How To Transform your Unused Room into an Amazing DIY Walk In Closet // TWO WAYS!
Ever think about transforming that old, unused attic or spare room into something awesome? Walk in closet, anyone?!
Then follow along to find out how you can transform that underutilized space into an amazing dressing room.
We did this twice: once in our old apartment with galvanized iron, and again when we moved into our current home with curtain rod support brackets.
It has been SO incredibly helpful as both homes had very small closets.
No one wants to go to marriage counseling over your (perhaps one-too-many) fall sweaters or how many t-shirts the man has. Not worth it.
And it is truly such a simple process. Honestly, the hardest part for us both times was transforming the dark and dingy attic into something less dingy that you’d actually want to get dressed in (and walk around barefoot!)
After that, all you really have to do is set up your closet rods and decide on any extra storage—and there are lots of solutions for this as well.
We had a bunch of hand-me down dressers that work just fine, but you could add shelving units or even DIY your own storage system.
(Stay tuned! We will be further updating our closet soon to really take advantage of the available space!)
Walk in closet for a Sloped Ceiling
If you have this kind of room, you’re a lucky gal! (Or guy!)
Yes, it creates design challenges and there is the risk of banging your head a time or two (my 6’2” husband has certainly had this problem), BUT they are also so charming and present some benefits, especially when transforming it into a closet.
These slopes not only allow for a curtain rod at eye-level, but there is often a TON of room behind the clothes rod which creates room for even more storage.
If you live in an apartment, always ask permission before putting holes in the wall. Our landlord was awesome and let us do a bunch of different projects.
Often a landlord will be happy that you want to update the place for them. And the perk for you is a better functioning and more beautiful space, and experience with DIY projects for the future.
But always ask.
This first option is incredibly easy and so inexpensive.
What you’ll need:
- Closet rod (from hardware store): $12.40
- Drill and driver (borrow from a friend if you don’t have one): $0
- Screws: $2
- Galvanized hanger iron: $4
- Level (borrow if you don’t have one): $0
- Work gloves: $4 (if you don’t have any. These are always good to have around, so make the $4 investment.)
1. Decide where you want your curtain rod to hang
Hold the rod up to the wall and determine what placement you like. It is helpful to put a hanger with an item of clothing on the rod to see how it will fall and if you like the placement.
Note the types of clothing you want to hang. Dresses will need more height to hang freely than shirts and pants. The rod should be adjusted based on the majority of what you plan to hang.
2. Create your closet rod supports with your hanger iron
Loop the galvanized hanger iron loosely around the closet rod.
You want to have extra space in your loop (about 3”) so the rod hangs away from the wall. This space will give you the access to actually place your hanger on the rod without scratching up the ceiling.
Overlap your loop so that there’s two places where screws can go through two layers of iron. This is where the rod will be secured to the wall.
Note the place where you will cut the iron (you can mark it if you want).
Wearing gloves to protect your hands, bend the galvanized hanger iron at your mark back and forth until it breaks. BE AWARE of any sharp corners- this stuff is sharp and can cut you.
Using the already cut length of iron, measure out two more the same size: one for the other end of your rod and one for the middle for extra support. Break into strips using same process.
3. Attach the first iron loop (closet rod support) to the wall
Place the loop at your desired height on the wall and find a stud by knocking on the wall until you hear the deeper “thud”. If you can’t find a beam, consider using a wall anchor.
Once you find the right spot, mark where the two screws will go with a pencil. Using your driver, drill your two pilot holes into the wall and screw in your loop.
4. Level and attach the remaining iron loops
With a friend to help you, insert your closet rod into the drilled loop. Put a screw into your next iron so it maintains the loop and slip it on the other end of the rod.
Place your level on top of the rod and determine the appropriate place for the next loop (looking for a beam), then pencil in your two screw marks.
Using your drill and driver, screw in the loop at your marks. The closet rod should now be supported by the loops.
Wrap your (last) middle section around the rod and follow the same steps of marking your place, drilling a pilot hole and screwing in the rod.
5. Hang!
Your closet rod should now be thoroughly supported, level and ready for hangers!
This make-shift closet in our apartment’s attic drastically helped us and lasted for the couple of years we lived there. I hope it works well for you also!
Double-Bar Walk in Closet using Support Brackets
Since the attic-to-closet situation worked so well for us in the apartment, we decided to do the same thing in the attic/storage space in our home.
It was a creepy and dingy space. It was so bad we called it the dungeon. Seriously.
