Inspo for Customized Walk-in Closets & Glimpses of Real Life Renovation

It truly matters not that I’m a design blogger sharing visual inspo since the 2000s. When a new project looms on the horizon, I need my exhaustive deep dive into creative possibilities–fantasy, frugal, or funkytown. You too? Last winter, smack dab in the middle of our primary suite renovation, we were gearing up for a closet makeover. Not a terrible closet as traditional Georgian homes go (although the poor door is clunkily situated…ugh). Find out how we improved it and see dreamy customized walk-in closets for inspiration.

Inspo for Customized Walk-in Closets

We improved our own walk-in closet by capturing vertical space, providing concealed storage (Modular Closets!), upgrading the lighting, and adding a much needed aesthetic boost.

Let’s explore inspiring designs that may help you with your own schemes.

Treat the Closet Like a Room

It’s all true what the pros will tell you: if you address the closet/dressing room as if it is a room, you’ll keep it organized and it will add daily value. Look at this fantasy example:

If you have the space or can steal some from adjacent rooms, what a prospect to add beautiful lighting, create a boutique atmosphere, and customize the space you’ll use every single day as a beautiful room. And there are colors beyond white for a truly custom space…

The beautiful tranquil tone above seems reminiscent of Farrow & Ball Parma Gray.

Custom Paint Color Ideas

Isn’t it interesting that most of us see this as a blue, but blue is nowhere in the name?

Here’s another closet accented with a bright blue, and it’s important to make decisions about wall colors BEFORE installation begins.

I kept the backdrop neutral in my own closet with walls painted Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray.

And did you notice we added beadboard paneling to our closet’s back wall? Subtle texture and a bit more design customization without much fuss.

What? You don’t have that kind of square footage seen here in your closet? Most of us don’t. I’m not suggesting second mortgages and additions! So filter this inspiration creatively.

Incorporate Your Favorite Storage Options

Notice how like items are grouped together in this next fantasy space. And would you ever hang a piece of art on vertical storage or place a favorite chandelier in the closet?

What about carpet and flooring for the space? Also, think about your personal preferences for shoe storage. Are little individual cubbies calling?

See? There are all sorts of details to collect even from the most fantasy of bespoke projects.

Diary of Our Own DIY Customized Walk-in Closet

Here’s that clunky, unfortunate door situation in our bedroom to which I referred:

Spoiler alert. We didn’t change this area structurally. It would have caused a domino effect we were not prepared to tackle at a time we were fully gutting the bath and remodeling the sitting area! This is where we were last year on the bath reno:

So many major details to address in our bedroom suite that we could have easily dismissed the idea of improving the closet. Below you can see the pocket door to the bath and the construction happening in the sitting room near the bath:

Doesn’t everybody have a seven window-ed sitting room situation to rectify in their second floor turret?

Oy. I was tasked with reconfiguring the sitting area to distinguish it from the sleeping area not for aesthetics, but because the room’s temperature was compromised by nine windows in the space. I designed a wall with an arched doorway (for an exterior door) to also block light from the windows.

Oh the angles and quirky design of this suite! We knew the renovation would challenge us in this fussy house, but it all definitely has aged us too!

On the Road to a Customized Closet

Here’s where we began:

My closet-office-dressing area turned out so well, we turned to Modular Closets again for the bedroom closet. We needed solutions for practical matters such as shoe storage. The existing custom shoe shelf actually didn’t work as it was installed at a strange angle. (Maybe it was strictly for stilettos? Not sure, but my husband’s shoes didn’t stay on the thing.)

I think vertical storage makes more sense for shoes.

We also had to address lighting since we inherited an ugly fluorescent industrial ceiling light.

I always add a chandelier to a closet or pantry when I can.

BTW. I happily passed along this Victorian dresser from my former closet which didn’t make the cut in our custom closet plan to a wonderful young couple who were thrilled to get it.

Hello Lovely’s DIY Customized Walk-in

I wouldn’t change a thing! I love the combination of white towers and shelves with natural woven baskets and lidded storage containers.

It really helps to know yourself well and be acquainted with your organizational style.

Since I need a closet to have plenty of concealed storage, that detail alone transformed this closet and daily living.

It’s pleasant, airy, and still looks as organized and tidy today as it did last year when we completed it. 🙂 This is definitely a favorite DIY because it isn’t about fluff or following any trend. We assessed our needs, made a plan and achieved a closet that delivers ease every single day.

Have Fun Making Your Closet Wish List

Have fun with the inspiration phase and dreaming because if DIY is in your future, the fun will only last so long!

Just keep your eyes on the prize and know you are in good company. After the many renovations we have undertaken, I have learned how it all works out in the end. No need to freak when your energy is needed to keep moving forward. BUT I’LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW I WON’T BE THE FRIEND TELLING YOU TO “ENJOY THE PROCESS.”

No. You can enjoy any companions along for the journey, breaks from the work, funny hiccups along the way, and the completion, but please don’t feel pressured to “enjoy” the laborious days of chaos. You’ll move through them. Maybe muddle through them and crawl at times. But I won’t set myself up for shame. I find it detrimental personally to reframe work as play or a process I should draw joy from.

Inspiring Closet Designs

We just have to start with my favorite bespoke closet with armoire storage and Pyne Hollyhock wallpaper. Designed by Katie Rosenfeld for herself, it is within her renovated 1920s Tudor:

I’ll never get over the details and beauty! Even if you borrow just one detail (for example, the wallpapered statement wall), you’re off to a grand start.

Armoire style storage in a customized walk-in closet or even within the bedroom proper? Someday you shall be mine!

Not sure when I discovered Katie Rosenfeld’s work, but you’ll get a sense of her personality in her youTube series:

That closet she created! It is actually the “her” closet. Even though most of us are not blessed with natural light from a window in the closet, I can imagine wallpaper and the reflective glass mirror elevating the view.

Here’s a modern room sized closet office with a wallpapered statement wall:

As I browsed beautiful closet inspiration, certain bespoke designs like this one spoke to me (John Lewis of Hungerford):

While our closet wasn’t customized with handcrafted design, you can still tweak a modular semi-custom design to make it unique.

LED lit shelves are dreamy if you can add them.

Lighting truly is a powerful design element to help a closet feel more like a boutique!

Notable Walk-in Closet Design Elements

Do you admire rollouts for storage? Mirrored doors to bounce that light around?

Here’s another style of rollouts with sections for keeping like things together:

Even the simplest modular designs can live large:

Remember that a mirror may be able to give you a similar effect as a window.

Do closets sell houses in 2024? You can definitely set your home apart from the pack with customization…especially if most of the homes in your neighborhood are builder-grade specials.

You may remember that before we even moved into the Georgian, we began renovating it, and my big idea for a super quirky small extra bedroom was to make it a CLOSET DRESSING ROOM that could still function as a bedroom.

Pretty Closet Organization Inspo

Oh the possibilities when your budget is unlimited!

Right? But if nothing else, we can take away color palette inspiration from these fantasy closets.

Need proof that just a little tweak and turning down the busy-factor will make a HUGE difference in closet storage appearance?

Since wallpaper is totally popular again, why not use a little in a closet for a happy pop of color and personality?

Find more closet organization ideas HERE.

Peace to you right where you are.

-michele

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