Walk Right In: Turn Your Spare Room Into a Walk-in Wardrobe

Have a spare room you're not using? Why not turn it into the walk-in wardrobe you've always dreamt of? Here's how

Fred Albert 24 June 2018

Houzz Contributor. Fred has written about architecture and design for many Web sites and magazines, including Houzz, Metropolitan Home, House Beautiful and Style 1900.

Houzz Contributor. Fred has written about architecture and design for many Web sites... More

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If you’ve ever feuded with a spouse over hanger space or drawers, or turned your house upside down trying to find the summer clothes you stashed last autumn, you might be a prime candidate for a wardrobe conversion.

Turning a spare room into a walk-in wardrobe is not a huge task, and it can reap instant rewards. “People want all their stuff in one space,” says Angel Martin, co-owner and senior design consultant at US company Affordable Closets Plus. Martin’s firm is one of countless companies that will quiz you on your needs, measure your space and install a spacious walk-in wardrobe in what was once a spare bedroom, a nursery or that home gym you swore you’d use but somehow never did.

You can also opt to do the project yourself, using materials from a hardware or home improvement store. Which method you choose will depend on your needs, your budget and the kind of look you want to achieve.

Danenberg Design

Project: Turning a spare room into a walk-in wardrobe.

Why: If your current wardrobe is too small or poorly organised, or your clothes are distributed all around the house, a wardrobe conversion could be just the ticket.

CLOSET THEORY by Janie Lowrie

Things to consider: Almost any space can be turned into a wardrobe, although the task will be easier if the room is a standard rectangle or square. “Working with different angles is trickier,” says Janie Lowrie of Closet Theory, a wardrobe design firm.

While windows can provide welcome illumination and ventilation, too much sun can fade clothes, and too many windows can reduce the amount of wall space available. (The room’s heat source shouldn’t affect your decision; it’s easy to notch around baseboards or to redirect floor vents into a kickboard.)

The Container Store Custom Closets

Wardrobe systems fall into two basic types: wall mounted and floor mounted. Wall-mounted wardrobes are affixed directly to the wall or hung from a rail mounted onto the wall.

Floor-mounted wardrobes are attached to the wall as well, but get most of their support from the floor. For that reason they tend to look more like built-in cabinetry.

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Silk Cavassa Marchetti Architecture & Interiors

Which system you choose will depend largely on two factors: looks and budget. Wall-mounted systems are usually less costly, combining coated-wire baskets and racks with hanging wood shelves for a look that tends to be more contemporary and utilitarian. Floor-mounted systems are usually more expensive, and are typically made from particleboard panels covered with melamine. “Melamine seems to be the king of wardrobes,” says Patrick Layne, vice president of Valet Custom Cabinets & Closets in California. “It’s very durable, it’s cost effective, and you can get it to look closest to a wood wardrobe.”

Old World Kitchens & Custom Cabinets

Depending on the design, finish and trim, floor-mounted wardrobes can be adapted to nearly any style of decor, and tend to look more integrated into the architecture of the home. There’s no inherent difference in quality or durability between wall- and floor-mounted systems.

A basic wardrobe system features rods for short, long and medium-length hung items; shallow drawers for underwear, socks and belts; deeper drawers for jumpers and T-shirts; and open shelves for shoes and sweats. Few customers stop there, however.

Traditional Bathroom Traditional Bathroom

“One pole and one shelf isn’t working for people,” says Martin. Her customers often opt for jewellery racks, belt and tie storage, charging stations, safes and, increasingly, twin hampers – one for laundry, another for dry cleaning.

Valet rods are a very popular feature right now; these hooks extend out to hold dry cleaning, clothes for packing or the next day’s wardrobe. People don’t just want wardrobes anymore, Martin asserts. “They want dressing rooms.”

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Tracie Butler Interior Design

Wardrobe lighting has also evolved in recent years, with LED strip lighting augmenting or replacing recessed cans or track lighting. LEDs use less electricity, produce less heat and can be surface mounted and plugged in, so they don’t require ceiling access.

Kay Wade, Closet Factory

Who to hire: It’s possible to design and install a walk-in wardrobe yourself – especially if you’re utilising a coated-wire or simple melamine system from a big-box store. If you don’t have the time or don’t trust your skills, an independent contractor, carpenter or handyperson could do the work as well.

If you’re more concerned about maximising space or making the results look good, consider hiring an expert. “An experienced wardrobe designer knows how to get the most out of a space,” says Layne. If you’re uncertain about what you need and how much it might cost, try a free consultation from the company of your choice.

If you want to benefit from a professional wardrobe designer’s expertise, but still prefer to do the work yourself, consider hiring a wardrobe company to design your wardrobe and furnish you with CAD drawings. This isn’t common, and you might encounter some resistance, but for a small fee you could come away with precise, professional plans.

Bella Systems - Custom Closets

Project length: If you’re tackling the project yourself, the time it takes will depend on your skills and the complexity of the job. For a professionally installed wardrobe, allow four to six weeks from conception to completion – although custom jobs can take longer.

Cost: Varies with the size, quality and complexity of the wardrobe conversion and the region in which you live.

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Habachy Designs

Permit: Generally you don’t need a permit to turn a spare room into a wardrobe. But if you’re changing the room’s wiring to add lighting or outlets, or are altering the plumbing to accommodate a coffee bar or ice maker, a permit might be required, depending on the building codes in your area.

Best time to do this project: Summer is the busiest time for wardrobe installers, so if you want to minimise your wait, consider doing the work in spring or autumn. Spacious wardrobes require a surprising amount of material to build, so dry weather is optimal for hauling components in and out of the house. If you’re going with painted finishes, they’ll dry more quickly when the weather is less humid or rainy.

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