Adding space to your property is one way to add value.
But using the space you have in a better way can boost your property’s appeal and make your life easier at the same time.
One way to utilise your space is building a walk-in wardrobe – and they’re far easier to construct than you might think.
Here, we’ll explain exactly how you can build one for your property
and showcase some great examples of DIY walk-in wardrobes to inspire you…
How do you make a homemade walk-in wardrobe?
Firstly, decide where your walk-in wardrobe will be.
Are you going to steal some space from your bedroom or build your wardrobe in a spare room?
If you have a bedroom alcove, this could be a great space for your walk-in wardrobe – you’ll just need to create it by building some partition walls…
What you’ll need to build a walk-in wardrobe
- Lengths of 2×4
- A nail gun or hammer and nails
- A circular saw or hand saw
- A spirit level
- Framing square
- A tape measure and pencil
- Plasterboard
Step one: Take measurements
- Measure the height of your proposed wardrobe space from floor to ceiling
- Measure the length of the wall space you’ll use for storage
- Measure the depth of the wardrobe space
Step two: Prepare your space
- Lift up the carpet, if you have it, where your wardrobe will be – you can cut and lay again once your space is complete
- Pull off skirting boards on walls where you’ll be installing storage units
Step three: Build your partition wall and door space
- Mark lines on your floor and ceiling where your top plate and footer plate frames will sit
- Cut two lengths of 2×4 for the length you want your partition wall to be. Make marks on your top plate and footer plate at 16-inch intervals, which is where your vertical studs will sit
- Remember to leave the desired space for either a door or opening to your wardrobe
- Cut as many lengths of 2×4 that you’ll need for the studs, to match the height from the floor to the ceiling, minus the depth of the top plate and footer plate
- Nail your studs to your footer plate at 16-inch intervals, leaving the space for the door or opening, and then nail your top plate on top
- Lift your partition wall into place and position along the marks you made on your floor and ceiling
- Use a level to make sure your wall is straight and then nail to ceiling joists and floorboards through the top plate and footer plate between the studs
- Repeat the process for any side walls if required
Step four: Fix your drywall
- Cut your plasterboard using the height and width of your partition walls and fix to your studs using drywall screws
- Once your drywalls are up, fill the gaps between boards with filler or bring in a plasterer to skim your walls before painting and installing storage inside your wardrobe
How much does it cost to build a walk-in closet?
A DIY walk-in wardrobe can cost anything from a few hundred pounds to thousands – depending on the work and materials you choose and the space you have.
If you’re creating your walk-in wardrobe in a spare room, the bulk of the work will be in creating storage through shelving and drawers.
But if you’re creating a space within your bedroom, you’ll need to build and board stud walls, meaning your costs will be higher.
Should a walk-in wardrobe have doors?
Whether or not you choose to have doors on your walk-in wardrobe comes down your personal preference.
Using mirrored sliding doors can make your wardrobe space feel bigger, while classic double doors can add a real feeling of quality to your space.
However, ventilation is key with any walk-in wardrobe so your clothes and items are protected from mould, and a walk-in space with no doors can mean better air flow.
DIY walk-in wardrobe ideas to inspire you
The main aim with any walk-in wardrobe is to create order and make your life easier.
The space you have will usually dictate what you can and can’t do when building your new walk-in wardrobe, but here are some amazing ideas to get you thinking…
1. Convert an existing room
If you’re lucky enough to have a spare room available for your walk-in wardrobe, your options for the space will be almost limitless.
This amazing space was created in a spare bedroom and doubles up as a wardrobe and dressing room – a really spacious and organised room that also shows off your clothing in a great way, too.
2. Frame off part of your bedroom
Not all walk-in wardrobes need to be huge, expansive spaces.
Sometimes, all you need is functionality and good order, which means if you have a large enough bedroom, you can steal some space for your walk-in wardrobe.
This example is a great use of space and shows what can be achieved by pinching a little square footage and putting it to better use.
3. Keep things simple on a small budget
Looking through examples of amazing walk-in wardrobes online, you could be forgiven for thinking that you need a huge budget to do the work.
This simple, but effective space, shows that’s not always the case.
Whether you’re using a spare room for your walk-in wardrobe, or you’re taking some space from your bedroom, using simple storage solutions will help keep your budget in check.
4. The importance of lighting
Your walk-in wardrobe shouldn’t just be a space to store your clothes effectively.
Its design should stand out and complement the rest of your property.
The key to great walk-in wardrobe design is often lighting – as most spaces won’t have the luxury of windows unless you’re using a stand-alone room.
In this example, the owner has used clever lighting to really lift their walk-in wardrobe, meaning it’s not only functional, but looks great, too.
Small walk-in wardrobe ideas
Having limited space doesn’t mean you can’t make a real statement with your walk-in wardrobe…
1. Use your space effectively
Making use of every inch is key when building a walk-in wardrobe in a tight space.
And that can mean getting creative with your storage solutions.
In this walk-in wardrobe, the owner has crammed a huge amount into a small space by using different sized drawers.
2. Think about shoe storage
Shoes can be difficult items to store without using large amounts of space – especially if you have lots of them!
The creator of this walk-in wardrobe clearly thought this issue through and the neat shoe drawer system means their footwear is nicely stored away in a small space but also easily accessible, too.
3. Space-saving storage
Utilising corners of your wardrobe space is a great way to grab a few extra inches to store your things.
The builder of this walk-in wardrobe had that in mind when they installed a revolving floor-to-ceiling shoe cupboard neatly in a corner.
