Last week I posted about Real Simple closet ideas that can easily be implemented in your own closet. When my husband and I first talked about organizing our closet, we had planned to go big and install some type of fancy closet system. I am sooooo happy we decided to put on the brakes with that project. One afternoon, after coming home from a trip to a closet system store {jaw still on the floor from the $3000.00 price tag} I decided to jump in and see what I could do to make the closet more functional and pleasant. There was no way I was okay with spending that amount of money. Especially on a room no one really sees. I can’t believe I am showing you these, but here we go!!! Here are the not so lovely before pictures. 
In case you are thinking, “But look at all the blank space above on the shelf!” Oh no, my friends. I just forgot to take a before picture. Here it is after I pulled it all down and tossed it in the hallway. Where does all of this junk come from? 
Operation Closet Organization: Purge: Of course the first thing I did was to get rid of A LOT!!!! I gave a great deal to Goodwill and only kept what we absolutely love, wear, and use. Shop the House: After that, I made my husband drag an old dresser from my son’s closet into our closet. It’s the type of dresser everyone seems to have or had back in their college days. And since it was free from shopping in our house it’s just my kind of dresser! Not to mention, it was really only housing burp clothes, baby blankets, and clothes that not longer fit my son. What a waste of valuable dresser real estate. I already had some clear plastic drawers from Target that I sorted through and re-labled. I LOVE clear bins even though they don’t always look pretty. I have learned that I only end up using what I can really see. I also hung a plastic storage system on the back of my door for all of my scarves. I found it while cleaning out the closet. Oh happy day! Purchases: Then we made a few purchases. We bought a dresser that actually matches my husband’s ancient dresser from Ikea. And it was only $125.00. It’s taller and has more drawers so it is perfect for me. We also bought hardware from Ikea to dress them up a bit. We treated ourselves to wooden hangers which cost only $60.00 for our entire closet. That has made the biggest difference by far. I LOVE them. I finished off the closet with a cute white rug from Target. It is really really soft and lightens up the space a bit. Organization: One of my favorite finds were the black and white banker’s boxes from Target. They come in sets of 2 for just $8.00. You can’t beat that! They are super sturdy and house some things we only need to access from time to time. For instance, one holds coloring books and goodies for the kiddos that I need to grab from time to time for trips or special events. Another one has scarves and mittens which we literally wear once a year when we visit Santa on a train nearby! I have them all labeled and found a cute black and white step stool from Ikea for when I need to get them down. The uniform look across the top shelf made a huge difference in the closet. Finishing Touches: After putting everything back in place, I just added some personal touches with pictures frames, a tray for my flowers, and an Ikea pot for my permanent markers {with toddlers permanent markers have to be out of reach!} I love the height of my new dresser and fill out cards or make gift tags right on top of it. It’s a nice little spot to do that. The Closet Reveal! It’s not super fancy, but it is one of my favorite spots now! I love going in my closet. Never thought I would say that! It feels more like a dressing room and for some reason our clothes looks so much better on wooden hangers. I struggled with getting good photos of it, but here it is: 
I love that there is actually unused hanging space. I intend to keep it that way as it just makes the closet feel so much better. 
Striped tray and white pot are from Ikea. 
Rolled up magazines keep boots standing upright. 
Although they are difficult to see in the photos, each box has a label so I can grab what I need in a hurry. 
I love scarves and this makes storing and wearing them so much easier. It’s hidden behind the door. 
This was a hook I had found on a trip to Cambria in a little vintage shop. I use it now to hang an outfit I plan to wear {Pink and black dress was only $10.00 from Ann Taylor Loft. Just picked it up last week. So proud of my bargain!!!} 
Black and white stool: Ikea. White rug: Target. 
So It might not be glamorous, but it is functional and soooooo much better than the before! I am still on the hunt for a better light fixture. The space could use a brighter, more flattering light. Any suggestions? Linking it up: Monday: Between Naps on the Porch The DIY Showoff Tuesday: My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia Thrifty Decor Chick Friday: The Shabby Nest Just a Girl Remodelaholic Saturday A Little Lovely Tatertots and Jello
Looks incredible! Great job! 🙂
That doesn't even look like the same closet! Great job! The wooden hangers are really nice and those banker's boxes were a great find. I love your mirrored frames too. Maybe check Overstock for some lighting options?
