A step-by-step tutorial and finances breakdown for utilizing IKEA Billy bookcases to customise his & her bed room closets, plus how they’ve held up after 4 years. 

Why an IKEA PAX System Would possibly Not Work For You

The extra we tried to make the PAX items match into our tiny closets, the extra we realized we’d be losing extra space than if we simply tried a unique route. So we hauled our unhappy little truck stuffed with PAX unit packing containers again to the shop to change for this bookcase answer as an alternative. 

When you have a small closet the place you need to create a built-in look however can’t make IKEA PAX wardrobes match, this tradition closet various utilizing bookcases is an effective way to create good storage options and make the most of as a lot area as doable. 

For a number of years, we lived with these half-broken wire cabinets with barely usable items, figuring out they desperately wanted a little bit assist. There was no good technique to retailer smaller objects within the high of the unit and all totally different sizes of sneakers have been simply thrown on the ground.

This makeover tutorial is one of the best ways to attain the customized look and good perform in your total closet for even cheaper than the PAX system! 

The best way to Make a Customized IKEA Closet With Billy Bookcases

Provides for a Attain-In Closet

Whole value: $324 (not together with the facility instruments we already owned)

This was the earlier than scenario in Robert’s closet…

Steps for a Attain-In Closet

Step 1 – Empty Closet and Patch Nail Holes

Very first thing: Take away all the previous shelving from the entire closet, patch holes with spackle, and paint the partitions.

Portray partitions isn’t completely mandatory, however it can look so significantly better with a recent coat of paint. It can assist get rid of any previous musty smells too. 

Associated: Get the free Final Closet Clear Out Cheat Sheet

Step 2 – Assemble Bookcases

We assembled the 2 Billy bookcases following IKEA directions and positioned them aspect by aspect within the closet. The bookcases have been SO cosy that we have been simply millimeters shy of the 2 not becoming within the closet collectively. Cheers for no wasted area!

Step 3 – Add Extenders and Anchor

For the subsequent step, we added Billy extenders on high of the bookcases to make use of all the area as much as the ceiling top and anchored the bookcases to the wall.

Step 4 – Connect Trim Items

To shut the small 1 inch hole between the highest of the bookcases and the ceiling, we trimmed all of it out with the 1×4 MDF strip, slicing trim boards with a round noticed and attaching it like crown molding with a brad nailer gun. 

Step 5 – Caulk, Wooden Fill, and Paint

We caulked all the cracks, utilized wooden filler to nails holes (sanding easy as soon as dry), and painted over the caulk with the IKEA white paint coloration as soon as the caulk was dry to make all of it seem like one seamless built-in closet.

These remaining touches create a clear look.

(I’ve found that Sherwin Williams’ white base paint is an ideal match to white IKEA furnishings. We acquired away with solely portray over the caulk and feathering in paint over the wooden filler. You don’t want to use paint to your complete unit.)

Step 6 – Add Cabinets and Small Storage Equipment

To complete, we positioned the plastic brackets on the heights we needed for shoe cabinets. Then, we screwed in equipment just like the closet rods, IKEA Skuggis wall hooks on the closet wall, tie organizer racks, and picket Bumerang hangers.

Relying in your wants and obtainable area, you’ll be able to add different IKEA merchandise like jewellery racks, small accent dividers, or a pull-out denim bar. When you have room on the ground, it’s a good suggestion so as to add laundry baskets too. 

Aspect notice: We added baskets from the Container Retailer later to suit additional storage on the higher cabinets and within the cubbies. The top consequence packed a lot storage perform inside this little closet!

Provides for a Small Stroll-In Closet

Whole value: $464.50

Right here is my (very) small walk-in closet earlier than. It barely even counts as a walk-in actually. 

(Don’t ask why on earth I had a bouquet of flowers up on my high shelf. I don’t know.)

Steps for a Small Stroll-In Closet

Step 1 – Empty Closet and Patch Nail Holes

After doing all the prep work of wire shelf elimination, spackling, and portray in my closet too, we constructed the 1 IKEA Pax unit we might match and moved it into the again recession of my closet.

(Mine is an L form but it surely’s extraordinarily tight and would barely be thought of a walk-in, so the Pax body made essentially the most sense in my closet’s again area of interest for hanging lengthy attire.)

Step 2 – Assemble Bookcases to Match

We constructed the two Billy bookcases and positioned them side-by-side with a 12″ massive hole in between them.

Step 3 – Add Extenders and Anchor

Then, we added the Billy extenders on high of the bookcases to make use of all the area to the ceiling. Subsequent, we anchored the bookcases and Pax body with the again of the items nailed into studs within the partitions.

Step 4 – Constructed Shoe Cabinets Out of Massive Gaps

To make a thin shoe shelf out of the 12″ hole between the 2 Billy bookcases, we used a few of the Billy cabinets to chop with the desk noticed and body out like its personal bookcase utilizing 2″ L brackets.

Should you don’t personal a desk noticed, a round noticed or miter noticed will work too. 

Step 5 – Connect Shoe Cabinets

We reduce extra Billy cabinets to create shoe cabinets within the skinny bookcase we comprised of the 12″ hole, attaching the cabinets to the 2 Billy bookcases with the nail gun.

Step 6 – Trim Gaps

To shut the small 1 inch hole between the highest of the bookcases and the ceiling, we trimmed all of it out with the 1×4 MDF strip. And we did the identical to the Pax body on the highest and sides to make it flush with the partitions.

Step 7 – Caulk, Wooden Fill, and Paint

Then, we caulked all the cracks, crammed nail holes with wooden filler (sanding as soon as dry), and painted over the caulk with the IKEA white paint coloration as soon as the caulk was dry to make all of it seem like one seamless built-in closet.

Step 8 – Add Small Storage Equipment

The remaining was simply screwing in equipment just like the closet rods, Komplement drawers/cabinets, Skuggis wall hooks, and picket Bumerang hangers.

We later added two various kinds of baskets as that was our answer for not having any drawers in order that we will retailer out-of-season garments and equipment in them.

In truth, we don’t miss having drawers in any respect, and I do nonetheless have a few drawers in my closet with the one Pax body we have been in a position to make use of.

Completed IKEA Billy Bookcase Closet

I’m SO excited to see how this has all come collectively and this Plan B with the Billy bookcases has labored out completely to assist us maximize much more area than what we had initially deliberate and with what we had earlier than utilizing the wire cabinets.

This DIY was so easy. The toughest half was really sorting via my mountain of garments to put all of them properly within the completed closet. 

Aspect notice: How cute are these DIY mirrored French bifold closet doorways we custom-made?

Bed room Closet Organizing Suggestions

When you’re completed constructing your closet, listed below are some good organizing tricks to take your bed room closet to the subsequent degree.

• Hold clothes coloration coded by sorting items in rainbow order
• Group clothes by kind and season
• Flip round hangers as you fill the closet. Flip the hanger the correct means when you put on an merchandise. On the finish of a yr, donate what hasn’t been worn.
• Retailer most used objects at eye degree.
• Use matching hangers.
• Make the most of shelf dividers.
• Use multi hangers to reap the benefits of vertical area.
• Add lighting. (We love these wi-fi movement sensor LED lights.)