Budget-Friendly Closet Makeover: Kids Edition

I am in the middle of a bit of a large project here at the house.  If you’re following me on Instagram (@landeelu) then you know that I decided to switch my 2nd son’s and my daughter’s bedrooms.  My son’s room was quite large and his toys (iPad, phone, computer, books, etc) are quite small.  My daughter’s room was quite small and her toys (dolls, kitchen, playing school and restaurant, etc) were quite large… or at least her kind of playing took up a LOT of space.  The bedroom situation wasn’t making any sense anymore.   So I set off on a two room switcheroo/makeover which is the kind of thing that really tells you how patient and long-suffering you are deep down inside.  🙂

Today I thought I’d share a small piece of that room switch which is my daughter’s closet makeover!  I am so happy with how it turned out!   I did my own closet a few months ago and it has, in no uncertain terms, changed my life.  Closets are now my jam!  And this one desperately needed my help.  Here are a couple before shots:

It was a pretty typical builder type closet situation.  One large shelf up high and one hanging bar.  We had already taken the sliding doors off when we first moved in but, as you can see, that didn’t exactly up the functionality factor.

I wanted my daughter to be able to reach most things in there, hang her own clothes up and I really wanted it to feel like a nice extension of the room.   So here’s what I did.

First I ripped out the shelf and hanging bar.  Nothing a rubber mallet and some upper body strength can’t manage.  Then, back in that dead space area typical of many closets, I decided to add some shelving.  Using a level to make sure they were all where I wanted them to be,  I attached  1×12″ pieces of MDF to the wall using Liquid Nails and actual nails (ha!).   They are on all three walls in this area.

I then painted the entire inside of the closet to match what we had painted the rest of the bedroom earlier (Dove White, Valspar).

I had Home Depot cut down a 4×8 foot piece of 1/2 inch MDF into 17″ strips, which was the depth I wanted these shelves to be.  When I got home I then cut those strips into 24″x17″ pieces to use as the actual shelves.  I decided to paint them first before putting them in since that seemed easier but do whatever you like on that one.  I then ran some Liquid Nails along the top of each attached MDF strip and then nestled those shelves right in there!  I caulked around the edges and was done!  Caulk is your best friend here, trust me.  🙂

For the other side, I added two shelves in the exact same way but added clothes hanging bars as well.

I’m guessing that as she gets into the teenage years she might want more space for hanging clothes but I don’t think it will be hard to rework this a little to give her that later on.

I then added some 4″ vinyl turquoise polka dots to reeeeeally make this closet a part of the room!  I’ve now added 3 and 4 inch polka dot wall decals to my Etsy shop!  You can view the listing HERE.

We are still working on some of the details such as getting bins and organizing but I love what has been done so far!  I’m also trying to figure out what I can do with that big space in the middle…maybe a big mirror?  A hanging rod with containers holding art supplies?  A peg board?   I welcome any and all suggestions.  🙂

Again, here is the before and after:

Such a difference!

Thanks for stopping by!  I can’t wait to show you the rest of the room after we’ve gotten it finished!