The Walk-In Closet Tricks Designers Use To Create A Luxe Look

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If your bedroom has a walk-in closet, then you understand that it can be both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it is wonderful to have so much hanging and floor space to hold clothing, linens, accessories, and various other items. On the other hand, keeping everything organized is a challenge. And, despite your goals of hiring a professional designer to help you better utilize all the available space and to transform your walk-in closet into a luxurious retreat, doing so simply may not be in the cards.

While hiring a professional might not be an option, there are several relatively small changes you can make yourself to give your closet a luxe look. These are tricks that design professionals use themselves when remodeling and styling their clients' wardrobes. We know this because we spoke exclusively with several professional designers and asked them to share their secrets. Ahead, you can read through the quotes they shared with House Digest to find the inspiration you need to give your closet a makeover to enhance its functionality and aesthetics.

If your walk-in closet is looking plain and boring, it might be because you're treating it as only a closet. Ellie Yun, the principal and founder of San Francisco-based Studio Yun, recommends a mindset change to help you get past this problem. Instead of viewing the space simply as a storage area, she says to treat it as you would any other small room in the home. "A closet is the perfect place to be bold and take some design risks. Paint and wallpaper can instantly make the space feel elegant and considered," Yun shared when speaking exclusively with House Digest.

When choosing a paint color or wallpaper pattern, think about your vision for the space. If you want to create a bolder look, then opting for a darker color, such as the Glidden Eggplant Total Interior Wall Paint and Primer, to contrast with white shelves could be the way to go. If you want to create the illusion of more space, then choosing a lighter color for the walls, like the Prestige Pink Sugar Interior Paint and Primer, or wallpaper with horizontal stripes, like the Guvana Stripe Peel and Stick Wallpaper, could help you achieve that goal. As another idea, Yun says, "I love the idea of color drenching or using wallpaper on the ceiling as an element of surprise."

There are other ways you can work more color into your closet, too. During an exclusive interview, Sara Davis, the owner of Artful Conceptions, an interior design firm based in the Tampa Bay Area, told House Digest, "For high-end closets, I try to stay away from white on the cabinetry. It is a closet so this is a place you can have fun and go for some color." Davis highlights emerald green as one of her top picks for cabinets. "It pops beautifully off light-colored walls especially when it has the right lighting," she says.

When you're considering the various upgrades you can do to give your closet that high-end feel, you shouldn't overlook the impact that lighting can have. "A huge element to high-end looking walk-ins is the integrated lighting. Including LED lighting under the shelves or even inside the hanging rods truly elevates the look of the space," Isfira Jensen, the CEO and principal designer at Jensen & Co. Interiors, shared exclusively with House Digest. Jensen explains that adding the lighting will not only make it easier to find the items you're looking for but that it can make your closet feel like a mini boutique.

There are different ways in which you can work integrated lighting into your closet. As Jensen mentioned, one idea is to add LED lights on the underside of the shelves. Strip lights, such as the Daybetter Dimmable Strip Lights, provide customizable illumination to help you set the mood or inspire you as you put your look together for the day. For an even more high-end feel, you could consider installing automatic illumination, such as the Wobane LED Motion Sensor Strip Lights. With these, you wouldn't even need to press a button on a remote control. You could simply walk up to a shelf or a drawer, and the lights would automatically turn on.

If you're planning a full renovation or are willing to make some DIY modifications to your existing shelving system, Jensen offers another trick that can make a striking change: extending the cabinets all the way to the ceiling. "Doing so makes the space feel more like a luxury dressing room rather than just a closet," she explains. Beyond the aesthetic appeal, there are some other benefits associated with extending the cabinets. For one, you'll gain additional storage space, which can help you maintain a cleaner and more organized wardrobe. That storage space will also be covered, so your belongings won't get dusty, as they would on the open-top shelf of a standard closet system.

However, before deciding that extending the cabinets is the best choice for you, there are a few things to consider. One downside is the cost. A floor-to-ceiling system will require more materials to build, which means that it will be more expensive. It will also be more challenging to install, which can add to the overall cost. Additionally, you'll want to carefully consider what you plan on storing on those upper shelves. Unless you're very tall, they won't be easily accessible, so you might not want to keep frequently used items up there.

