Check out our final reveal and product sources.
Our closet had been neglected for far too long and was in desperate need of a refresh. I envisioned a Pinterest-worthy closet that was both functional and chic. However, I quickly realized that custom cabinetry was insanely expensive and too intensive to DIY. As a compromise, we decided to hack Ikea cabinetry to achieve the custom look. To do this, we refreshed the flooring, added baseboards, framing, painted everything, installed in-cabinet lighting, and added wallpaper for the final touch.
Closet organization is detail-oriented and requires careful planning to ensure your dream closet remains organized long after it’s initially set up. Here’s how we tackled our transformation.
The transformation
We went from this…
to this….
How we did it
1. Planning for the space
We started by sorting our closet items into specific categories: work shirts, casual tees, jeans, and formal trousers. We noted down requirements like a separate space for special occasion wear, a storage area for off-season clothing, and accessories.
We then used the Ikea PAX planner for my design, which you can view by clicking the link. Even if you’re not buying Ikea closets, this planner provides excellent visualization and accurate measurements for the space. We added accessories as per our requirements we narrowed down to.
2. Preparing the space
To achieve the high-end look, we decided to replace our carpet flooring with hardwood floors. We narrowed down on laying the wooden floors in a chevron pattern. Next, ripped off our carpet and the base molding to ensure our cabinets lined up perfectly.
Here’s a detailed post for the flooring incase you want to DIY.
Check out my flooring videos : Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7
3. Planning for lighting
Since we planned to have in-cabinet lighting, we had to figure out the cabling and plug points. Our closet didn’t have any existing plug points, but fortunately, one of the closet walls was shared with our laundry room. This allowed us to pull the necessary wiring from there to set up the in-cabinet lighting. With the power turned off we removed the plug and used the additional space in the plug to accommodate extra white, black, and neutral wires. Next, we made a hole in the wall to pass the additional wiring through.
4. Installing cabinets
We assembled the pax as per the instructions. We then secured them to the wall. The space at the top of the cabinets will be closed out with wooden trims.
Link to my cabinet installation videos : Day 9
5. Painting the cabinets
I had ordered the grey draws from Ikea, however the cabinets were not available in the color I wanted. After waiting for almost three months, we decided to order the white cabinets and paint them in a wood tone. We then used a primer and then colored the cabinets in a wood tone.
Head over to see our painting videos : Day 10
6. Adding draws and accessories
Once the painting was done, we installed the draws, hanging rods, screwed the supports for the cabinets to make them sturdy.
7. Adding the in-cabinet lighting
We extended the cable we pulled from the laundry room to power the lighting. We used in-cabinet lighting from Ikea which automatically turns on and off and allows for wireless brightness adjustment. We installed the lighting on the frame, ensuring seamless integration into our closet design.
See our lighting video : Day 11
8. Adding trims and finishing
Thought this was done for a well-rounded finish, this was the work that took the longest than all other steps!
To achieve a custom built-in look and conceal all the wiring, we added trims around the cabinets. We started by nailing a long piece of trim at the bottom and then cutting it to the width of each cabinet, filling the gaps with putty for a well rounded finish. We also added trims to the front and used additional trims at the top to hide the wiring. We had to hide our vent but also find a way for a bit of air circulation. To address this we created a custom trim with cutouts for air circulation.
9. Installing the wallpaper
The swans wallpaper, the popular wallpaper with its striking pattern that has been on my wishlist for a long time, and I finally found it a place in our closet. Honestly, I was quite torn about how to position the swans, but after much deliberation, I decided to arrange them as if they were flying towards my dresser. I think it turned out beautifully and suits the space perfectly.
The final look
