How To Transform A Small Spare Bedroom Into a Walk-In Closet/Dressing Room
I wasn’t planning on writing a post about this, but I had so many lovely comments after sharing some video of my new dressing room on Instagram Stories, along with several requests to see more, that I decided to share it here on my blog.
It was just over two years ago that I transformed my small, narrow spare bedroom, (it’s 13 feet long and 5 feet wide), into a walk-in closet. Since then, I have amassed more clothing, shoes and accessories and realised I needed more storage and hanging rails, a fact made more obvious when I overloaded a wall shelf which promptly came crashing down. I decided to add more hanging rails, another bookcase for my shoes, two chests of drawers plus storage boxes to help keep everything organised. Some of the furniture in there had moved with me from my previous home and was always rather bulky side for the size of the room so the pieces I chose to replace it are more streamlined and because it’s all white, it gives the illusion of making the room, which faces North and has only a very small window, look brighter and lighter too.
Clothing Rails
Along one of the longer walls, I have two rails, (Rigga from Ikea), side by side on which I have dresses, skirts and trousers. I have arranged them in colour order because it looks neater and is more pleasing to my eye.
Above this is an Ikea “Lack” floating shelf on which I have some of my handbags. I have two more identical shelves. They are neat and glossy so reflect light, again making the space appear brighter.
Bookcases for Displaying Shoes
Opposite these rails on the other longer wall, are two Ikea “Billy” bookcases. These are ideal because the shelves can be moved to accommodate shoes of different heights, so for example, I have ankle boots along the bottom two shelves of each and lower shoes above. Again, I have arranged them by colour for aesthetics and for ease of finding the appropriate pair.
Can you tell I love animal print shoes?
Picture Ledges for Clutch Bags and Nail Polishes
To the right of my shoes cases, (you can see it the photo above), is a narrow space between the end of the bookcase and the wall which was the perfect width for putting some picture ledges in to hold my clutch bags.
A longer length picture ledge is ideal for nail polishes.
Ikea Alex Drawers
Opposite the window along the short wall, (you can see just how narrow this room is), is a third Rigga rail, which holds my tops, above which is another Lack shelf and below which are storage boxes. In these I have things like bikinis, gloves and other small seasonal items. I have two identical chests of Ikea “Alex” drawers which hold allsorts, including jewellery, camera lenses, gym kit, suncare products and so on. I love the fact that there are five shallow and four deeper drawers, again, an excellent way of optimising storage space.
I hung a full-length mirror opposite the door which is of course incredibly useful, if only I could figure out how to take mirror selfies.
Everything I have mentioned is from Ikea. This isn’t a sponsored post, (sadly!), I just love the ranges they do. It’s simple to self-assemble and inexpensive. I was able to assemble most of the furniture myself, only the odd little bit needed an extra pair of hands, which my daughter willingly supplied.
I’m so pleased with the finished result. It’s neat and organised, it means I can see my clothes so nothing gets forgotten about at the back of the wardrobe and because I have maximised every bit if space, I feel that I have really made good use of what would be a tricky room to utilise otherwise.
Love Lizzy x
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You've made such good use of the space Lizzy. Your shoe collection looks wonderful! I have run out of space for clothes so I have to put clothes that aren't in season in the loft.
Thank you Gail. I do love being able to see all of my shoes!! I'm lucky to have the spare bedroom to utilise. It would be difficult to fit a single bed and a small chest so I'm glad to make it feel useful!!! xxxx
First that's a lorra animal print, young lady! Meow! I love it all. I am green with envy over your spare bedroom that is now a walk in closet. Mine is so small I have to constantly rotate stuff. I think I'll come live with you. xx
Yes, come live with me. I can borrow all of your sparkle then 😉 xxxx
This is so well planned and beautifully arranged,Lizzy. I remember being impressed when you first wrote about how you'd transformed this small bedroom a year or so ago … but now it really is perfect. Thanks for sharing your great ideas!
Hope you're having a good week.
Rosie
Thank you Rosie. Yes, it's evolved and is now exactly how I want it to be. I do love putting shelves up and rearranging things! I'm having a lovely week thank you- hope you are too xxx
WOW Liz your walk-in closet is so beautiful and organized. I am pinning everything. Thanks so much for sharing. You own so many gorgeous shoes and so many designer pairs, too. Lovely closet for sure! You have me inspired!
Welcome by Thursday this week and every Thursday and join my style linkup with me. =)) I miss you on my linkup dear Liz.
Ada =)
Thank you so much Ada. I will pop by on Thursday for your style link-up- thank you. Have a lovely day xxxxxx
I could do with this but I turned our spare room into a lounge for the boomerang offspring. I got my priorities wrong. Oh well.
Hee Hee! I think you have your priorities just right! It's all about maximising and utilising the available space. I felt this room was too small to be a bedroom for my teenage son so he has a much larger room which was designed to be a study. I work at the kitchen table instead but it meant that I could use the spare room for my clothes because my own bedroom is small too. I am so pleased with how I've managed to use all of the space and keep everyone happy!!! xxx
If there's such a things dressing room envy, I have it! What a terrifically-organised way to store everything. And what a collection of shoes!
Thank you so much! I do have a lot of shoes but truly., I wear them over and over xxx
Wow!!! I'm so envious! What a beautiful room. Isn't IKEA fabulous, just goes to show how imagination and creative flair can create something spectacular the simplest of things xxxx
Thank you lovely. Yes, Ikea is amazing. So practical and easy to build and thank you for the lovely compliment xxx
You've done a brilliant job Liz! This is what I'm attempting to do with my spare room – I'm about half way there. My husband calls it the disaster room! I love Ikea furniture and already have a dressing table and set of drawers but I need to go back for shoe shelves. I'm not allowed to get rid of the bed so I'll have to work around it! I'll bookmark this post for reference 🙂
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
Thank you so much Emma and good luck with your ongoing transformation!!! Hee Hee! I think you'd be better keeping you bed and I'm sure you'll easily work around it!!! xxxxx
OMG you have more shoes than me!!! What a total fabulous CLOSET! I'm incredibly impressed Lizzy. It looks wonderful. We're just in the planning stages of building our dream home and I've got a lovely walk in closet planned too 😀
Suzy xx
http://www.suzyturner.com
Hee Hee!!! Do I??? I LOVE shoes. Always have. My mum always says it's because she couldn't resist buying red or patent shoes for me when I was a little girl (in contrast to trainers and football boots for my two brothers!!). How wonderful that you're building your dream home Suzy. I hope you're planning several guest rooms for when Ian, The Over40Collective and I come and visit 😉Xxxxxx
Yassu from Greece (Yassu means hello in greek)
What a nice post! Shoes shoes! Everywhere! I like mostly your shoes pics
I like to see girls with this style! Well done pretty!
I'm a young (new) lifestyle blogger at Euframe.blogspot.com all about travel, festivals, photography series fashion & Style! I would like to see you there girl and tell me your opinion too!
Φιλιά (kisses)
Teo
Euframe.blogspot.com
Hello and thank you very much for the lovely compliments. I have just been to look at your blog and your photographs are amazing! Good luck with it and thank you again for stopping by xxx
You clever lady! With those dimensions, this room was made to be a walk in wardrobe. And what an incredible job you've made of it too Liz. So well thought out, every inch utilized to the max & looking fabulous to boot. I'm pleased to see you've saved some shelf space for future additions to your incredible shoe collection 😉 That's smart. xxx
What a fantastic space, I've got wardrobe envy! That's on my wish list – one day, one day! Jacqui
http://www.mummabstylish.com