You don't leave the walls and shelves in your living room or bedroom bare, do you? Of course not! You add decorations that represent your tastes and design preferences. So, why are you leaving your dressing area void of your personal style? According to Jensen, it's time to change that. "Adding art, photography, or even a small sculpture can make a closet feel more like a curated space you love to spend time in. It's a great way to level up this space from just a storage area," she says.

The specific decorations you could add to your closet will depend on several factors. Of course, you should keep your personal preferences in mind, but you'll also need to consider the size of the room and how much available wall or shelf space there is. Unless you have a massive walk-in closet, you'll likely want to choose smaller pieces of art, such as the CoziTech Canvas Wall Art Set that won't take up too much wall space. If you have a few inches to spare on a shelf or two, something like the Deco 79 Metal Geometric Sculpture that isn't likely to break if it is accidentally knocked down might be a good fit.

While you can keep open shelves and large rods for hanging clothes organized with some effort, there is a better solution that will also give your closet a more upscale look. Debbie Featherstone, a senior designer with ML Interiors Group in Dallas, recommends incorporating inserts into the space. When speaking exclusively with House Digest, she explained, "Ample storage is possible when filling a walk-in closet with cabinets where special features inside are designed for specific items — clothes, hampers, handbags, jewelry, even shoes."

If you are already planning a full renovation, you can work with a professional to customize the layout and incorporate these inserts that Featherstone highlights. If you're not completing a full renovation project, then you can still enjoy many of the same benefits with some DIY solutions. For example, you can free up closet space by DIYing a pull-out shoe holder. You might also consider adding some jewelry organizers, such as the Frebeauty Stackable Velvet Drawer Inserts, to the drawers, or purchasing a shelf divider, like the Spacekeeper Adjustable Shelf Divider, to keep your purses neat and beautifully displayed.

While your closet holds clothing, shoes, and accessories, it doesn't have to only hold these items. Wouldn't it be nice if it could serve as a little escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life? Well, with a few small additions, Featherstone explains that it can do just that. "A piece of furniture and small area rug gives that 'it's not just a closet' feel, and creates a relaxing space to start the day."

Even most 'large' walk-in closets are not that huge. And, you want to make sure that you don't impede the function of the space or make it too tight to move around. For this reason, when you're looking to incorporate seating as a must-have walk-in closet update, you'll want to consider more compact options. An armchair, like the Yaheetech Modern Barrel Chair, or a pouf, such as the Higogogo Faux Fur Ottoman, will likely be a better choice than a larger bench or loveseat. If you have sufficient space, you could consider placing a small accent table next to the chair to provide a place to rest your magazine or morning cup of coffee.

If you're looking for a relatively simple solution that you can DIY that packs a truly powerful punch, Rachael Fahncke, the CEO and founder of Dayton Designer Closets, explains that molding can be that solution. During an exclusive interview with House Digest, she shared, "Adding a base molding along the floor perimeter and a crown molding on top, further enhances the space." Molding can instantly give your wardrobe the look of one that was custom-designed. Instead of looking like something you simply ordered online, your closet system will look like it was custom-built.

In fact, Fahncke thinks so highly of this upgrade that she says, "If you added no additional "bells and whistles" other than base and crown molding, your closet would be immediately elevated." You could even consider just adding molding on the wall with the main section of the organizer. Doing so will help you define a focal point for the closet.

Some of the changes that will have the greatest impact will seem so minor. However, once you implement them, you'll wonder why it took you so long to try. Ditching those mismatched hangers is one such upgrade that Fahncke says can be really powerful. "A simple trick to having a stylish closet is matching hangers. It immediately offers cohesion to the space and feels intentional and curated," she explains.

Replacing all of your hangers may seem like a daunting task. However, if you work in one section of the closet at a time, it likely won't take as long as you're thinking. Additionally, as you're moving sweaters, t-shirts, and pants from their old hanger to the new one, it will be the perfect time to declutter your closet. If there are items that you no longer love, don't fit, or are unwearable, set them aside to donate.

