IKEA Aurdal Closet Transformation [Kid’s Room]
If you’ve been following along for a while, you’ve seen a lot of my daugther Arden. We spent a good portion of the last year redesigning her room and making it just right. From her fabulous swing chair to amazing storage solutions in her closet, we’ve poured a lot of love into her space. But now that her room is finished, it’s her brother Anderson’s turn!
Our son Anderson’s room is very cool. It has two doors, and the “back door” of his room leads out onto an old enclosed sleeping porch that he uses as his playroom. I also installed this Nerf gun wall, which still gets a lot of use to this day!
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Victorian Home = Tiny Closets
At the end of last year, we noticed that Anderson’s closet was practically crying out for a makeover. Like most Victorian homes, our closets are either very small or non-existant. As Anderson has grown, so have his clothes and a single hanging rod that once worked just wasn’t cutting it anymore.
I wanted to give him a space that felt more tailored to his needs and could grow with him over the next few years. It was clear that a simple refresh wasn’t going to be enough; what the closet really needed was a thoughtful system to maximize every inch and keep things organized.
In past projects, I’ve used the IKEA Pax system to renovate closets in our home. But this closet was too small for Pax, so I opted for the Aurdal closet system, which fits snugly into the space.
Prepping the Space
The first step before installation was to remove the trim board that ran around the back of the closet. I knew I wanted to wallpaper, so I’d need a clean, flat space. I always love adding wallpaper to small spaces like this because it gives the area a little extra personality without feeling overwhelming.
For this project, I chose a pattern that’s simple and modern-looking, which keeps the overall feel clean and fresh. It blends beautifully with the white finish of the Aurdal system and really helps everything look intentional, like a custom built-in. That little pop of pattern also makes the closet feel more polished, so even when the doors are open, it looks like part of the room’s design rather than just a hidden storage space.
Installing the Ikea Aurdal Closet System
Once the wallpaper was in I moved on to installing the Ikea Aurdal closet system. The assembly and installation were simple and relatively quick. I highly recommend a project like this for a homeowner who is new to DIYing. And the best part is seeing how much more functional the space has become for my growing boy, who now has room to keep his clothes, shoes, and treasures organized without everything spilling onto the floor.
Of course, closet systems like these don’t magically erase the storage challenges that come with living in a very old Victorian home. Tiny closets and quirky layouts are just part of the charm (and sometimes the frustration!) of these historic houses. But what systems like this do give us is the ability to maximize every inch we have, turning a space that once felt useless into something that truly works for our family.
From Hot Mess to Dream Closet
Learning to DIY projects like this closet makeover doesn’t just make your home look better—it can truly transform how it feels. Clutter has a way of creeping in and quickly becoming overwhelming, especially when you don’t have proper systems in place. But when you take the time to create spaces that actually work for your family, it’s amazing how much calmer and more organized your home becomes.
Giving everything a designated spot brings a sense of order and peace that impacts your daily life more than you might expect. The IKEA Aurdal closet system is a great example—it’s easy to install, relatively inexpensive, and helps you maximize even the smallest spaces.
I hope this inspires you to take on some projects at your home! And, if you need some help or inspiration, contact me. I’m here to help.
