$100 Room Challenge | Week 5: Tool Closet Reveal

This reveal is probably, most likely more satisfying to me than it is to you. After living with a mess for 2 years, I finally have a space I can work from with a clear mind. Don't get me wrong though, I'm still one of those people that can tell you where every single thing is in that mess - but it was not conducive to spurring on my creative juices. If you're this far in and have no idea what I'm talking about, head on over to Erin's site about why she created the $100 Room Challenge. I hate writing intros as much as you hate reading them, so let's do this.

Week 1: The Befores
Week 2: The Plans
Week 3: Empty Closet (and I Picked a Paint!)
Week 4: The Shelves are Built!

The best (and most satisfying) way to look at this reveal is a regular old side by side. You can't see the mauve pink paint, or the wallpaper covered shelves but trust me, it was there in all its 70's glory.

   

I kept the original braces since they were structurally fine and I would have just replaced them with the same thing anyways. I saved some on the budget and just painted them the same color as the wall.  

   

This before photo you can really see that original paint color shine through. I know it was pink, but I couldn't look at it and not think of it being a really old, really dirty white. A few coats of Behr Snow Fall made it feel brand new.

   

A few people noticed I took the door off last week to install the shelves. I didn't intend to keep it off permanently, it was just nice to have it out of the way as I went in and out to the saw. We're going to have kids one day so I didn't want to get used to having it off.

Painting and making the shelves took time, but the biggest thing I accomplished this round was cleaning / throwing out things. I'd say I threw out about 60% of the things I took out 4 weeks ago. Paint samples that had dried up, 16 (!!!) pretty much empty paint cans, and a million pieces of trash.

 The game changer in the organization of this closet was this tiny drawer plastic organizer. Thankfully Amazon data mined my information and showed me an ad of this ingenious organizer and I gratefully dished out $20. (And before you comment about data mining, know this IT girl loved her DM classes *insert monkey covering his eyes emoji*)

It has 6 big drawers and 20 smaller drawers. You can buy dividers for the big drawers if you'd rather have small drawers, but the big drawers were a plus for me. They hold my picture hanging hardware, extra scattered pieces, and some brackets. The small drawers hold screws (3 drawers sorted by length), nuts, washers, wire connectors, etc. I even had a whole row I couldn't fill.

Another cool feature of this organizer is it made with holes where you can mount it to the wall. This particular manufacturer also had a bunch of different configurations and sizes but this is the one that fit between the shelf heights. 

The organizer was shallow enough that I fit the few paint samples I didn't throw out behind it. Next to it, the stains and caulks.

After the master bedroom makeover, I had some pretty matte black hooks left over so in true $100 Room Challenge fashion, I found another use for them. One of my goals was to make enough space in this closet to store our broom and Swiffer Wet Jet. We have hardwood floors everywhere and tile/VCT everywhere else. We use the wet jet for all of it. It's quick, it's easy, and they make pads specifically for wood. I put the hooks up to keep them from falling over and it works like butter. Why butter? Because it is delicious and makes everything better. So do these hooks. Also because I'm writing this at 12am and that's what makes sense right now.

You guys know me and you know I have a sentimental something in almost every room. This tool closet was not exception. My dad gave me the tool box that his step dad used for years. I use the three drawers for my every day tools like screw drivers, wrenches, things I need in a hurry. It has a deep top hatch where I put tools I want to keep in the house but don't have to use often. It also has a key which is nice if I ever wanted to take it somewhere.

I used to have my entire bag of Ryobi tools sitting on the floor. They only saw action when I was doing a big(ish) project and really didn't need to be in the house - so out to the shed they went. It was actually harder than I thought it would be to put them out there. They gave me some weird comfort being inside, like I could tackle any project at any time. After a week though that feeling went away. I did keep my driver and all the bits in here since I use them regularly.

I also culled my paint spray supply. Yes, I still have two whole rows.

Boxes upon boxes of screws. If I was a screw I'd be a 2" construction screw. Don't ask me for the reasoning behind that. Maybe because they hold a lot of weight, probably just because I like them.

I kept the shelf at the very top with a half depth to store my paint cans. It's above the door jam so I had to leave enough space to get things up and down. Also on the top shelf is all the painting supplies that don't see the light of day that often.

Budget Used

$60 - Wood for shelves

$20 - Organizer

TOTAL USED: $80

Already Had

$30 - Behr paint

$4 - DAP caulk

$10 - Paint supplies

$6 - Hooks

Nail gun / nails

Total Already Had: $50

I have always used every cent of the $100 budget, but I came in $20 UNDER BUDGET this round. What twilight zone are we in?!

I love this challenge and all the participants that come back and the new ones who keep joining. If you've watched from the sidelines and want to participate next time, come back in September. Or even next January. You'll be amazed at what $100 can do and how it can improve your life.

   

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