Here’s a situation you’re probably familiar with: you’re going out in a rush and have no idea what to wear; you’re digging through your closet but there are simply too many things in there and they’re not organized enough for you to find what you’re looking for so you just get more and more frustrated the more you try! Do you know what the solution to this problem is? A walk-in closet. It’ll give you plenty of space for all your things and what is more, keeping it tidy won’t be a problem. But your house didn’t come with a walk-in closet and you’re not quite ready to hire general contractors Beverly Hills for something as big as building a new home. Not to worry – with a little creativity, you can easily transform a spare bedroom into a walk-in closet.
First things first: should you transform a spare bedroom into a walk-in closet?
Before you start looking for general contractors in Los Angeles County, you should make sure that converting a spare bedroom into a walk-in closet is a good idea for you. Large closet space certainly has its benefits. You’ll have more space for all your clothes and a place to try them on, it’ll help you stay organized and make your bedroom less cluttered, and it’ll certainly add a touch of luxury to your home. It can even be a selling point – after all, how many people can say they’re offering a walk-in closet?
But you shouldn’t make this decision on a whim. Turning a spare bedroom into a close has one major downside: you lose one of your bedrooms. While you may not need it right now, that might not be true forever. And depending on what you do to space, converting it back into a bedroom could be tricky.
Finally, it’s worth remembering that the number of bedrooms is one of the main things people look at when buying a new home. Sacrificing a bedroom could significantly lower the value of your home. This can have major financial consequences. Generally, real estate agents discourage any remodeling that brings your bedroom count below three. So if you only have three bedrooms, converting one into a closet is a bad idea.
Transform a spare bedroom into a walk-in closet with these tips
If you’ve decided to go ahead and turn your bedroom into a walk-in closet, you’ll need a plan of action. Conversions like this are pretty big and comprehensive projects so there’s a lot to think about.
Work with the room, not against it
You can convert almost any space into a closet. But not every space is going to give you good results. Bedrooms are a double-edged sword: they’re plenty big enough, but they’re usually square with lots of windows. Still, to make the transformation easier, you want to go along with the space you have and try to build upon it instead of changing it completely. The three major things to think about are:
- the size of the room: a good walk-in closet is at least (dimensions) – make sure the room you’re converting isn’t smaller than that
- the shape of the room: ideally, walk-in closets are rectangular; when working with a square room, you’ll need to come up with ways to fill the space without leaving an empty and unused central area
- how many windows there are and how they’re positioned: having natural light in your closet isn’t necessarily bad; just make sure you aren’t covering them with furniture or letting the light shine directly on your clothes
Your remodeling contractors Los Angeles will need to know these things before they start designing and working. So take measures in advance.
Choose the right closet system
There are two types of closet systems to choose from:
- wall-mounted: affixed to a wall or a rail mounted on a wall
- floor-mounted: attached to the wall but get most of their support from the floor (like cabinets)
There’s no hard-and-fast rule on which is better. Rather, your choice will depend on your budget and your chosen aesthetic. Floor-mounted closets tend to be more expensive. So you’ll have to make sure you can afford them before you design with them in mind.
Don’t underestimate the importance of interior design
A walk-in closet is an extension of the bedroom it is attached to. So you want it to be in a more-or-less similar style. Use furniture made from the same materials and a similar color scheme to bring things together. If you’ve decided to tear down the windows in the room, you’ll need to think about the kind of artificial lighting you’ll use instead. You’ll also want to avoid painting the walls too dark. This will not only make the room seem smaller but also make it harder to properly see the outfits you put together. If you’re not sure how to set up your closet, consult with interior design firms Los Angeles or use portable furniture that you can easily rearrange or remove later.
Think practically
Above all, a walk-in closet is a utility. It gives you extra storage space, allows you to organize better, and provides you with a room where you can dress comfortably. Whatever you do, keep the purpose of it in mind when designing. You don’t want to sacrifice the functionality of a closet for aesthetics. So choose colors, furniture, decorations, and other changes based on how well they serve the purpose of a walk-in closet.
Set up a vanity and seating area
No walk-in closet is complete without a vanity area. In fact, the vanity is such an important piece of furniture that there are art exhibits about its history. This is the area where you can try on your jewelry and do your makeup while your partner sits and waits for you to get ready. Or you can have a place for your friends to get comfortable as you put on a fashion show for them. A nice seating area will elevate the whole space and make it feel like a proper room rather than just a very spacious closet.
How much does it cost to transform a spare bedroom into a walk-in closet?
As always, the cost of your remodel will depend on the specifics. Where you live, whether you hire contractors, how big of a room you’re converting – all these are factors. As a general rule, a low-end walk-in closet goes for about $500-$1,500 while a medium-quality closet sets you back between $1,500 and $8,000. The sky is the limit for high-end closets but most fall in the $8,000-$12,000 range. Finally, remember that you can’t transform a spare bedroom into a walk-in closet overnight. With the help of professionals, it’ll take approximately four to six weeks to complete this type of project. If you opt for DIY, the duration will depend on your skill.