Walk-in Closet Remodel: Builder-Grade to Budget-Friendly & Beautiful in 5 Simple Steps
- DecorRefresh
- May 26
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 3
Tired of wrestling with hangers and wondering where that other shoe disappeared to? Me too. What started as a 8ft x 8ft builder-grade walk-in closet bursting at the seams quickly became a personal mission: turn chaos into calm without blowing the budget. To make more space in our closet, we considered donating items, adding chests of drawers, or installing additional shelves. In the end, we opted for a new flexible shelving system and chose IKEA's Boaxel, which we had successfully used before. So, whether you’re working with a small space or just a small budget, watch the fun video below and then read my simple tips to take you from overflowing to oh-so-organized.
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Step 1. Replace Existing Shelving with an Adjustable System
I used IKEA's easy-to-use Boaxel Planner to design each of the four walls in our new closet, and ordered everything online from IKEA. After moving all our clothes and belongings from the walk-in closet to a holding area, my hubby did the hard work of removing the existing shelves and installing the new ones. The Container Store offers a comparable and more customizable system, but the IKEA option is more budget-friendly. We paid around $1,500 for the entire shelving project.
You need to measure each wall precisely (height and length), and then head over to the Boaxel Planner to design each wall individually. As an example of the Boaxel planner tool, here is a link to the final design of the shelving wall with our shoes in the photo below. Also, you cans take a look at an overview diagram of our closet configuration (on graph paper) at the end of this post. If you are not able to install the shelving yourself, you can hire an IKEA 'Task Rabbit' professional to install the shelves for you. The new layout is more practical for both of us with his stuff mostly on one wall, and mine on the other three (lol)!
Below is a gallery of photos showing the builder-grade shelves before we installed the new ones, then each wall in the finished closet after we installed all the IKEA shelves and baskets, and then the same wall of shelves with clothes etc.! The closet looks a little different now as we've moved things around a bit and added a few extra shelves and baskets.
Step 2. Use Large Storage Containers to Store Seasonal Items
As you can see, from the photo below, I used almost every inch of wall space around this small closet! By using larger storage containers on the top shelves, I was able to store seasonal clothes and bedding, including larger quilts and blankets. The fabric storage containers are made of a breathable material and keep everything clean and dust-free. Whenever possible, I chose bins and baskets that were in the same color family, to minimize visual clutter. The only caveat about storing stuff on higher shelves, especially if you’re a petite person like me, is to have a sturdy step-ladder handy!
Product Sources: Collapsible Rigid Storage Boxes with Lid - Size 22"L X13"W X12.6"H Beige | Size 17.6”L X13.6”W X9.7"H Beige | Non Slip Sponge Padded Pants Hangers | IKEA Skubb Containers | IKEA Small Box with Lid
Step 3. Use Smaller Bins to Store Sweaters, Scarves, and Other Items
The 'shoe box' size containers you see in the photo below are from IKEA, but no longer available. However, IKEA always has new designs that are worth exploring. The slightly larger canvas baskets are from Walmart, and are really sturdy and attractive. I designed and put together some pretty labels for all my containers using the Avery web site. If you’re like me and forget where everything is, having labels on the baskets and boxes makes it so much easier to find things quickly.
Product Sources: Canvas Polyester Storage Basket Containers Handle (Natural)
Step 4. Master the Art of Folding Clothes to Maximize Space
Even with the addition of more shelves and new drawers, we still needed extra space to store our remaining clothes and miscellaneous items. I nearly decided to give a lot of it away! That's when I began to look into more creative methods for using our closet space more efficiently. Looking on Pinterest, I discovered new ways to fold t-shirts and jeans to take up less space, while still being able to see everything easily. Using the Boaxel mesh drawers to store t-shirts in a compact way was a huge space-saver, that then allowed me to accommodate additional clothes and shoes that had to be stored elsewhere initially.
Our master bathroom has a beautiful vanity but there isn't enough storage space to store all our bath towels. I prefer to have everything in one place as it makes it easier to wash and rotate for use. I designed our new shelving to accommodate all our bath towels in one area of the closet.
Step 5. Some More Budget-Friendly Closet Remodel Accessories
I really like the flexibility of being able to move shelves and baskets around. We did end up buying a few more baskets and shelves, and we might change the configuration going forward, but for now, the current arrangement suits us just fine. Learning to fold some things differently creates more space than one might imagine. Here are some more photos of how folding stuff and putting away in totes and baskets can save space, make things easier to find, and look beautiful all at the same time!
It's also surprising how tidy everything appears when you use a consistent set of hangers. Having a uniform set of hangers is essential for any walk-in closet remodel. I swapped out all the hangers for my dress pants and did the same for the rest of our clothing. Below, you can see a photo of the hangers I used for my dress pants.
Product Sources: Non Slip Sponge Padded Pants Hangers
We even managed to find enough room for a jewelry rack behind the wall. I find it very practical to have everything displayed on a rack like this, rather than in drawers or boxes. It also makes it much simpler to coordinate your outfit when all your accessories are close at hand and easy to view and access.
Product Sources: Jewelry Organizer
Walk-in Closet Detailed Layout
The image below shows my closet remodel configuration. The measurements of 23 ⅝" and 31 ½" are the IKEA shelf measurements. If you use the Boaxel planner, you will see the shelf size options and you can drag that to your plan. Please be aware that you need to leave at least half an inch at both ends of each set of shelves to fit the uprights. You may also need to design the whole thing on paper as shown below to make sure your configuration will fit your space. The graph paper is a free download from waterproofpaper.com using the 1/4 inch scale option.
Ready to take your closet from chaos to calm? Whether you’re tackling piles of shoes or just need better shelving, a budget-friendly closet remodel is totally doable—and totally worth it. Have any questions or want to share your own before-and-after? Drop a comment below or tag me on social media—I’d love to support you!
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