photography: Robbie Caponetto use a curtain to hide whatever you want out of sight. (We mounted fabric on a café rod.)

Start by picking up about 6 yards of fabric that you love. We used carpet tape to hold the fabric in place at the edges.

Trim pieces of fabric to fit each segment you're covering, cut carpet tape for the edges, work out wrinkles, and tack down the fabric every 6 to 8 inches for extra reinforcement. The pom-pom fringe adds charm and visual interest to the edges of each shelf.

Blend this new piece in to the room by changing the pulls to match the ones on your cabinets.

photography: Robbie Caponetto Hang bananas so they’ll last longer. Grab a $2 hook like we did and keep the healthy snack handy.

Start by painting the interior walls of your armoire a fresh color that coordinates with the surroundings. This is a great place to use an accent color that seemed too bold for the whole room.

Use the old hanging rod (up high in the armoire) to display towels, reading material, and anything you want to store that hangs easily.

Give style to the shelf edge by tacking on ribbon trim with antique brass nailheads. For other personal touches, swap out the drawer pulls and hang a towel bar on the inside of the door you prop open. Gather up all the items you need to store and place them in baskets, jars, or neat stacks inside the armoire. This storage solution will outshine your standard-issue linen closet.