Installing our own Built-In Closet System (with pricing)

Creating this built-in closet system is one of the best projects we’ve completed. It’s such a satisfying feeling to see a space that was once dark and disorganized turn into something that feels like a personal boutique. I really can’t wait to share the final reveal with you!

If you’re looking at this project and thinking “there is no shot I can make something like this”. Let me tell you, we’re no experts either. We only have two DIY carpentry projects under our belt, our built-in living room bookshelves and our kitchen built-in bench.  That’s it!

If you’re a newbie at these types of projects (like us), start with something small to get a feel for it. Once you create one project, you will definitely have the confidence to tackle bigger things.  The time and energy is so worth it!

Our closet system is built very similar to the one in this Bob Villa video. Of course, I tweaked many details to make it work for our space but the overall construction of the fitted boxes is pretty much the same. I don’t recommend cutting all your pieces in advance for one specific reason—the floors and walls are never levelled. This will throw off some of the dimensions slightly and you’ll need to adjust accordingly. The only pieces we pre-cut were all the vertical panels.

Cost of Materials 

4′ x 8′ Finished Plywood Boards – $409.16
Paint – $161.16
Miscellaneous – $57.57
(screws, nails, brackets, caulking, etc.)
Drawers/Hardware – $162.64
Closet Rods/Hardware – $205.92
Quartz Countertop – $0 (re-using an old piece)

TOTAL: $996.45

If your hiring a professional, the average closet usually begins around the $2,300-$3,500 mark.  Keep in mind this will only get you melamine in a closet space smaller than ours. For a closet space our size and with the materials we used, the price range can be anywhere from $8,000-$15,000. 

I started by measuring out our closet space, planning out where we want our shelves and hanging rods to be. You can see all my design plans and dimensions in this post. 

The back wall is our starting point.  This section is designed for long garments and seasonal jackets. It’s also the only compartment that has a 20″ depth.  The hangers need to be able to sit inside this fitted box completely as the right corner will be a covered section.

Since I’m not a fan of melamine or particle board, we are using 1/2″ thick plywood, we put extra pieces of wood against the wall and in between all panels to bulk it up.  This creates the illusion of thick side panels, and those gaps are going to be covered by edging later.  Anything that we secure to the wall is drilled directly into a wall joist. Use a stud finder ALWAYS!

If you want thick side panels and want to avoid this extra step, you can just buy thicker wood (3/4″) but be aware there is a big price difference.  Expect the cost of wood to double in price.

As we begin on the next wall, this compartment is made for our double rods.  We secure the two new vertical panel against the existing panel and base (marked as #1 in the above image). Then we put the horizontal cleats running across the back wall, one at the base (we removed the baseboards) and one just below the ceiling (see #2).  Again, make sure the cleats are secured into the joist. The middle cleat is added to create a shelf, we use it as support since it’s there but not needed otherwise. 

To create the box shape, you’ll want to grab your other vertical panel (#3) and place it against the cleats on the opposite side where you will fasten them together. To finish off the box, grab another two horizontal cleats and attach it to the front side of the top and bottom (mimicking the back wall).

The structure will feel flimsy at first but as you move along and make all the connections, you will start to see how sturdy and heavy duty these built-ins are going to be. 

We did this same procedure to the remaining wall, which creates three fitted boxes in our space.

In the bottom platforms we included extra support, which is a bit of overkill.  However, we know our daughter will be sitting/standing/playing on these areas. Better to be safe than sorry.

We had many challenges within this space, including the vent and windows. For the vent, we simply extend the duct work up and let it vent out from the top of the platform.  There was not enough height in the platforms to vent out from the front base.

As for the window, we had no choice but to build in front of it. Typically, closet systems/built-ins have a 23″- 24″ depth.  Our closet depth is 15″.  Our hangers will stick out slightly, however, only 15″ of our window is covered. 

To make this less noticeable, I incorporated drapes into my design plan.  We left about a 4″ gap from the window to the start of the vertical panel.  This allows us to install drapes that will go directly between the structure. It’s a great trick to camouflage where the window begins and ends.  

Once the framing is all complete, this is where the real magic starts happening.  We went back and added all the wood edging, shelves and platforms. Using our plywood sheets, we cut everything to size with a table saw and fastened it in place with a nail gun.

On the other side of our closet, we created a shoe shelf and dresser area. We had yet another challenge with the attic door.  The clearance from the wall to the attic door is 12″. In order to make this work, we built the top section to fit 12″ shelves and transitioned the bottom to 15″, which will fit the depth of our drawers. 

We are going to be using a stone countertop right above the drawers but in this post, you will not see the finish product. We left out the countertop and drawers to make painting easier. 

Be sure to fill in all the screw and nail holes before priming the wood.  The very best wood primer to use is this one.  Shellac primer fills in all the wood grains and gives a nice smooth finish. However, the negative is that it smells so BAD. The smell lasted a few days as this space does not have any ventilation. 

Once the primer dries, I gave it a light sanding and used two coats of Benjamin Moore standard white. This closet has the smoothest finish ever. You can’t see the wood grains at all. 

The gold heavy-duty rods are the perfect finishing touch. You should consider using support brackets if your rods are 40″ or longer. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve seen drooping closet rods when I was searching for inspiration pictures. For my closet build, I only had one rod over 40″, however, I’ve put support brackets everywhere. I’m building this closet to stand the test of time!

This project has been rewarding in so many ways.  A few more finishing touches and I can’t wait to share the finished walk-in closet. If you have any questions on the build, please be sure to ask!

Click through these links to see more from our master closet series:

Designing my walk-in closet
5 Things to know before revamping your walk-in closet
Installing our built-in closet system (with pricing)
My DIY Master Walk-In Closet Reveal 
DIY Jewellery Organizer Drawer Insert