Our Small Master IKEA Closet Reveal!

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How we overhauled our small closets in our master bedroom with an improvised IKEA closet system rigging Billy bookcases and baskets for a perfectly organized wardrobe.

And just like that our small master bedroom his & her closets are DONE!

It definitely didn’t go according to plan, but it totally worked out. And this project was worth every single second without a doubt.

Totally worth having to take three 2-hour round-trips to IKEA.

Totally worth having to squeeze every usable inch into our plans.

And totally worth sorting through our clothes and having an honest heart-to-heart with myself about the items that truly “spark joy”.

Yep. No regrets.

If you missed the progress from last time, we had to nix our idea of using the IKEA Pax system because the math in terms of the width and depth of our closets just wasn’t going to make sense.

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So we adapted 4 IKEA Billy bookcases and 1 super skinny Pax frame in the back of my tiny L-shaped closet to get the job done.

Since we couldn’t really use drawers in such a tight space, we opted for these baskets and these baskets to hold the smaller things instead, and so far, they’re working perfectly.

Okay, diving in…

Robert’s Closet:

Before:

After!

(I feel like I need to apologize for the grainy, badly lit, rainy-day photos, but my non-wide angle camera lens just wasn’t cutting it in these two tight spaces. So bare with me.)

Robert really didn’t need as much “small storage” as I did, and since we both already use dressers in our bedroom for T-shirts, underwear, and shorts, the baskets did the job.

His baskets are for dress socks (in the lower basket above his shoe shelves so they’re easily accessible), winter gear like hats and gloves, and seasonal items.

We used this pull-out rack for his ties and belts.

And hooks on the walls for his baseball caps he wears all the time.

Lauren’s Closet:

Before:

After!

In my baskets, I stored scarves, hats & gloves, purses/bags, and belts.

And in my two small Pax drawers, I stored swimsuits, swimsuit cover-ups, and shape-wear that I typically use on special occasions. (Spanx, baby!)

Building the bridged gap between the two bookcases as an improvised shoe cubby definitely paid off.

For my clothes, I organized each section by categories (sweaters/jackets, blouses/tops, pants, dresses), and then each category by sub-categories (sleeveless, short-sleeve, long-sleeve) and in order by gradient / ROYGBIV color (black, brown, white, pink, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple).

It’s SO much easier for me to put together outfits using that system now.

And even though we had a few comments saying we should use skinny velvet hangers instead of wooden ones, I have to say I really do love the wood hangers because they don’t get tangled up with each other as easily.

But that’s just our preference. To each their own.

Here’s the final cost breakdown:

Robert’s Closet-

• 1 – 31 1/2″ x 79 1/2″ Billy bookcase
• 1 – 15 3/4″ x 79 1/2″ Billy bookcase
• 1 – 31 1/2″ Billy extension
• 1 – 15 3/4″ Billy extension
• 8 – Skuggis hooks
• 2 – Pullout tie organizer racks
• 5 packs of Bumerang hangers
• 3 adjustable closet rods
• 1 – 1×4 MDF strip
• 3 whitewashed medium baskets
• 1 whitewashed medium rattan basket

Total for Robert’s closet: $427

Lauren’s Closet-

• 2 – 31 1/2″ x 79 1/2″ Billy bookcases
• 2 – 31 1/2″ Billy extensions
• 1 – 19 5/8″ x 22 7/8″ x 92 7/8″ Pax wardrobe frame
• 2 – 19 5/8″ Komplement drawers
• 2 – 19 5/8″ Komplement shelves
• 1 – Komplement pull-out multi-use hanger
• 4 – Skuggis hooks
• 4 – 1×4 MDF strips
• 4 adjustable closet rods
• 9 packs of Bumerang hangers
• 4 whitewashed medium baskets
• 6 whitewashed medium rattan baskets

Total for Lauren’s closet: $718.50

TOTAL for both closets combined: $1,145.50

I’m soooo happy this one is finally finished! And we can officially check this one off of our 2020 House Goals List. Woot!

If you missed a post previously, check out 20 Inspiring IKEA Pax Closet Makeovers, our DIY IKEA Closets Using IKEA Billy Bookcases Part 1, and The Ultimate Closet Clean-Out Cheat Sheet.