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How to Convert a Spare Closet into a Wine Cellar

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The Ideal Closet

Wine cellars provide optimal conditions for storing wine so that it's always at its best when you pop a bottle open. While wine cellars are generally features in large houses that have space to spare, they're becoming more common in smaller homes, too. That's because you can turn almost any room into a wine cellar, including a closet.

The ideal closet to use as a wine cellar is one that shares all of its walls with the interior of your home. That's because this positioning limits temperature fluctuations and ensures that your wine stays at a consistent temperature. You can also choose a closet on a side of the house that doesn't get direct sunlight or has shade and cover coming from trees outside.

<p>Lastly, choose a closet in a low-traffic area of the house and away from vibrations, such as from the washing machine. Even the slightest vibrations can disturb the aging process of the delicate wines in your collection.

Temperature and Humidity

Temperature and humidity are the most important factors to consider with wine storage. Fortunately, a closet is a small space, so regulating both of these factors isn't as difficult as it is in a much larger space. Insulating a small closet and sealing off gaps and leaks helps maintain a constant temperature. Refrigeration paired with insulation are often necessary for larger closets or closets that tend to be warmer.

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The recommended temperature for storing wine is between 53 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Certain types of wine may require cooler temperatures. This is the optimal range for most wines. Humidity levels are also important. If they're too low, the corks dry out and allow air inside the bottles. If they're too high, mold can grow.

Replace standard closet doors with ones that seal and insulate the space. French doors have an elegant look, while glass panels let you view the collection without opening the doors. If the closet is too small to justify refrigerating the entire space, consider placing a wine cooler refrigerator in the closet to store your collection.

Light

Light is the next biggest enemy of your wine collection. Even in the right temperature conditions, UV rays from the sun and other light sources can damage your wine. Additionally, light can cause the inks on wine labels to fade away, making it difficult to determine what's in the bottle. Many wines are in dark bottles to protect them from UV damage. No matter how dark the wine bottle is, it's not enough to keep all of the light from reaching the wine inside.

That doesn't mean that you have to keep your wine in complete darkness all the time. Instead, keep the light levels low to limit UV exposure. Rather than installing halogen or fluorescent lights that can affect the temperature of your closet wine cellar, opt for low-heat LED bulbs. These lights produce much less heat and are also cost effective, saving you money in the long run.

Shelving

With all of the environmental factors taken care of, you can install shelves and racks to store the bottles. Plywood shelves are durable and strong enough to support the heavy weight of several bottles of wine. Be sure your bottles have enough space between them to keep them from bumping into one another.

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You can hire professionals to install custom racks and shelving in your closet if you're not feeling handy. Alternatively, you can place a freestanding wine rack inside your closet or repurpose old wine crates into storage. Whichever option you choose, make sure that your shelves can accommodate bottles of multiple sizes and shapes. It's also beneficial to make the racks adjustable so they work with your future wine-storage needs.

When storing wine, always lay the bottles down horizontally. While they might look nice standing up on display, this position isn't ideal for long-term storage. Storing them lying down keeps the corks moist and ensures there are tight seals that allow your wine to age properly.