Even with your best efforts, over time things just start to collect in your closet. Then after you purge and donate, you’re still left with an unorganized mess. You realize the closet space you have could be more efficiently constructed or designed but not sure where to start.
Joshua and I have accumulated clothes and shoes and when we moved into a home that had one compact closet in our primary bedroom, we knew we would have to get creative and reconfigure the space. But instead of purchasing an expensive prefabricated closet system which was priced out of our desired home renovation budget, we decided to go for a custom closet build out of plywood!
And we get it. The idea of measuring, cutting, and assembling plywood sheets to create a custom closet from scratch might seem out of reach, especially if you’re not an experienced DIYer. But actually, building a closet system is pretty straightforward and best of all, this post covers all parts of the process!
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You can definitely create a beautiful closet space even as a beginner if you have some home DIY tools handy. So here are our methods to design and build your own custom closet that is sure to meet both your aesthetic and financial goals.
How to Build Your Custom Closet
Step 1: Designing
You’ll want to decide your layout first and foremost. Particularly, how much space to dedicate to closet rods (hanging clothes) versus shelving versus drawers etc. You can do this by taking a quick inventory of your clothing and accessories. Then find the ideal hanging spaces, shelving ideas and drawer storage to accommodate what you have.
For our closet, we started by very broadly planning out where we may want certain items to go. For example, before the makeover, our shoes were on the floor under our clothes, but we decided to instead create a vertical shelf for shoes as part of the closet organizer.
I (Dejene) did this by drawing out a very rough sketch of where I wanted the shoe shelves, closet rods and drawers, then Joshua refined and helped me get the measurements just right for everything.
Our plan was to:
Create top and bottom closet rod spaces for both Joshua and I’s clothes
Create a space to hang dresses and long garments (no bottom closet rods)
Leave a space for a set of Ikea drawers
Shoes shelves!
From this, you will know what materials you’ll need, how much of them, and the sizes.
Step 2: Gathering Supplies
For this DIY project, you will need the following tools and supplies to build your custom closet:
Tools
Circular Saw or Table Saw
Screwdriver
Supplies
Wood (Plywood sheets, 2x4s, trim pieces)
Dresser/drawers (we chose this TARVA Ikea dresser) or Drawer slides/systems (if you decide to build drawers from scratch)
Primer and paint
Wood putty/wood filler
- Caulk
Step 3: Prepping
Before we started constructing the closet, we decided to pull up the old floor and replace it with LVP, particularly the same floor that we had throughout the 1st floor of the house. So we’d recommend if you want to make any major updates like replacing the floor, removing a popcorn ceiling, etc, be sure to do that before you start working on the closet. Otherwise, you’ll just do a mini demolition and remove the existing shelves, boxes, wire storage and closet rods to expose the empty space.
Step 4: Cutting and Assembling
Using a circular saw or table saw, cut plywood panels and 2x4s to the dimensions outlined in your design plan for the closet frame, shelves, trim and other components.
The plywood cuts you will need are for the closet boxes/shelves. The 2x4s are for the base. If you are creating drawers or doors, you’ll need to cut those extra pieces as well. We opted not to build custom drawers, but instead purchase a set of drawers from Ikea.
After you’ve made your cuts, you can start constructing your plywood “boxes”. This is where your hanging clothes will go so be mindful that it is large and deep enough to fit your hangers and accommodate the size of your clothes (hint: see the standard guidelines below!)
Step 6: Installing
We constructed the base of the closet first using 2x4s. These 2x4s will be installed directly on the floor and so that the plywood boxes can be installed on top. Secure the 2x4s with construction screws both to the floor and to the wall studs using a stud finder.
Now you can install your plywood boxes on top of the 2×4 base using construction screws. If you are planning to install drawers, don’t forget to leave space for it. Side note: We decided to purchase a drawers from Ikea. We initially chose one set but didn’t like the fit so instead chose the TARVA Ikea dresser. We also installed top storage shelves on top of the boxes around the closet.
Next you will attach some wood trim on the edge of the plywood boxes and the 2x4s. Add face frame/edging to further polish up any exposed rough wood grain.
