There are many styles and brands of wire organizers. Basically, all systems are comprised of wire shelves and supports that can be screwed together quickly and easily. Some include baskets, drawers and clothing bars. Wire organizers work all over the house, with closet organizers for the bedroom, soda can holders for the kitchen, yard equipment and tool holders for the garage and adjustable-height shelves that go anywhere.
Step 1
Mark the location of the studs on the wall. The easiest way to do this is with a stud finder. You can also knock on the wall with your knuckles and listen for spots where the wall no longer sounds hollow. Once you've located the first stud, measure to find the rest the center of one stud will be 16 or 24 inches from the center of the neighboring studs.
Step 2
Install the hang track. In this system, shelf standards are attached to a piece called a hang track, which runs parallel to the ceiling and screws into the studs. While the hang track can be hung at any height, running it across the top of the wall is recommended. Screw it into the top plate (a piece of framing that runs the length of the wall, extending about 1-1/2 inches below the ceiling). Screw into the plate through the middle of the track with a #12 pan-head screw, or as directed by the manufacturer.
Step 3
Make certain the hang track is level before driving the rest of the screws. If the ceiling is out of level, it may interfere with leveling the track. If so, drop the entire track 1/2 inch and reinstall.
Step 4
Hang the shelf standards from the track. Generally speaking, the standards should be no more than 24 inches apart, though manufacturer's recommendations may vary. Wherever possible, put each standard directly over a stud so you can screw directly into it. Verify that the standard is plumb and draw a line along it before screwing it in place. Screw it in place along the line, using the screws the manufacturer recommends.
Use toggle bolts if there's no stud behind the standard. If you're driving screws into a spot without a stud behind it, you'll need to use the appropriate size toggle bolt. Drill a hole just wide enough for the folded nut to fit through. Put the nut and bolt on the standard. Fold the wings and slip the nut through the hole. Pull gently on the bolt as you tighten to keep the nut from spinning.
Step 5
Install the hanger bars. Once the standards are in place, the hanger bars are next. Put small arms on the back of the hanger into the slots in the standard, then push down until they snap in place. If you're planning on including baskets or other hanging elements to your shelves, make sure you've allowed enough space for them.
Step 6
Place the shelves on the hanger bars. Once you've made sure the shelves are firmly in place, put end caps on the exposed ends of each shelf.
Step 7
Install additional elements. If you wish to add a clothing bar, hang bar supports from the shelf. The design varies by maker and style. The bar supports in the system pictured slip through the space between the wires and lock in place.
Step 8
Hanging baskets can also be added. In most cases, simply clip to the wire shelf and, if desired, hang additional baskets below.
Step 9
Floor-based basket units provide another option. The baskets slide like drawers and usually hang on a wire frame that snaps together. Tap the frame together and slide the baskets into the runners.
Tips
If you need to shorten the length of your wire shelf, cut the ends with either bolt cutters or a hacksaw, rounding the desired length down to the next lower full inch. Make certain the cut wires extend far enough from the crosspiece to hold a plastic shelf end cap in order to avoid cuts and snags.
