Cedar Closet Lining – The Best Value-For-Your-Money Closet Upgrade
Of all the closet organization projects you plan, creating a cedar-lined chest or cedar closet could be the most satisfying upgrade you invest in. The fresh smell of cedar when you open up your closet just gives you the subconscious sense that your clothes will be safe, whether you use your closet everyday, or you have a long-term storage room which only changes with the seasons, or even longer.
The beauty in cedar is its natural resistance to insects, especially moths. With a cedar-lined closet there will be no more need for toxic (and awful smelling) mothballs. One thing to remember though is that cedar will have to be lightly sanded periodically, in order to release it’s fragrance which is what maintains its bug deterrent factor. And one more thing to note is that moths like to lay their eggs on soil on wool and silk items … so to be completely sure that moths won’t be attracted to your wool or silk clothing, make sure it is clean before storing.
Ok, now that you know a little about how cedar closets work, how do you get one? Whether you are building a new closet, or already have one you want to face-lift, the process is essentially the same – line the closet with cedar. That’s all there is to it. You will want the closet itself (not the cedar) to be sealed as well as possible to keep the cedar aroma inside. Remember the cedar itself needs to remain unfinished so the aroma can escape. So no varnishing to make a nice shiny closet interior. You will completely negate the effect of your brand new (expensive) cedar closet.
Lining the closet is a pretty simple process, whether you have some basic tools and can tackle it yourself, or want to hire a contractor or handyman to install it for you. Tonge and groove cedar planks are the most common material – it is very quick to install and gives a nice tidy but rustic finish. There are a few companies that sell kits which are even easier to install. Search for ‘closet liner kits’ and you should find some options. Or just head out to your closest Rona or Home Depot and check out the closet aisle. Make sure you’ve taken some measurements before you go so you know how much material you need. (Don’t forget the ceiling if you want to maximize your cedar power).
You can also get sheets of cedar material, which might be a better option for large spaces – quicker to cover larger areas than with cedar planks. One of the most common is a 1/4″ particle board made with cedar chips. The sheets can be cut and either nailed or glued. Quick and easy. Again, perhaps a good option to save time on larger installations, but it could be a little trickier to work with in tight or uneven spaces. Ie, if you’re upgrading an older closet, especially in an older home, things might not be exactly square, and a nice finish would be trickier using the sheets as opposed to planks.
Whichever way you go, you’re bound to be happy with the end result. I think that lining a closet with cedar is one of the best value-for-your-money upgrades that you can do. Whether you have a huge walk-in or a tiny single door closet – when you open the door see and smell the cedar your closet just has an extra dimension that you can’t get with any amount of paint shelves or mirrors.