IKEA Closet
Hi, we have big not rectangular closet in our house. We thinking to by 92x40x22″ wardrobe boxes from IKEA and put them into the closet as shown above. The boxes will not have doors in them. I think it will look nicer, but will waste a lot of space. Did anybody have experience with this…
Hi, we have big not rectangular closet in our house. We thinking to by 92x40x22″ wardrobe boxes from IKEA and put them into the closet as shown above. The boxes will not have doors in them. I think it will look nicer, but will waste a lot of space. Did anybody have experience with this sort of setup? any advice or alternatives?
I tried HomeDepot’s ClosetMaid before, but it just does not fit well and looks ugly.
are the 92x
We did a whole closet with ikea pax products and are totally happy with the way they look and work, although who knows 5 years down the road. Didn’t use doors, except at the end of the closet where we used mirrored doors so it looks bigger and we don’t need a separate mirror. it’s hard to tell what’s going on in terms of design from your picture because the pic is so small.
A few ideas:
Ikea, while generally way cheaper, is not as cheap as you think it will be once you start outfitting the boxes with all the internal stuff you will want and need. So I suggest you cleck out the pricing of other systems people suggest – while Elfa is kinda high end, there are a few cheaper alternatives that might be closer in cost to Ikea, with perhaps more customization.
For less wasted space, also price a simple wood/MDF system from a local carpenter. If you don’t want finished wood, sometimes builder-grade hardwood painted white, with some white MDF for side panels, is cheaper than you expect it to be. Also a benefit there with potential greater customization.
On Ikea plan above, I’d think about skipping the top box behind the door. The room seems cramped, and I’d want to be able to open the door all the way to the wall. Or close to fully open – perhaps a skinnier sort of organizer behind the door so the door opened more fully.
When I got Pax boxes, I didn’t go to the 92″ height, though I had room for it in my ceiling height, because I knew I wouldn’t be able to reach that high. I got the lower ones, and reaching stuff on the top shelf was challenge enough for me. That left room to store bulkier items such as suitcases on the top, without having to worry about whether they’d fit in the boxes. I found it provided more storage versatility, without visually overwhelming my dressing room, which was wider than yours at 10″ wide, as much as the taller boxes would have. Also, I figured that there would be greater structural stability that way – moreso than if the top was simply another shelf or two in the box, with the weight of what was on the shelves putting additional stress on the sides – the tops are a bit more stable, in my oinion, than are shelves attached only the to sides.
Also, you can store things in those colorful lidded lightweight carboard boxes up top – that you can take down for sorting through. Or use plastic zippered cases for extra bulky bedding stored up there.
I don’t know if you think you can assemble the boxes themselves in the closet, but if not, getting the shorter ones should make moving them in and out of your room, as your door is likely shorter than your ceiling height. Even so, I’d make sure first that I could move them in and out of that doorway while other boxes were already in place inside. Another benefit to having a custom system built in – you don’t have to worry about that.
Also handy – build in a place to store a good, tall, lightweight, sturdy, aluminum step ladder right there in the closet – as you will be using it frequently. Maybe on that wall behind the door. Think about whether you need a place in there for dirty laundry, too.
If you you own your house, I’d definity think about doing built in instead. That’s an improvement that future buyers will appreciate.
A few ideas:
Ikea, while generally way cheaper, is not as cheap as you think it will be once you start outfitting the boxes with all the internal stuff you will want and need. So I suggest you cleck out the pricing of other systems people suggest – while Elfa is kinda high end, there are a few cheaper alternatives that might be closer in cost to Ikea, with perhaps more customization.
For less wasted space, also price a simple wood/MDF system from a local carpenter. If you don’t want finished wood, sometimes builder-grade hardwood painted white, with some white MDF for side panels, is cheaper than you expect it to be. Also a benefit there with potential greater customization.
On Ikea plan above, I’d think about skipping the top box behind the door. The room seems cramped, and I’d want to be able to open the door all the way to the wall. Or close to fully open – perhaps a skinnier sort of organizer behind the door so the door opened more fully.
When I got Pax boxes, I didn’t go to the 92″ height, though I had room for it in my ceiling height, because I knew I wouldn’t be able to reach that high. I got the lower ones, and reaching stuff on the top shelf was challenge enough for me. That left room to store bulkier items such as suitcases on the top, without having to worry about whether they’d fit in the boxes. I found it provided more storage versatility, without visually overwhelming my dressing room, which was wider than yours at 10″ wide, as much as the taller boxes would have. Also, I figured that there would be greater structural stability that way – moreso than if the top was simply another shelf or two in the box, with the weight of what was on the shelves putting additional stress on the sides – the tops are a bit more stable, in my oinion, than are shelves attached only the to sides.
Also, you can store things in those colorful lidded lightweight carboard boxes up top – that you can take down for sorting through. Or use plastic zippered cases for extra bulky bedding stored up there.
I don’t know if you think you can assemble the boxes themselves in the closet, but if not, getting the shorter ones should make moving them in and out of your room, as your door is likely shorter than your ceiling height. Even so, I’d make sure first that I could move them in and out of that doorway while other boxes were already in place inside. Another benefit to having a custom system built in – you don’t have to worry about that.
Also handy – build in a place to store a good, tall, lightweight, sturdy, aluminum step ladder right there in the closet – as you will be using it frequently. Maybe on that wall behind the door. Think about whether you need a place in there for dirty laundry, too.
If you you own your house, I’d definity think about doing built in instead. That’s an improvement that future buyers will appreciate.
I have used the closet maid system in my last residence = garbage. Elfa is a much better system no doubt.Also, checked out IKEA. I ultimately went with custom closets by Transitions (?) – on 5th Ave in the 20s. I highly recommend – we had a quirky space to work with and with all the accessories (built in ironing board, hidden mirror, valet rod, etc) that custom closets offer we were really able to maximize the space. Not cheap but they do provide drawings with their free in-home consultaton and you maybe able to use that for ideas to help you with the Ikea option if you aren’t sold on their service.
Have you considered the Elfa system from the Container Store? We have installed it in several closets and really maximized storage. It’s not cheap but I figure it’s a good investment.