Pro tip: Crown and base moulding is THE way to elevate your custom closet, so we’d recommend not skipping this step!
Once you’ve finished installing the frame, fill in any nail holes and dents with putty or wood filler. Also you may want to caulk any gaps which will create a seamless look once it’s painted.
Step 7: Sanding and Painting
Now it’s time to sand down the wood filler and any rough edges or surfaces of the plywood closet to create a smooth finish all around. Make sure you have proper ventilation, eye protection and a mask for yourself. Also cover the floor and anything nearby that you don’t want wood dust or paint to get on. Apply primer and allow it to dry before applying your desired paint. We use Rust-Oleum Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Primer for a lot of our projects. Then we chose Behr Polar Bear as our custom closet paint color.
How to Choose the Right Paint
Choosing the right type of paint for the job is as important as constructing the closet. If you don’t choose the right paint, it could peel and not last as long as it should. So you’ll want one that is durable and the right finish like a high-quality latex paint, we used Behr Pro i300 Interior Paint in this project but would also recommend Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel, which is a highly recommended paint in the industry. No matter which brand you choose, know that semi-gloss or satin finishes are the most durable sheen choices for closets.
Step 8: Finalizing
Once the paint has cured, it’s time to add in the final touches. You can now install your drawer, drawer pulls, closet rods and any other closet accessories. Install closet rods at appropriate levels, ensuring they are securely anchored to the frame.
If incorporating drawers, install drawer slides according to the manufacturer’s instructions and attach drawer fronts to the slides.
Additional Tips and General Guidelines
Closet Rod Placement and Hanging Space
Typically, folks choose between single or double closet rod systems. When installing a closet rod, it’s crucial to ensure it is positioned at least 11″ from the back wall to allow space for hangers. This placement also helps in positioning the rod holder at the edge of the closet organizer boards.
Single Rod:
Single rod systems have only one rod in the space, ideal for longer garments like lengthy dresses.
For a single rod system, it’s typical to hang the rod 66 inches above the floor. That way most long coats, dresses or suits can hang without touching the floor.
Double Rod:
Double rod systems fit two rod in the same space, one is higher than the other, typically to fit shirts on the top rod and short, pants and skirts on the lower rod.
For double rod systems, the top rod should be mounted about 81 inches above the floor, while the lower rod is placed around 40 inches above the floor. This allows your shirts, shorts and (folded) pants to be hung on the lower bar, while slightly longer garments can be hung on the top rod.
In a kid’s closet, a double-rod system would be ideal, since their clothes are typically smaller. And in that case, it’s recommended to place the bottom rod about 30 inches above the floor, so the child can able to reach clothes easily on their own.
Aside from closet rod height, you’ll also need to consider closet rod depth. Typically closet rods are at least 12 inches away from the wall. If you closet has a depth of 24 inches (which is average), then this will allow enough room to place hangers without crowding or hitting against the wall.
Shelving Height, Depth, and Shelf Pin Holes
The height of your shelves is totally up to you and what your needs are. We chose to only have shelves above the closet rods. You could do all shelves, no shelves or a variation of different sizes for your folded clothes, shoes and/or accessories. On the other hand, standard shelf depth ranges from 12 to 16 inches, which typically allows enough space for storage without overcrowding. Consider using the top shelf for added storage and ensure it is reachable by making adjustments to the closet organizers.
Get Creative
If you have a ton of items to store in your closet, you might need to get creative to find spaces for everything like using corner shelves to create storage in an underutilized area. Or add closet organization higher up for things that you need, but don’t use as frequently as others. Additionally, consider maximizing your hanging space by installing multiple hanging rods for different types of clothing like shirts, coats, long dresses, and hats.
That’s it! Designing and building a custom DIY closet with plywood allows you to create a functional and stylish storage solution tailored to your specific needs and preferences. Hopefully this was helpful to you and you’re able to create your ideal custom closet space with a little time and patience.
Did you give it a try? Let us know by tagging us on Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok @hammerandhandsaw.