As for which hangers you should purchase to keep your closet perfectly organized, the answer will depend on a number of factors. One of the most important things to think about is how much hanging space you have compared to the number of garments you need to hang. If space is limited, then a set of slim hangers, such as the Amazon Basics Slim Velvet Hangers, could help you fit more on each rack. If space is not an issue, then you might opt for a more premium, wooden option, like the Zober Wooden Hangers. You could even splurge for a modern pick, such as the Amber Home Premium Matte Gold Hangers, that could double as a design element in the closet.

Fahncke explains that it's important to be careful when adding furniture pieces to your closet. The wrong item can have a detrimental impact. For example, she explains, "Many people try and squeeze a center island in a closet that technically has enough space, however, this puts walkways to the minimum requirements of 30 to 36 inches, and the room feels closed off or too tight." Such narrow walkways will do more than make things too tight and challenging to navigate. Because of how difficult it will be to walk to the back corners of the closet, you may find yourself more tempted to toss an item on the floor or against a wall to "put away later." However, if that later never comes, then you could find yourself with a cluttered and disastrous mess in no time.

To avoid such potential problems, follow Fahncke's advice and make sure the space is easy to navigate. If you still desire that center island feel, she offers a good solution, saying, "I would recommend a center ottoman instead of an island. It immediately elevates the space and gives your closet more of a dressing room vibe." An ottoman, such as the HomePop Tufted Round Storage Ottoman, is much more compact than a full island, so it won't take up nearly as much space. You'll be able to move around much more easily, but will still have that flat surface for laying out outfits or sitting down to put on a pair of shoes. If you have a little extra room, you could even consider a slightly larger ottoman, like the Linsy Home Wide Storage Ottoman Bench, as a compromise.

If you wish your walk-in closet was larger than it is, there isn't much you can do to change its physical dimensions. However, there is something you can do to create the illusion of a larger area. Fahncke explains, "Adding a full-length mirror will visually expand your space as well as bounce lighting in the room to give it a more bright and expansive feel." Having a mirror in the closet is always a benefit when you're trying to get ready, too.

There are a few different ways you can use mirrors to make your space look bigger. The dimensions of your closet (along with the available wall space) may dictate the ideal strategy to implement. If you're going to try Fahncke's recommendation to add a full-length mirror, like the Beautypeak Full Length Mirror, consider the ideal placement. When possible, you want natural light to hit the mirror, which is a challenge in a closet without windows. However, if you position it directly across from the doorway, some natural light may still enter when you open the door.

Another option is to hang several smaller mirrors, like the Teipai Boho Wall Mirror set or the Umbra Hubba Pebble Mirror set. If you don't have an abundance of extra wall space, this may be a more practical solution. You could hang them along the same wall, if space allows, or even on opposite walls so that they'll reflect off of each other, tricking the eye into thinking that the closet is larger than it really is.

According to Rachael Fahncke, lighting is one of the most important things you should consider when planning out your closet. She advises against relying on a single overhead fixture. This will leave some areas better illuminated than others, and you may have a difficult time finding what you're looking for in the darker corners of the closet. Instead, Fahncke shares, "Ideally, you want several ceiling fixtures or recessed lights throughout the space so that your lighting is even and subtle throughout." Not only will this ensure that you're better able to find that shirt or dress that you're searching for, but it will also give the space a more upgraded feel. Dark corners and shadows don't exactly scream high class, do they?

Beyond simply adding overhead fixtures or recessed lights to the ceiling, consider a layered lighting trick to immediately boost the ambiance. Specifically, Fahncke shares that accent lighting will give your dressing area more of a luxe feel. She says, "Accent lighting adds visual interest and highlights areas of interest." Depending on your closet size and where you have space available, you might choose to add a few wall sconces, like the Aipsun Modern LED Wall Sconces. You could even opt for a battery-powered table lamp, such as the KpShine Cordless Mini Lamp or the LushHarbor Cordless Glass Lamp, that could sit on one of the shelves. With the cordless operation, you won't need to worry about running the plug to an outlet and creating a tripping hazard.