Arden’s Ikea Closet: DIY Kids Closet Storage Ideas

Updating my daughter Arden’s bedroom was one of the easiest and most fun projects I did in 2024. It all started after Arden watched me update her best friend’s bedroom. She loved watching the project come together and revealing it to her friend. That got me thinking about how I could refresh her room. You can read more about the overall design here and click here to learn more about the DIY wall trim project I completed. In all, I’m so proud of this space! I intentionally omitted any mention of her closet as I put together the blog post for her room because it deserves its own post. So, it you’re looking for kids closet storage ideas, you’ve come to the right place! 

The Closet Before

Below is a picture of what the closet looked like before the renovation. It is a small closet that, at the time, had a lot of hanging space and one very high shelf. High shelves are fine for grown-up clothes but not very functional for kids. I suspect most families with young kids have at least one closet that looks something like this. I had added cheap closet organizing systems, but they weren’t very functional and didn’t look great. And, as you can see, the top shelf was piled with blankets. I needed some cute kids closet storage ideas. Stat!

The first thing to remember with any closet project, whether it’s a kid’s closet, a hall closet, or your master closet, is that if you’ve packed it with a lot of stuff, you may need to pair down your belongings and find new homes for the things that don’t fit.  My goal for this project was to give Arden some accessible storage space that looks tidy, which meant allowing her closet to be a space for clothing and accessories and not a catchall. I prioritized built-in drawers, clothing rods for hanging clothes, and open shelving for items like shoes and sweatshirts. The end result is a beautiful and organized closet I’m so proud of!

Choosing a Closet System

When planning out this kid’s closet upgrade, I knew I wanted to use the IKEA Pax closet system. IKEA is the place to go for kids closet storage ideas. One of the biggest advantages of IKEA units is their modular design, which allows you to tailor the system to your specific needs. The Pax system, in particular, has so many sizes and finishes. I chose white, but it comes in an array of beautiful colors that you can get to match your space or give a pop of color.   

In addition to customizing the outside, you can also customize the inside of your closet with shelves, solid drawers, wire drawers, storage bins, shoe racks, closet rods, and more. This IKEA closet organization system can be adapted to fit nearly any space. 

Unlike custom-built closets, which can be expensive and time-consuming to install, the PAX system looks high-end and professional at a fraction of the cost.  Another reason I chose the IKEA PAX system is its versatility and ease of modification.  As Arden grows, her storage needs will change, and it will be easy to reconfigure her closet by adding or removing components. IKEA really has mastered simple storage solutions!

Below is a rendering from IKEA’s Pax Planner website. It’s very easy to go on and design a closet layout and place an online order for a system that fits your space and your storage needs. One thing to keep in mind when ordering IKEA is the delivery time. These systems are very popular and can take time to get in. Order your PAX system well in advance of starting your closet makeover.

Installing the PAX System

Assembling a closet like this one may seem like a daunting task at first, but I assure you you can do it! If you’ve ever built anything from IKEA, you know how simple they are. This closet system is no exception. You can see from the picture below that the closet didn’t perfectly fit the dimensions of the doorway. That was no surprise, and I had a plan!

Before starting, be sure to carefully measure the available space and choose the right PAX frame size and interior organizers. The planner is a great resource to ensure you buy exactly what you need, but you have to start with accurate measurements.

Once you have the pieces you need, assemble the wardrobe frames and secure them to the wall for stability. Since PAX units are large, I recommend assembling them in the room where they will be installed. Adding custom touches like soft-close hinges, glass shelves, or integrated lighting can enhance the look and make the closet feel special and personalized.

After assembling the frame, the fun part is customizing the interior with drawers, pull-out trays, and hanging rods. One of my favorite touches in this closet is the wallpaper inside. Later on, you’ll see how I added LED strip lighting and extra trim to make the closet look like it was always meant to be there. In an old house like ours, storage space is limited. This well-organized closet system has been a total game changer and makes much better use of the vertical space.

Upgrading for a Built-in Look

Here’s where it gets exciting! In the pictures below, you can see the gaps around the outside of the IKEA system. I knew this would be the case. The closet is slightly smaller than the doorway to make sure and leave enough space for easy installation and decorative trim.

The first special add-on was LED light strips. In the first picture below, you can see the strip running across the top of the closet, and below that, you can see how nice it looks lit up.  The LED lighting is functional and beautiful, making it easier to find clothes, especially in dim lighting. Custom lighting like this is very inexpensive but effortlessly enhances the closet, making it both stylish and functional. 

Adding trim molding around the edges helped me eliminate the visible gaps between the unit and the closet door frame. Aside from the closet system itself, the trim is the most important thing to do to make your closet look custom and built-in. Crown molding at the top and baseboards at the bottom gives the closet a polished, elegant finish. This closet effortlessly achieves my goal of beautiful and functional storage. 

At first glance, the idea of transforming an IKEA PAX system into a built-in closet for a kid’s room might seem like an overwhelming project. But I promise you this project is a simple way to transform kids crazy closets into something useful and well-designed.

The assembly was easy to follow, and with just a few added touches—like trim and LED lighting—the final result looked like a custom-built piece without the high price tag. IKEA has some really genius storage ideas. I highly recommend walking around the showroom if you need some inspiration. What seemed like a big undertaking at first turned out to be an affordable weekend project, giving Arden a beautifully organized child’s closet that looks stylish and functions perfectly for her needs.​

I love doing DIY projects, but this one felt really special. I know this closet will grow with her. It felt great to transform an entire closet from cluttered to beautiful and functional!

A project like this is great for little girls’ rooms, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. It’s also a great idea for a nursery closet to hold toy bins and clothes they haven’t grown into yet. Or even as a craft or sewing room for the person who needs a little organization for their favorite hobby. Whatever you need it for, I highly recommend the investment to make the most out of your closet. 

If you’re stuck on a DIY closet project (or any project, really) and need help, send me a message! I’d love to help you bring some of your home DIY projects to life.