Let me know in the comments below if you have or HAD a room that looked like this and how you transformed it!
And believe me when I tell you that it can be transformed into a usable space that you will LOVE.
After removing all of the aluminum foil from the walls of the past tenant’s “grow room” (yes I’m serious) and about a million screws. And the lathe. Because who doesn’t have lathe hanging decoratively on their walls. 🙄
We also put in drywall to the one wall that didn’t have any for some reason.
Then did a whole lot of painting and used the shop-vac, then regular vacuum, then steam cleaner on the carpets.
There were a lot of things that we would have liked to do (like fix all the drywall in the whole room and replace the carpets) but we were short on time and low on money, so we decided to work with it.
Now that the room was clean and freshly painted, we got to work on the closet rods. We had enough wall space for two rods (an upper and lower) so we went for it.
What you’ll need:
- 2 Closet rods: $30
- Curtain rod support brackets: $3/bracket. (We used 6=$18)
- Level (borrow if you don’t have one): $0
- Drill and driver (borrow if you don’t have one): $0
- Screws: $3
- Optional: Wood board 1”x8”x(however far apart your brackets are): about $9 (for 8ft boards)
1. Measure
This should always be your first step in any DIY project. Determine how much space you have for your closet rod and buy the appropriate length rod and number of brackets.
Ours is 10 feet long and we did three brackets for each rod, with about 3.5 feet between the top and bottom rod.
As in step #1 in the first option, put an item of clothing on a hanger and determine at what height you want your curtain rods to be.
If you’re making two rods (one on top of the other), consider making the top rod longer than the bottom to allow for long items like dresses to hang freely of a lower bar.
Then mark the height you decided on with a pencil.
2. Secure the first bracket
Come in about a foot from where you want the end of your rod to end up and find a nearby stud.
Hold the first bracket to the wall at the stud and at the height you chose and make a pilot hole using your driver through the upper hole in the bracket and then screw it in with your drill, all while holding that bracket in place.
It’s always easier with a buddy.
Use your level to ensure the bracket is straight and do the same thing on the bottom hole (driver then drill).
3. Secure a bracket on the opposite end
At the other end of the bracket you just secured, have your buddy hold the bracket to the wall at a stud about one foot in from the end of the rod.
Place the closet rod in the bracket and then put your level on top of the rod. You can then direct your pal “up” or “down” until the bar is level.
When you have the right place, drill your pilot hole through the top hole and screw in with your drill. Level the bracket vertically and drill it in to secure.
4. Secure the middle bracket.
The middle bracket should be easy at this point, using the same steps as above:
Place the bracket so it is supporting the closet rod over a stud, ensure the rod is level, then use your driver and drill to put in the first screw. Level the bracket vertically, and screw in the bottom.
5. Secure the second closet rod and brackets
If you chose to do a double bar (which is wonderful and I highly recommend), repeat the above steps, leaving about 3.5 feet between bars.
6. Add a shelf on top of the brackets (optional)
If you decide to make shelves on top of the brackets for extra storage, it is SO EASY and will only run you a few more bucks depending on how big your system is.
- Measure how far apart your brackets are
- Purchase a 1”x8” in that length
- Sand the wood down. You don’t want splinters in your clothes!
- Paint or stain if desired
- Place dry board on top of the brackets
Easy-peasy! And what’s not to love about a little extra storage!
So this version with the brackets is a bit more expensive but certainly still affordable at only $3-4 per bracket.
First option: $22.40. If you have work gloves it’ll be $18.40
Second option: $51. We paid somewhere around $36 as we already had one of the rods
Second option with one 8’ wood shelf: $60
In my opinion, the second option is better for storage (two rods and a shelf), and really is about the same price as the first when you work the amount of storage into the equation.
Of course, it does depend on the type of room you have (those brackets won’t easily work on the sloped ceilings), the allotted space you have available and your specific budget.
Either way, this DIY storage solution has been SO helpful. It is a wonderful thing to have an organized closet and transforming these unused rooms has totally improved the functionality of our space.
Always take the time to put in that “sweat equity”. Taking that little amount of time to make your space function better for you will improve the quality of your life.
I know it sounds drastic, but it’s so true. Go for it, get creative and organize that beautiful home of yours!
Questions? We’re here.
Leave a comment, tell us about your creepy spaces and how you’ve transformed them.
We love pictures too!
Check out some of our other DIY’s:
IKEA Hack: DIY Kitchen Island
DIY Mantel to Hide All Those Messy TV Wires
