Spare Walk In Closet Organization

4 years ago

So just let me preface with saying that so far every DIY I have engaged in has failed me miserably.

The goal was to buy a single Ikea PAX tower for our nursery reach in closet (completely different room) and put shelving beside it like in the picture shown. (One with the power drill). This was the initial plan.

The closest Ikea is 3.5 hours away and the shipping was going to be over $200. So I decided to drive there instead and make the most out of it.

I measured the reach in closet and figured that a 22” depth tower would work. Never mind the fact that I didn’t account for how it being that deep would mean we would lose the sides because we wouldn’t be able to reach in the closet.

SO...we called and we can take it back, but there’s absolutely no way to do that seeing as it’s already assembled and barely fit unassembled. The husband decided we could instead stick it in our spare walk in closet which he had moved into once we took away the reach in closet for the nursery for him to store his police officer equipment and uniforms.

Even moving it in this closet it’s still too deep. The space is 4’ wide and and 7’6” long with 8’ ceilings. I can’t flip it sideways and put it on the side wall because you’ll only have a 10” to stand to get things out of drawers.

I’m basically stuck. With the tower where it is, it allows me 18.5” left in the width, and 67” if I start measuring at the base of the tower. I asked the husband what he needs the most for his room and he said he said he needs the closet to handle tall and medium length hanging, and places for his duty belt and work boots.

He just moved his work stuff into the spare closet to make room for a nursery closet, so where we used to store like Christmas decorations and other stuff since we didn’t have an attic, we’re having to do some shifting. I just don’t know what to do since I have this predicament with the tower being the wrong depth to begin with. I feel stuck.

Comments (5)

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Patricia Colwell Consulting
4 years ago
I am lost what is the last picture? From what I see he has a big wasted space above the hanging part of the closet so why not put in a double hanging space there since guys rarely need more than shirt and pant hanging space you would double the space. As for his boots they go under the bottom hang stuff and all his belts etc go into the new cabinet with the drawers.
Aimee Willis
Original Author
4 years ago
So the last picture is what I was trying to do in another closet that was a reach in in a completely diff bedroom. I bought this tower that you see in the picture with the police uniforms to originally go in that closet. After it not fitting in that closet we moved it in the spare walk in closet. Even after moving it here I still feel like it doesn’t fit, but I’m kinda stuck with it because it’s too big to take back
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I used Dakota Closets from Menards (a regional big box store in the Midwest). I had used them in the closets in our previous house, and loved them - they are easy to assemble, sturdy, and provide a lot of flexibility. My closet is 71" wide; the unit along the back is 62.5" wide. The 8.5" at one end is a perfect spot for the ironing board. Mine is longer than yours, but the unit on the right side is 79" from the back wall, so pretty close. We have a chest of drawers in the bedroom, but it was inconvenient to go to the bedroom for socks and underwear, then the closet for everything else, so I added the drawers to the closet. Now the chest of drawers is used for sweaters and winter attire (wool socks and long underwear). For reference, this is what it looked like in the listing photos. I despise wire shelves.
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Sammie J
4 years ago
It doesn't look built-in, but it looks like it will be fine in the space with the pants hanging on the right side. What do you mean by "feel like it doesn't fit"? Patricia's comment makes sense...
Helen
4 years ago

Like others, I am confused by what your objective is.

It appears you bought a piece of furniture that doesn't work in ANY location. You can either attempt to sell it on craigslist; donate it or make it work somewhere other than a closet - e.g. a basement or garage.

In terms of maximizing and organizing a closet, there are loads of closet specific solutions available. Check out The Container Store's website for some ideas.
AnnKH
4 years ago
I installed a very similar shelving unit in 2 closets in our bedroom a year ago. I think my closets are about the same width, but not as deep. For us they work beautifully! I did not add drawers, as we have a chest of drawers in the bedroom; I just have shelves for jeans, shorts, heavy sweaters, ski gear.

In my closet, I have 2 hanging rods. Out of season or less frequently used clothes go in the back - they are not as convenient to reach, but it is still possible. The shelf above is for out of season storage - but the new shelving unit (and a healthy purge) means I have very little need for that high shelf.

In DH's closet, I moved the hanging rod up as high as I could reach to hang up clothes, and added 2 shelves below the clothes for shoes and boxes.

If you find that arrangement completely unacceptable, I suggest you take out the existing shelves/rods (I don't like hanging clothes on wire shelves anyway), rotate the shelving unit 90°, and add double clothes rods in the remaining space. It looks like there are a few pairs of pants that need a longer space - in my closet, I have a rack on the back of the closet door for long dresses.

Spare Walk In Closet Organization

Comments (5)

Patricia Colwell Consulting

Aimee Willis
Original Author

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Helen

AnnKH

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Spare Walk In Closet Organization

Comments (5)

Patricia Colwell Consulting

Aimee WillisOriginal Author

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Sammie J

Helen

AnnKH

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BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Aimee Willis
Original Author