The idea of having a well-organized closet is a common dream. Let’s take it a step further. Imagine waking up to find your way into a walk-in closet, picking out your outfit for the day with ease, and exiting this beautiful closet feeling luxurious.
It is because of this and a range of other reasons that people begin investing in expensive built-in wardrobes or attempt to renovate their existing closets to resemble a walk-in one. Not only does it increase space, but it looks and feels convenient and luxurious.
The problem that arises is that constructing a walk-in closet is pretty expensive. This is one of the main reasons, so many people choose not to get one. What if we told you that you could DIY one? If that sounds tempting, you’re in the right place.
Things to take into consideration:
Before you bring out the tools and begin construction, there are a few things you need to think of:
Budget
Although it is much easier to construct these closets on your own than pay large sums of money, you still need to check if you can afford to put one together. Be sure to read all the instructions and material lists before you leave the project unfinished midway.
Space
You need to make sure you have the space for a walk-in closet. It is relatively simple to create enough space, but you need to be sure you have enough or create it before you begin construction and it’s too late.
Storage needs:
A lot of times, people build walk-in closets, but they mostly remain bare. Other times, they seem to be overflowing. Be sure to adjust the size of your built-in wardrobe on the basis of your storage needs. If you mess up this measurement, your closet won’t look organized and aesthetic once you place items in it.
It’s time to get to the good stuff and take your first step to build your own built-in wardrobe!
How to build a walk-in closet:
Here is a step-by-step procedure to everything you need to know about building your own walk-in closet:
Choose and clear a space
This is a crucial step that will determine where you will walk to when you find your brand-new closet. Make sure the area does not have too many windows because this reduces shelf space. A square or rectangular area works best. If you don’t have a whole room to spare, you can always section off a part of a large room and begin building there.
Measure everything
You will need to start measuring the space required, the size of your shelves, the distance between each shelf, and so on. For example, if you plan on installing hanging items, you need to leave at least 1 inch of space between them. At this point, a measuring tape is your best friend. This is also the time to draw up a plan which is a general rule of thumb when it comes to construction of any kind. It is best if you do this now so that you don’t make any mistakes later. Creating a blueprint is standard practice to ensure that you produce exactly what you’re imagining.
Lay the foundation
Once the planning and measuring are complete, you begin the building stage. You must first start with the foundation of your built-in wardrobe. The woodwork needs to be taken care of first. Cut up different pieces based on the measurements of the walls that you made previously. Be sure to measure your wood twice at least to avoid any wastage of material. To put the drawer units together, you can make things easier by using dowels and glue. Use two dowels for the divider on either side. Drawer faces are simple too. Insert the drawers and drawer sides first, and then position the front in place with some tape. The tape will hold it up temporarily so that you can screw the face into place. Wooden buttons can cover up any holes, but you can always leave them if you like them.
Remember that if you plan to section off a part of your room, you may need to insert a false wall with wood, cardboard, or any other material that you deem fit. Once they are in place, you can continue the process of laying the foundation as usual.
Install the shelves
Once the basic setup is done, you can start installing shelves into the wall. You can use L-shaped steel pipes to make brackets for support. Place these brackets around 12 inches from the ground and at the top around 12 inches from the ceiling. You can locate the studs and mark the positions of each bracket to fix the brackets to the wall. After this, you can easily screw them in.
Now, you can use this area for hanging clothes. You can also insert drawers in the middle, as explained before. You can add doors to cover this area like a wardrobe or leave it open if you like.
Install the lights
Once all the shelves, drawers, and everything else are in place, you can watch your walk-in closet light up. To do so, you can use any form of lighting that you deem fit, but it is best if you pick something strong enough to light up the entire closet. If there are no lights preinstalled in the room, you can use LED strip lighting or common lamps. If you want to go the extra mile, you can get lights installed by an electrician as well.
Key takeaway
It may seem as if it is extremely difficult to construct your own built-in wardrobe, but if you take the time to sit down and draw up a plan, you will realize that it is much easier than you think. All you need to do is follow the steps carefully, and you’ll end up with a beautiful walk-in closet at a fraction of the price that you would pay an architect. So get started and create the walk-in closet of your dreams!
DIY Wardrobe:
- Blank Wood Plaques
- Portable Closet Wardrobe Storage Organizer
- Woodworking Multifunctional Ruler
- Clothes Organizers Dresser Drawer Organization
- Led lights for closets
- Adjustable Closet Shelf Storage Rack
