durable galvanized storage bins using epoxy. A black wire shelf above the track system holds bags and seasonal items.

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The track system includes a variety of hooks that hold everything from tennis rackets to a scooter. Baskets and bins contain small items, such as golf tees and gloves.

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Good To Know

Gladiator tracks can be cut with a hacksaw to fit in tight spaces.


Craft Closet

A connoisseur of all things crafty, this homeowner enjoys projects such as gift-wrapping and table decorating. She had a dedicated closet for her supplies, but it lacked shelving and hanging storage to help keep her organized.

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The homeowner brightened the space by applying white paint to the closet and to the new wooden shelves, which are half of the depth of the closet. She designed the lower shelf to accommodate cans of remnant paint that she uses for quick touch-ups. Baskets and bins below keep items neatly stored away.

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Peg-board and hooks at the back of the closet organize essentials such as tape, ribbons, and paintbrushes. Curtain clip rings on the preexisting rod display paint chips, inspiration pieces, and shopping lists.

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To make the most of her small space, the homeowner took advantage of the closet door and devised a solution for hanging loose wrapping and tissue paper. A small work surface also was installed on the door and easily folds away when not in use.

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Make It: Hanging Rods

Step 1: Cut three dowel rods to fit the center panel of your door.

Step 2: Using a drill/driver, attach curtain finials to both ends of each dowel rod.

Step 3: Spray-paint the completed rods with your desired color. Allow to dry.

Step 4: Measure and mark the spot on the door for each curtain bracket. Use the included hardware to attach the brackets, and place a rod inside the cup of each bracket.

Make It: Folding Work Surface

Step 1: Cut a plywood sheet to the desired size of the work surface. We cut a 24- x 24-inch sheet to 18 x 24 inches. (A Lowe’s employee in the lumber department can cut the wood for you.) Sand the edges of the board, and wipe clean.

Step 2: Sand, prime, and paint the board the same color as the door. Allow to dry.

Step 3: Place the board facedown on a flat surface. For the hinges, first measure and mark 1 inch in from each end on one of the long edges. Attach the hinges at these marks using the included hardware. Turn the board face up, and position it perpendicular to the door at your desired location. Secure the other side of each hinge to the door, allowing the board to fold down flat against the door.

Step 4: Screw a cup hook at each front corner of the board. Use a chain cutter to cut two pieces of chain approximately 18 inches long. Attach the chain to the cup hooks, and pull the board up to your desired level. Mark two spots where the chain meets the door, and attach cup hooks at these marks. (Our cup hooks are approximately 16 inches above the board.)

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Project Details

Recreation Station

Lowe’s List

Skill Level: Intermediate
Rough cost estimate: $655*
Storage: $505
Flooring: $90
Paint: $60
Rough time estimate: 2 days*
Storage
  • utility cabinets (Black & Decker, #90990)
  • wire shelf (HyLoft, black, set of two, #175006)
  • track system (Gladiator; GearTrack channels, white, #182183; end caps, gray, #27461; GearTrack hardware, white, #27954; small-item bins, gray, #155360; small-item hooks, black, #160115; 18-inch wire basket, black, #129718; 24-inch mesh basket, gray, #129717)
  • galvanized utility bins (#66661)
  • industrial casters (2 1/2-inch, #146886)
  • metal/concrete epoxy (#40301)
  • flat bungee straps (48-inch, #99205)
FLOORING
  • foam linking mats (#295099)
PAINT
  • accent paint (Valspar Signature Colors, Waverly Home Classics, Richly Red WV36015, semi-gloss)
  • wall paint (Valspar Ultra Premium, Cathedral Stone 4003-2A, semi-gloss)

*Does not include labor costs or applicable taxes, which vary by market.

 

Craft Closet

Skill level: Intermediate
Rough cost estimate: $235*
Folding work surface: $20
Hanging rods: $60
Shelving: $35
Peg-board wall: $30
Paint $25
Accessories $65
Rough time estimate: 1 weekend
FOLDING WORK SURFACE
  • 1 sheet of plywood, 1- x 24- x 24-inch**
  • 3-inch hinges (#196352, #22452)
  • 2 packages of (1 1/4-inch) white cup hooks**>
  • #31 cathedral chain (white, #45375)
HANGING RODS
  • 3 wooden bracket sets (allen + roth, white, #275050)
  • 3 wooden finial sets (allen + roth, white, #301338)
  • 3 dowels (#19425)
SHELVING
  • 2 sets of shelf brackets (#62449)
  • 1 board, 1 x 6 x 10**
PEG-BOARD WALL
  • 1 peg-board sheet (4- x 8-foot, white, #15484)
  • peg-board hook set (47-piece, #267954)
  • 1 package of (4 x 1/2-inch) wood screws
PAINT
  • paint (Valspar Signature Colors, Eddie Bauer Home, Lakeside Cottage, Oyster EB12-4, semi-gloss)
  • primer (Valspar, #165217)
  • spray paint (Valspar, Porcelain, #282281)
ACCESSORIES
  • storage bins (bronze; 14-gallon, #44891; 18-gallon, #44894)
  • paint cans (1-quart, #27318)
  • wooden drapery rings with clips (white, #275046)

*Does not include labor costs or applicable taxes, which vary by market, or the cost of tools.

**Availability varies by market.

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