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27/12/21
Home Improvement

How to build the perfect DIY walk-in wardrobe

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 2x4
  • 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 2x4 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 2x4 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.

Further reading…

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