What Your DIY Walk-In Closet Needs For Ultimate Storage & Organization

Does your dream board include a walk-in closet that's a tranquil oasis of carefully stored and organized clothes and accessories, while your current closet setup saddens and frustrates you every day? You can achieve the walk-in closet of your dreams. It will take work and effort, but walk-in closet organization is possible. You'll need to clean out your closet and assess the available space. Elements like shelving, cabinets, islands, boxes, and hangers can help you organize your space.

Begin by reviewing how much it costs to build a closet from scratch. Depending on your closet size and your level of customization, the cost of your DIY walk-in closet upgrade could range between $100 and $2000. Figure out a budget appropriate for your income and project goals. If necessary, you can remodel your closet in stages. When you have determined your budget, begin your closet remodel by removing everything from your closet. Decide what to keep, donate, or discard. When you know what you want to keep, you can determine your storage and organization needs.

Measure your closet when the space is empty. Create a simple map of the space, noting height and width, outlets, existing fixtures, baseboards, crown molding, and any unusual corners, windows, or slanted ceilings. You can create a blueprint on paper or use a space-planning app on mobile or desktop. Knowing your budget and mapping your space will help you as you move on to selecting the ultimate storage, organization, and decor products for your walk-in closet.

Select products for your closet based on what you wear most days and need within easy reach. After that, consider items you wear less often and the ideal way to store and organize them. Do you need garment bags for formal clothing, or do you have vintage purses, pumps, sneakers, or cowboy hats? There are dedicated products for nearly all garments and accessories. Personalize your closet with the best ways to organize all different kinds of clothing.

Organized closets typically have shelves for folded clothes, shoes, or accessories, closet poles for hanging garments, and closed bags, boxes, or cabinets for long-term storage. The DIY closet shelves to make the most of your storage space include wire and solid shelving. Using wire shelving, you can see your garments easily, and wire shelves allow for airflow to prevent mildew and pests. These shelves are relatively simple to install and less expensive than hardwood. Wire shelves have drawbacks: small items or spiked heels can slip through, and items without flat bases or with feet (for example, a classic Hermès Birkin bag) may fall over or get caught.

Flat wood or wood-look shelves are a stable base to store most items. However, you should rotate clothing stored on wood shelves to ensure airflow. For clothes stored on hangers, install closet poles on a single level for long garments or two levels for shirts or children's clothing.

High-end decor like gilded trims, glass cabinet knobs, and rich paint colors can elevate DIY closets without destroying your budget. Matching hangers are a simple touch to organize your DIY walk-in closet and make it look classy; you can even match them to your wall color. Coordinate fabrics, metal, and wood finishes when adding storage options like dust bags for purses, cap racks, jewelry, watch boxes, and toy chests. Remember to use your corners and vertical space for organizing. For instance, a stuffed toy hammock or a vertical rack for balls and sporting goods are great for kids' closets. Space permitting, consider adding a full-length mirror to review your outfits, a vanity, an island for folding clothes and additional storage, and a comfortable chair to put on shoes or sit and relax.

Add lighting strong enough to see clearly in all corners of the closet and know if a shoe is black or navy. Celebrities may have chandeliers in their closets for a luxurious accent, but they also have task lighting; consider overhead spotlights, recessed lighting, lighted cabinets, and lamps. Choose wood, laminate, or tile flooring for your closet and then washable rugs to keep bare feet warm. Flooring that you can clean thoroughly avoids the odors, mildew, and dust that can collect in carpets and rugs. Though it will require time and money, an organized walk-in closet will increase your quality of life and your home's value.