DIY The Custom Closet Of Your Dreams Using IKEA Products

No matter how big or small your closet is, there are always options for how to make it your own. While some individuals might have goals and budgets that allow them to entertain the idea of a fully personalized, designer closet, this reality is out of reach for the vast majority of people. Don't despair, however — just because you cannot afford a custom-designed closet doesn't mean you cannot customize with a modest budget. That's where everyone's favorite Swedish retailer — IKEA — comes in.

Loved for their affordable, streamlined, often modular furniture, IKEA has thousands of items you can purchase and assemble on your own. While there are plenty of products from IKEA that are meant specifically for your closet, there are also endless opportunities to repurpose other items within the closet for a striking and practical storage space, as well as an oasis for prepping for the day. Among the items that you can put to use in your custom closet are the LACK wall shelf unit, the KALLAX cubby system, the SCRUVBY sideboard, and the JONAXEL wire storage systems — each with their own strengths and abilities.

If you like to keep certain items on display where you can easily see and grab what you need, the LACK Wall Shelf Unit ($99.99) offers an unexpected solution to this need. Whether you are a shoe, hat, or handbag lover or collector, any and all of these items can be organized in an effective and aesthetically pleasing manner. This shelf unit comes in white and black-brown, giving you versatile options for your custom closet. You can also choose to hang the shelf horizontally or vertically, depending on your space and needs. Either way, the shelf provides ample weight capacity, making it a wonderful addition to any closet. 

Customers also give this item their stamp of approval, with a 4.8-star average overall. One customer writes, "From an economic point of view, this is a wonderful value proposition. To assemble it requires little skill and is rapid. The finished product is highly aesthetic and a delightful addition to a home. Above all else, it is highly functional and very effective."

If your closet has the space for it and you like working with cubby storage, you can easily repurpose any one of the many IKEA KALLAX configurations for efficient custom versatility. The KALLAX cubbies come in a vast number of layouts, from a four-cubby system that can be situated vertically or horizontally. KALLAX Shelf Unit ($49.99) can be a wonderful off-the-ground cubby setup, as it can be securely mounted to the wall, leaving the top available as a display surface to house jewelry or accessories in your custom closet. Customers love this item, with one writing: "KALLAX shelving and its inserts are attractive, versatile, and space-efficient, easily expandable and uniquely designed to fit perfectly with other units to fill all your storage requirements."

Perhaps your closet has even more disposable space — in that case, consider purchasing one of the more sizable KALLAX units, which can take up to an entire wall, granting you unparalleled closet storage. You can even pair it with KALLAX Drawer Inserts ($15) or Cabinet Inserts ($10) that provide a little bit of privacy as to what the cubbies contain. Create a unique storage space that can hold everything from clothing and accessories to shoes or odds and ends that inevitably end up in your closet.

While admittedly not intended for use in a closet, the sideboard offers an unlikely dream come true for anyone wanting a combination solution for closet storage. This SKRUVBY Sideboard ($149) is also highly aesthetic, offering a white or dark blue color scheme with a natural wood top. The layout of the piece, which features two large cabinet doors, a small drawer, and three open shelves, provides extreme versatility. Use the cabinet portion to hold bins of scarves or hats and the shelving section to keep pieces that need to be easy to view and access. The drawer makes the perfect location for jewelry or even a makeup station (pair the SCRUVBY sideboard with a mirror above it and a streamlined stool, which will provide you with an excellent makeshift station for getting ready each morning. 

Customers who have purchased this sideboard love the appearance of the piece and the quality that it delivers, giving it a 4.8-star average. One buyer writes, "Love this piece. Functional, affordable and decorative. Color provides just the right accent. Easy to assemble. Easy to purchase at IKEA. We loved it so much, we purchased additional pieces."

While it's obviously not as pretty as the SCRUVBY, the JONAXEL is an ideal solution for tight-fitting spaces within closets, as the wire pull-out shelves make it easy to access the contents. You'll also benefit from the wire shelving, which provides plenty of healthy airflow for things like shoes that need ventilation in order to stay fresh. You can just as easily use it to store purses, satchels, or scarves, making it easy to see what is inside each container. There are a number of configurations for this wire storage unit, meaning you can easily purchase more than one, whether you want multiple for yourself or if you share the closet with a partner who wants their own.

The JONAXEL Storage Combination ($54.99) offers six wide pull-out wire shelf compartments and has quite a positive reputation amongst buyers. Customers appreciate that the piece is easy to assemble and provides a good amount of storage. One review writes, "It gave my closet space the organization it needed. Drawers fit plenty of clothes." You can also find other configurations of the wire unit that come with fewer or narrower compartments, making it easier to fit into tiny spaces.

Although a custom, designer closet might not be in everyone's grasp, IKEA's selection of products makes it easier than ever to build your own dream-level closet.