In the area of do-it-yourself home projects, one of the last frontiers is the closet. The average price of a master-room closet renovation is $3,500, according to Closets, a trade magazine. In an article in AOL Money & Finance, the Association of Closet Storage Professionals says do-it-yourself closets represent a $2 billion industry that has grown by 25 percent every year for the past five years.

"Closet renovations are hot right now," said Pat Simpson, home improvement expert and host of HGTV's Before & After, Fix It Up! and Room to Improve. "However, many closet systems you see in magazines and on TV are out of the financial reach of most Americans. But you can create a beautiful cedar closet using do-it-yourself, easy-to-install cedar panels or planks for $150 to $360 for a standard-size closet."

Simpson is the spokesman for CedarSafe Natural Closet Liners, manufactured by Huntsville-based Giles & Kendall.

In the 17th century, cedar was used in linen rooms to repel moths. By the 19th century cedar closets were one of the hallmarks of an affluent American.

"Cedar repels moths, roaches, silverfish and mildew," said Simpson, an Alabama native reached by phone at his log home development in Tennessee. "It smells great and is safer than mothballs. Even in California, a cedar closet is a good place to store off-season clothes, blankets and family heirlooms such as bridal gowns. In Napa, especially, cedar would be a wonderful liner for a wine cellar or a cigar humidor room. Cedar repels moisture.

"What I like most about cedar is the way it smells," said Simpson. "My grandmother ... had a cedar chest where she stored her hand sewn quilts. Every time I smell cedar, it makes me think of her."

Home improvement projects can easily get out-of-hand; how skilled do you have to be to install a cedar closet?

"If you know which end of the hammer to use, you can do it," assured Simpson. "All you need is a hammer, nails, a level and a saw. For molding, you'd need a speed square and a miter saw."

To plan your cedar closet, you should first decide if you need planks or panels.

"Both products are made of Eastern Red cedar," said Simpson. "They use every part of the tree. What they can't use in the planks, they chip, glue and laminate into panels. If you have a storage closet, in which you want cedar but it doesn't need to look polished, the panels would work for you."

The panels assemble in a matter of hours and a standard sized closet would cost approximately $150.

For a more finished appearance, cedar planks are the ticket. For a 180 square foot closet, expect to pay approximately $360.

The company's Web site provides a calculator for how much product you will need and has both printed and video instructions for installing cedar planks or panels. The planks and panels can be attached to the walls with nails or adhesive.

"I actually use both nails and adhesive," said Simpson. "I installed two cedar closets in my home, both planked and panels."

Simpson says cedar closets can be rejuvenated over the years by a simple light sanding.

"The cedar smell comes back right away."

Cedar closet kits are available locally at Central Valley Builders in Napa. For further information and installation instructions, visit www.cedarsafeclosets.com.