To set up a canvas shelf system in your closet, empty it so that you can sort everything as it goes back in. Position the shelves so they can be easily accessed, and note any weight limits on the shelves. Some models also come with plastic shelves that can be inserted for extra support.

The mounting flap should then be wrapped over the rod in your closet, from front to back. Your canvas shelves probably have Velcro closures, and all you have to do is press the hook and loop sides together and they will be secure.

Some canvas shelves have plastic inner shelves that can be removed and cleaned. If the mounting system that you are using isn't heavy enough for the weight of the items you are storing, you can add extra hook and loop closures to the flap, and this will add extra support. Some of the smaller shelves you may find will use a metal hook over the rod, rather than Velcro.

There is another type of canvas storage that is quite different from closet organization, and this involves the racks used to protect paintings on canvas while they dry. These canvas shelves give you a way to store finished paintings as well, and this can keep them out of your studio, if it's cluttered and you're worried about damage to the painting. You can easily build a rack of this type with lumber, and it can then be kept in an environment where the climate is controlled, for best drying.

You will first need to determine how long you need your rack to be. This will depend on the room you'll be storing paintings in, as well as how many canvases you want to keep on each rack. You can accumulate many canvases over the course of time, and you'll want them to be safely stored. All in all, bigger is better, as long as your room is big enough for the racks.

Next, decide how wide and tall the rack needs to be, based on the size of canvas you normally paint on. Give your rack ample width and height so that it can protect larger canvases that are four feet or more in height and width.

Cut 2x4 lumber to the measurements of length and width that you have determined you will need. The bottom rectangle will lay on the floor, and the rack's back will lean on your wall, with the front open to put canvases inside. Secure the rest of the lumber pieces together, so that you will have a safe place for your canvas storage.