Affordable Room Transformation

My husband and I have been desiring a remodeled closet for quite some time. Our home was built in the 80s and the storage system was very poor and it was also looking worn down. But when you think of the word “remodel,” dollar signs typically pop up in your head. Don’t let the word scare you, because there are smart and clever ways to make affordable transformations that also look great. Here was the plan….

Step 1: Demo (costs nothing). I emptied the entire closet of our items and removed the existing shelving. It required some drywall patching after removing some shelves (one shelf was glued to the wall!), but it was worth the elbow grease.

Step 2: Fresh coat of paint. For this, I spent nothing because I used left over White paint from another room of ours to paint the walls. I also painted the trim with leftover trim paint. It makes a huge difference to give it a fresh coat of paint. it may seem overkill for a closet, but trust me if your storage is clean it makes a huge mental difference in how you feel about the space.

Step 3: Install new closet system. I sketched out a plan for what I believed felt and looked the best. “Clean” storage really does make a big impact. I didn’t want to redesign the closet to feel new but still busy. It was really important to consider the layout, how I enter/exit, and what I use most often when redesigning the space. There were three key components to the layout (1) hanging clothes (2) shelves for fabric bins (3) dresser. My husband really wanted the dresser to fit into the closet so all the clothing was in one space. I agreed. But, I also refinished the dresser a few years back so I didn’t feel good at first about sticking it in a closet. Therefore, my design of the closet was really inspired by the dresser and how to make it feel celebrated, instead of tucked away. There’s little nuances in the closet design that your eye picks up but probably wouldn’t notice mentally. I used the golden ratio for the shelf spacing, which is more pleasing to the eye for such a small space. The wooden shelf supports continue around the walls visually connecting the space while making it look longer. The combination of the wood, white closet rod and white walls is a soft palette for the small space as well. The tie rack was a special touch for my husband.

Step 4: Personalize it….by moving your things back in. My husband and I both decided that before we would put anything back in the closet, we’d go through ever item and decide whether or not it was worth saving. I have a personal rule of thumb, that if I haven’t worn or used something in 6 months, than I need to donate it because I don’t use it. Someone else will find value in it! That also made a huge impact in transforming the space. Donating unused items is very therapeutic for me. It is such an easy way to change up a space and also do good for others. Who knows who has been waiting for that jacket you haven’t worn in 2 years!

This was such a fun 3 day project. In the end, we are both pleased with the change and love using it now! (Putting the new space to use is the real key in determining if a design is/is not a success). Happy designing!