Ikea Kallax closet hack - best budget closet update!

Want to install a simple closet system? Check out our ikea kallax closet hack and step by step guide on adding smart organization to my small reach in closets!

Closet organizations projects are some of the most satisfying projects!

I mean, like a lot of you, I have a lot of clothes. Skirts, blouses, dresses, shorts- I’ve just accumulated a lot over the past few years.

As I’ve said before, one of the greatest things about our condo is the ample storage room, including the double closets in the master bedroom.

However, they were stocked with builder-grade wire rack & rod combos. One of the closets had double shelves and the other had one higher shelf.

Though I dug the concept, I knew that I could design something prettier and more space efficient.

So, here is how we used Ikea pieces to hack the perfect closet organizer!

Planning a budget-friendly closet makeover

My original plan was to purchase a closet kit. After doing some online research, I settled on closet kits from the Martha Stewart collection at Home Depot.

I designed one closet to have double rods for tops & bottoms. I designed the second closet to be an accessories closet with drawers & shoe cubbies, as well as one rod for camisoles or t-shirts.

Unfortunately, though the Martha Stewart collected is called “cheap” by many reviewers on Amazon (as in price, not quality), my designs rang in at $208 and $585, respectively.

Ouch. Much more than I hoped to spend and way over my budget.

So, I had to go back to the drawing board. I decided to research other DIY closet system ideas.

I was pinspired to try some IKEA hacks. You know I love IKEA and I have seen a lot of hacks of the Expedit system and decided to start from there.

I decided that I could center an Expedit in each closet and have rods going out either way.

One closet would get drawers for small clothing items (I don’t have a dresser!) and the other would house shoes & handbags.

In case you were wondering, each closet is 60” wide, 18” deep, and has a doorway 7’ high (though the ceiling inside the closet is 9’, like the rest of the ceilings in the condo.)

Ikea Kallax closet hack

These shelves are easy to set up with items from Ikea and a few additional items from the hardware store.

Ikea shopping list:

• 2x Expedit 5x1 shelves @ $59
• 3x Expedit drawers @ $25
• 2x white fabric bins @ $5
• 5x Rationell Variera pop up shelves @ $8

Here is the Kallax version of that list:

• Kallax 4x1 shelves
• Kallax drawers
• Kallax inserts

Walmart also sells this 5x1 storage shelf which is most similar to the shelves that we used!

Other supplies used

Once we got back to Charleston a few days later, we also went to Lowe's where I purchased:

• ¾" x 16" x 96" Board @ $18
• ⅝" x 16" x 48"  Board @ $12
• 6x rods @ $6.50
• Dry Wall Screws @ $5
• ½ inch screws @ $11
• 10x 13 ¾” L brackets @ $1.74

So, a total spending of less than $350, including some leftover items like screws that I will use on future projects.

It seems like a lot, but compared to over $800 for the closet kit, I was feeling pretty good.

Steps to add an Ikea closet system to your closet

Here are the steps to install your Ikea closet system. If it feels overwhelming, break it up so that you do a few steps at a time!

STEP 1: empty the closets

The first step was to empty the closets. This is a great time to purge and get rid of unwanted clothing.

STEP 2: demolition.

We removed the existing wire shelving. This turned out to be, like many steps in this project, harder than it looked.

You will want to unscrew any screws and use pliers to pull the hardware out of the wall.

STEP 3: Repairs

After removing all of the hardware, sand the wall and patch with spackle. Let dry, and sand smooth again.

STEP 4: Paint

This is the point where we should have painted.

I wish I could say that we didn’t think of it, or that we didn’t have any appropriate left over paint or supplies sitting around, but that would be untrue.

We were just lazy and excited to get on with the project.

Looking back, I definitely wish we had painted and not left the splotchy patched walls. Don't be lazy - paint!

STEP 5: Assemble

Next, Sean assembled the Ikea shelving. It was pretty simple to assemble straight from the instructions.

We slid the tower shelf into the center of the closet. Sean then secured it to the wall using the included brackets.

Cut your shelf wood to be the width of your closet and place it on top of the shelf, spanning the width of the closet.

STEP 6: Add shelves and rods

Next came the closet rods. Sean did the shelves first on one side and the rods first on the other side and found that either way, whatever you did second was more difficult due to your space being blocked by the first thing you screwed in.

He drilled holes & added anchors & screwed ½ inch screws straight into the Expedit to hang the rods.

He secured the shelves with L brackets.

The shelves were 15 ¾” deep and the L brackets were 13 ¾” long.

He held them up and used a pencil to mark where to drill holes in the wall. He then used the ½” screws to screw the shelves to the brackets.

We installed double rods & shelves on one closet. This meant 4 rods, 4 short shelves, & 8 brackets.

This would allow for hanging tops & bottoms & maximize every vertical inch.

On the other closet, we installed just one long shelf  (& 2 brackets) above the Exepdit.

These rods were for dresses, with room for boots & my hamper underneath.

We also installed one of the prior wire shelves above the top solid shelf for additional storage.

STEP 7: Add organization & your clothes!

Finally, I got to fill these babies! I managed to fit in everything that was in there before.

And, while the Expedits do take up a chunk of the rod hanging space, they allow for so much organization & vertical storage that it is totally worth it!

I am so happy with these and am so thankful that Sean spent his last free day in Charleston building them! I cannot thank him enough!

Though they are gorgeous, there are still some things I’d like to fix.

First of all, I plan to hang curtains in front of each closet.

Also, I wish it was painted- we will see what I do about that in the future.

Finally, I hope to grab a couple of baskets or clear tupperwares to store small items on the upper shelves. Right now I have them stored in tote bags.

But, overall, I am IN LOVE and OBSESSED with my new closets! They are definitely my favorite part of my condo right now!