Every project used to start the same way: ten minutes hunting for the tool I needed. The fix wasn't more storage — it was visible, movable storage. A French-cleat wall does exactly that.
Why cleats
A cleat wall is a series of 45° battens screwed across the wall. Every holder hangs on them and slides anywhere along the row. Rearrange the wall in seconds, no re-drilling.
The build
- 18mm ply, ripped into 90mm strips with the edge cut at 45°.
- Screwed into studs, spaced a hand's width apart.
- Holders cut from offcuts — each with its own matching cleat on the back.
What changed
The tools I reach for most sit at eye level. Everything has a shadow, so a gap tells me what's missing before I leave for a job. It's the Sort principle made physical.