DIY Closet Makeover: How I Built a Custom Closet Using IKEA Dressers and Plywood Shelving

Tiffany Nguyen
Oct 21
6 min read

Updated: Oct 24

Closets might be my favorite type of DIY build... I mean what feels better than an organized closet? They can make sure a difference in day to day life. So after I finished my sliding closet door, I figured it was time to tackle our primary closet. I knew this project would be quite the undertaking, which is why I put it off for so long but the wire shelving was starting to fall apart and there was so much wasted space. I wanted something functional, organized, and custom—without spending thousands on a full closet system. I had a few IKEA Hemnes dressers that we purchased years ago but were taking up so much space in our bedroom so I decided to move them into the closet and build around them.

Here’s a general step-by-step breakdown of how I built our custom closet using simple materials. For reference our closet is about 5' x 10'.

BEFORE

🛠 Materials Used (links may earn a small commission):

2 IKEA Hemnes dressers
- I always look for second hand pieces before buying new. Check your local FB Marketplace listings, or thrift stores.
- Any second hand dresser will work. Look for pieces that are good quality (sturdy, easy to open drawers, etc).
3/4" plywood (for shelving)
2x4 boards (for the bases)
1x2 boards (for shelf trim)
Baseboard molding (to cover the base frames)
Wood screws and pocket hole screws
Wood filler and caulk
Paint or finish of your choice
Hanging rods
Tools: Circular saw or table saw, drill, pocket hole jig, level, stud finder, nail gun, sanding block, tape measure, corner clamps

You can shop most of the materials and tools HERE.

Step-by-Step Closet Build

Step 1: Planning the Layout

The first step was to figure out the layout and this may have been the most challenging. I took measurements of the closet and sketched out different options. The goal was to include:

Enough hanging sections for shirts and pants
A long hanging section for dresses
Plenty of shelf storage
Drawer storage using IKEA dressers

Tip: Think about vertical space too. The height of the units really depends on the size of the items you want to hang as well as how high your ceilings are. Our upper shelves are a little higher than I probably would have wanted them to be but I wanted to make sure I could easily hang shirts and pants above the dresser.

Step 2: Installing the IKEA Dressers

I started by assembling and placing two IKEA dressers where I thought they would make the most sense. These served as the foundation for the lower storage area.

If the top of the dresser extends beyond the front and sides of the piece, you may want to consider removing it and cutting it down to fit flush.
- I reattached the top of the dresser using wood glue and brad nails.
Place the dressers directly on the floor where you wanted the base of your shelving system.
Make sure they are level and secure them to the wall studs. It is very important to anchor the dressers to the wall especially if you plan on building above them.

Step 3: Build the bases

I really wanted the floor to ceiling wardrobe look so I built bases out of 2x4's and covered them with nice plywood working around the dressers.

Remove any carpeting or flooring before placing the bases.
Secure them to the studs in the wall.
Cover with plywood and secure in place using brad nails.
One of the last steps will be to add baseboards to cover the outside of the 2x4's to create a seamless look.

Step 4: Building the Shelving

Next, I cut 3/4" plywood to create shelves that sit above and around the dressers. I chose to cut all of the plywood to a depth of 15". This allowed me to get 3 rows of cuts on each 4'x8' sheet of plywood to minimize waste and keep costs down.

Map out the cuts you need to make ahead of time to get the most out of your materials. I had my engineer husband do this for me but there are free programs on the internet that you can use to plan out your cuts as well such as this Free Cutlist Optimizer
Cut all of your materials and start assembling them. I used pocket screws and wood glue to assemble mine.
Once they are assembled you can secure them to the studs in the wall as well as to the bases. Again, I used pocket screws to secure the units in my build.

5: Add baseboards and ceiling trim

I really like the built-in wardrobe look and I wanted the tops of the units to look intentional so I included plywood pieces that were a few inches down from the ceiling. Once I was finished installing all the shelves, I used a piece of trim board as a type of crown molding to hide the gaps between the top of the unit and the ceiling.

Use brad nails to secure the baseboards in place. Make sure you choose a size that will cover the
- I covered the bottom of the one dresser with a baseboard but chose to leave the other open because of a vent in the floor that I did not want to move.
Use brad nails to add a trim piece of wood or crown molding from the top shelf of the unit to the ceiling.

Step 6: Trimming the Shelves

To give the shelves a finished look, I trimmed the front edges with 1x2 boards.

Cut the trim to length and attach it to the front of each plywood shelf using wood glue and brad nails.
- This makes the shelves look thicker and more polished but also hides the raw plywood edges.
- It also adds an additional .75" to the depth of the unit.

Step 7: Wood Fill and Caulk seems.

Now buckle up because you have many, many hours of finishing work to take care of.

Fill in all nail holes with wood filler.
Sand the wood filler as well as any other rough edges you may find.
Caulk every seem where two boards meet or where boards meet the walls.
- These steps might take a while but they will make such a difference in making your unit look professional and clean.

Step 8: Painting

Wipe down all surfaces of any dust or debris.
Make sure to prime any raw wood surfaces. I like Kilz Restoration Interior Primer for projects like this.
- Be sure to scuff sand the dressers before priming.
Lightly sand between coats of primer and paint.
I highly recommend using an enamel or cabinet paint for better durability.
- FYI: I taped off and covered the flooring and painted the entire room with my paint sprayer.

Step 9: Adding Hanging Rods

There are lots of different options available for hanging rods. I chose to use wooden ones and stain them. I honestly prefer the look but they are also more cost effective and easier to cut and install in my opinion. Just make sure to leave enough room above the rod so that you can comfortable get a hanger onto it.

Closet Accessories

I did not add much else into the closet but I did splurge on some shoe stackers and felt hangers.

Important Dimensions

I get a lot of questions about what size shelves I built. Our closet is approximately 5' x 10' with an 8' ceiling. Like I mentioned before, The depth of the units are 15" (15.75" with the face frame) because that allowed me to get three rows of cuts from one sheet of plywood.

The dressers stick out a few inchers farther than the shelves. I don't mind the difference but if this is something that concerns you, feel free to look for a smaller dresser or adjust the shelving to fit your desired depth.

The upper hanging areas have a height of 40.5" above the dresser with the bottom of the hanging bar at a height of 38" from the top of the dresser.

The upper cubbies have a height of 15". And I used a height of 10" for the shoe storage area.

Total Cost

Lumber, Trim, Screws, Caulk: $520.81

Dressers: $0

Paint & Primer: $103.35

Hanging Rods & Holders: $69.29

Accessories: $105.50

New Light: $38.99

Total: $837.94

We did purchase the dressers back in 2011 but we were going to sell them before I decided to use them in the closet, so I'm counting them as $0... they've more than earned their initial value these last 14 years. I also did not include the cost of wood filler, stain and sandpaper because I always have those on hand in bulk but consider budgeting for those items as well.

Final Reveal & Reflections

This closet project totally transformed our storage space and cost a fraction of a custom closet system. The combination of IKEA dressers with custom shelving gives a high-end, built-in look that’s both beautiful and functional.