Quick + Easy Storage Solution for Jackets and Shoes

SIMPLE STORAGE SOLUTION – turn a bookcase on its side, mount to the wall and add double hooks!

In our new house, I knew one of the first projects was to create a space in the garage for our kids to hang up their jackets and have one spot for all their shoes. I love the cubbies that they have at preschool but A) they’re super expensive and B) the extent of my handiness does not involve anything trickier than a screwdriver!

Since we live in Colorado, weather can be rainy, snowy or warm from one day to the next and I wanted enough hooks for each of the kids to have a winter jacket, raincoat, and one or two sweaters. Second, I needed enough space for them to put their shoes into bins so they’re always in one spot and they get into a routine of taking them off before going in the house and putting them on before jumping in the car. I know that if they have to go looking all over the house for jackets and shoes, I’m almost asking for a meltdown, which I gladly like to avoid.

I looked at several plans found on Pinterest that looked great and relatively easy but it’s simply wishful thinking. Neither my husband or I are handy with power tools. I searched Craigslist and found a preschool that was closing and selling their cubbies but for $200 each, they still weren’t big enough for three kids and heck, that’s too expensive!

As I was driving through our neighborhood, I noticed a garage sale that had a really tall bookcase. A light went off and $10 later, I had purchased what would soon be our new kid’s cubby storage unit. Say what?!

TIP: WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A BOOKCASE 
Make sure the shelves are solid and adhered to the sides of the bookcase. You can’t buy a bookcase that has moveable shelving because when you put it on its side, they’ll all fall down (unless of course the shelves are thick enough and made of real wood (none of that particle board stuff) and you’re going to screw in each shelf so it doesn’t move.)

CUSTOMIZE IT
The bookcase had some outdated decorative accents and molding on the top that I pried off with a pry bar and voila, a sturdy basic white bookcase. I may paint it and spruce it up down the road but we’re tackling all of our move-in projects right now so this will happen in time.

MOUNT IT
Since my husband was gone for the weekend to help hold it up while I adhered it to the wall, I found two crates that were sturdy and propped the bookcase on top while I screwed it into place. I made sure there was enough room for the kid’s shoe bins to slide under the bookcase once it was mounted and began screwing the framing and then the back of the bookcase to the wall with extra long screws. I mounted double hooks to the top of each cubby and also put two on the side of the cubby to hold backpacks.

After sliding the shoe bins underneath and adding a rug to the area, the kid’s garage cubby was done. I spent a total of 30 minutes on the project and $10.00. Totally worth it since the kids have the process down pat and always know where to find their coats and shoes!

TOTAL COST = $10.00

• $10 garage sale bookcase
• $0 hooks – we already had the double hooks but you can get them for $2.99 each at Target
• $0 baskets – we already had the baskets for shoes as well. You might already have some of your own not being used at your home but otherwise, you can buy inexpensive bins at Walmart, Target or IKEA for $7 – $10 each.

BUYING TIP
You might already have a bookcase in your house that can be repurposed, but if you don’t, start checking your local thrift store, search on craigslist or you may find something at a garage sale like I did. Don’t forget to negotiate! If the price is more than you want to spend, see how much you can get them to come down. You’d be surprised how much you can haggle a price down!