How to Frame-up Walls to Build a Corner Closet

Determine the area you want your closet to cover. The closet walls need to connect to the studs in the walls. Use a stud finder to mark the studs, and measure the length of each wall. Measure the height of the ceiling and then subtract 4 inches to determine how tall to cut your height pieces for your wall frame. Subtract the difference of the doorframe from the ceiling height, and then 4 inches to determine the height for your door frame pieces.

Cut your 2-by-4s for the project. You need two pieces that are the length of each wall of your closet. The number of height pieces will be enough for each end of the frame, and then 18 inches apart along the walls. Cut a piece the length of your door frame, and four short pieces for in between the top of the door frame and the ceiling.

Build your first wall frame by laying out the wood. The 2-by-4s for the top and bottom will lay flat against the ceiling. Use two nails to nail each of the height pieces into the base of the floor 2-by-4 18 inches apart. Then use two nails per stud as you attach the top of the frame to the studs. The frame must be square when you finish.

Create the frame for the wall with the door. Lay out the wood for the wall. Nail the outside two height pieces to the floor and ceiling pieces. Nail the height pieces into the floor piece 18 inches apart leaving a space where the door frame will go. Install a 2-by-4 on both sides of the door frame. Then create the frame for the top of door by nailing in the piece the length of the doorframe, and attaching it to the studs at the correct height. Nail in the four short pieces you cut to go between the top of the door and the ceiling.

Install the walls by nailing the frames into place. Use a nail on either side of each stud as you nail the completed wall frames into the floor and then the ceiling joust. The walls should be nailed into the stud behind the drywall, with a nail every 12 to 18 inches from floor to ceiling. You do not need to remove the drywall to do this.

Hang the drywall for the closet walls. Screws help the drywall stay in place better. Use drywall compound and tape to fill in the seams of the drywall. Sand the dried compound then paint the closet. Install the door by nailing the ready-made frame into the space you framed in the wall. The nails should be between 12 to 18 inches apart.