Breathing Life Into Boxy Bedrooms

When my husband Cory and I first moved into our 1940s fixer-upper, I couldn’t wait to tackle the master bedroom closet. It was a typical reach-in affair – cramped, cluttered, and completely devoid of style. As an interiors blogger, I was determined to transform this blah box into a stunning, functional space that felt like a natural extension of our home’s character.

After scouring the internet for inspiration, I stumbled upon this jaw-dropping closet makeover by Jenny Wolf. I was instantly smitten with the custom blue cabinetry and knew that was the look I wanted to recreate. The only problem? Our budget didn’t exactly scream “high-end custom built-ins.”

As I researched further, I discovered that the IKEA PAX closet system was a total game-changer for achieving a custom aesthetic on a DIY budget. Tons of people had hacked these modular wardrobes to look like expensive, built-in designs.

An IKEA Hack with High-End Flair

Cory, being the ever-practical one, gently brought me back to reality. He reminded me that we’d never built a cabinet in our lives, let alone an entire wall of custom storage. And even if we could pull that off, the project would take forever – making it impossible to complete in time for the One Room Challenge we’d committed to.

So I set out to find a closet system I could customize and paint to match my vision. The PAX kept popping up as the most common, highest-rated, and budget-friendly option. I was no stranger to hacking IKEA products, but we’d never actually done it ourselves.

After some deep diving, I discovered that people were taking the PAX (or the IKEA BILLY bookcases) and turning them into built-in-looking storage solutions. But there were a few upgrades I couldn’t find examples of – like recessed in-cabinet lighting and custom drawer fronts for that truly inset, high-end look.

The drawer fronts were critical to my vision. You see, the stock PAX drawers have a very modular, modern aesthetic that just didn’t jibe with the 1940s vibe of our home. Most hacks involved adding doors to the wardrobe units, but we didn’t have the space or desire for that.

So, Cory and I rolled up our sleeves and got to work transforming our cramped closet into a custom-looking oasis. And let me tell you, the result was nothing short of jaw-dropping.

A Step-by-Step Closet Overhaul

To achieve the high-end look I had in mind, we started by adding baseboards, crown molding, and shoe molding around the perimeter of the units. This instantly gave the space a built-in feel.

Next, we recessed puck lights into the top shelves for some subtle, in-cabinet illumination. Cory wired them up to an electrical box so we could easily turn them on and off. We also replaced the stock metal hanging rods with stained wooden ones for a more elevated touch.

Then came the real magic – refacing the fronts and sides of the wardrobe units with wood strips. This allowed us to create the illusion of custom cabinetry. We even added wood drawer fronts to give the PAX drawers a completely seamless, inset appearance.

Let me pause for a moment to brag about those drawer fronts. I’m so proud of how they turned out! We essentially made our own custom drawer fronts out of the same poplar wood we used for the trim. And by screwing them directly into the existing PAX drawers, we were able to get that high-end, built-in look without having to rebuild the whole drawer system from scratch.

Of course, no custom closet is complete without some decorative elements. So we wallpapered the back of the units, added decorative plugs to cover the unused shelving holes, and swapped out the standard hardware for some gorgeous unlacquered brass pulls.

The end result? A closet that looks like it was ripped straight from the pages of a design magazine – but without the six-figure price tag. In fact, our entire custom makeover came in under $3,000, including the cost of the PAX units themselves.

Lessons Learned Along the Way

Looking back, there are a few key things I’m really glad we prioritized in this project:

Functionality First: Before we even started designing the layout, Cory and I sat down and mapped out our storage needs. We categorized our clothing and accessories by type (high, medium, and low), then used the IKEA PAX planning tool to ensure we had enough space for everything.

Streamlined Aesthetic: When it came to accessories, we opted for a clean, classic look over the more gimmicky IKEA options. Things like pants hangers and shoe trees just didn’t fit the vibe we were going for.

Attention to Detail: The little details made all the difference in this project. From recessing the puck lights to adding the decorative wood trim, we sweated every single element to ensure a cohesive, high-end feel.

Of course, no project is without its challenges. Cutting and installing all that trim was an absolute beast, and working with that shellac-based primer was enough to make me want to throw in the towel. But in the end, it was so worth it.

A Place to Call Home

Now, every time I step into our master closet, I can’t help but smile. What was once a cramped, utilitarian space has been transformed into a beautiful, functional oasis that feels like a natural extension of our home’s character.

And the best part? We achieved this stunning custom look without breaking the bank. In fact, compared to the astronomical price tags of high-end closet solutions, our DIY PAX hack was practically a steal.

So if you’re dreaming of a custom closet but your budget is more IKEA than California Closets, I hope our journey inspires you to think outside the (wardrobe) box. With a little elbow grease and a lot of creativity, you can turn even the most basic closet into a showstopping space that you’ll love coming home to.

Sofas Spectacular offers a wide range of custom sofas and other furniture to help you elevate your small space. Check out their selection today and start bringing your design vision to life.