Hello, friends! At long last, I am here to share my closet with you. It’s one of the first spaces we completed shortly after moving in, but I took my time styling it and organizing for many months after. I’m excited to share it with you today!
But first, here’s a walk down memory lane …
The obvious perk of my before closet is that is HUGE. I almost peed my pants when I saw it for the first time! I knew it could easily become a dream closet with a little bit of TLC. After customizing my last closet, I had a good idea of just how much is possible with a little bit of DIYing.
So what exactly did we do? I sketched out which parts of the closet we could keep and update and a few parts to demo and replace (like the storage along the back wall). Collin removed what wasn’t going to be used, then built a few new shelves and storage pieces—like an area for long dresses and the cubby shelves along the back (learn more about building cubby shelves here). Last, he trimmed out everything, giving the old dresser a look of inset drawers and crown moulding along the top to tie it all together. While I don’t know the exact price of this project, I can tell you that building it out, it was hundreds (if not thousands) less than a whole new closet system for this size closet would cost.
Since the closet is located in our main bathroom, there’s a chance we will reconfigure it down the road. Currently, I have no idea as I haven’t even started to dream of that design much less start planning it. That’s just one more reason I was motivated to repurpose what was there instead of installing a whole new closet system. I also really enjoy the creative challenge of low waste renovations. In my early years of blogging, it was the only option I had due to being on a tight budget. But over time, it grew into something I love to do because it makes me proud of improve what is there (when possible) instead of replacing.
Anyway, that’s enough backstory! Are you ready for some photos? I will show you section by section.
My first section is shoes. The original closet came with this shoe shelf, which I adjusted to accommodate three shelves of boots along the bottom and smaller shoes higher up. I hide all my athletic shoes and slippers under the long dresses section as well.
Along the back wall, we added floor-to-ceiling cubby shelves. I like that they are very versatile and I can store anything from stacks of jeans and tees to my roller skates (which I now have to keep hidden from my children, lol) and bags.
Mirror/West Elm, Pouf/Shop Lucky Collective, Baskets/Target, Rug/Vintage (similar here), Wood Hangers/Amazon.
On the left side, I have hanger sections for tops, skirts, short dresses, coats and jumpsuits.
I collected all these fun headbands during my quarantine last year. They are inexpensive and I found most of them on Etsy. I love how they make an outfit look more polished and more intentional.
Headband Organizer/Amazon, links to some Etsy headbands: 1, 2, 3, 4.
Just curious, did you collect anything or develop any unusual hobbies during 2020?
I have a couple special occasion bags (which I proudly purchased used). I store them on these cubbies and am excited to pull them out for real-life date nights this coming year!
I love the built-in drawers. I store underwear, jewelry, yoga sets, and lounge clothes in these drawers. Above the drawers, you might notice I used the extra tile we had from my coffee station in my office. It’s so pretty and since this was a teeny little space, I was able to add a tile backsplash there made just from remnants.
I love the look of this acrylic necklace display. There’s one on behind the door as well.
Thanks for taking a tour with me. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments and I’ll be happy to answer! xx- Elsie
P.S. My sweatsuit is from The Home Edit x Summersalt collab (top and bottoms). Funny story: My kids BOTH said they wanted an outfit just like mine on the first day I wore it. I wish it came in kids sizes, too.