My jaw dropped- I honestly didn't know how you could make that closet look good. My closet currently looks like your before pictures, so now I'm inspired to make it fabulous! You are amazing.
That is so organized! It looks wonderful. I'm working on our closet and just got some good ideas from hearing what you did. Thanks for the inspiration.
Wow!! Your closet looks awesome!! I am so jealous!
Great job, Courtney! Wanna come do mine? I have yet to even put away our summer clothes… another thing for the to-do list!! 🙂
What a transformation. It looks so amazing! Great job!
WOW Courtney! I want to live in your closet! It looks fabulous – seriously! And thanks for the tip on the magazines to stand up boots – I never heard that one before. How gratifying this must be to have transformed your closet without spending $3ooo! Thanks for the inspiration.
I think it is gorgeous and luxurious, too, because it's easier to use and more pleasant to look at. A beautifully done job. Jane F
Great Job! That doesn't even look like the same closet.
What a difference, and for very little money too! I love all the little extra special touches you added. The black and white boxes were a great find!!
Looks amazing, what a transformation! I think another project for another day might be painting or stenciling the walls, or painting the hanging rod. But it looks fabulous- I'm lusting after those wooden hangers and banker boxes
this is so glamourous! i would love to have my closet look like this 🙂 thanks for sharing your sources too!!
I love it! Gorgeous makeover. Reorganizing my closet is on my weekly goals for next week. I have some ideas up my sleeve, and I would love to use some of yours. The magazines in boots is especially clever! Come check out my blog! http://www.creatingbetterhabits.com
Love it!! Fantastic job!! congratulations
WOW!!! What a HUGE difference! It looks sooo good!!! I never thought about putting magaines in my boots. What a great tip!!
very nice, it makes me want all wood hangers too!
cool! I just redid my own closet recently too. I love the magazine in the boots idea, my boots just flop.
This is fabulous! I'm loving this transformation, you did such a great job!
XO
OOOhh your closet looks great! I love all wood hangers…I just went to Ikea the other day and picked up loads of new hangers…doesn't it just make you feel good to get rid of those plastic ones : ) ~Stacey
Uh…..WOW! You did a fab job. Makes me think about my closet and shake my head. It's not bad but it needs awesome work.
Love the brown boots!
Kendra aka "Domestic Princess in Training"
Ahhhh – what a great job! I love it. I store my scarves in a similar fashion – but I roll them on paper towel tubes.
Fabulous! Wish my closet was big enough to have storage and organization like that!!
I think it looks great and really organized! And you saved your self A LOT of money! Great job!
wow … what a crazy difference. i would love to redo my closet but i would have to knock out a wall and we are renting 🙂
You've inspired me! Thank you! My closet currently looks just like your "before" pics but maybe not for long. Great tip on the rolled-up magazines too.
dreamy closet! and i love that scarf idea! genius!
http://www.thecapeonthecorner.blogspot.com
Oh man. This was GOOD! It's so much work to organize, but it is SO worth it in the end, isn't it? Gorgeous!
what a great (and affordable!) closet redo!!!
just-jillian xoxo
http://just-jillian.blogspot.com
It is glamorous!! enjoy your hard work!!
What a wonderful closet! You did an amazing job!
Angie xo
Stopping by from Just a Girl. Your closet transformation is great, especially with the low cost updates. It looks so organized and functional now. We are in the midst of our closet overhaul, but not a walk in. We use the IKEA wooden hangers in our hall closet. They are so sturdy for winter coats and I love seeing them each time we open the closet.
Thanks for sharing, and I am your newest follower.
ah! that looks great! good for you! i wish you could help me with my closet! scary!
awesome job!! I, too, gagged at the cost of fancy closet systems; so hubby and I did similar things like you did, we reconfigured it ourselves and it works SO much better! And for only $100ish maybe, with paint and all the supplies. Way better than a $600 or $1,000 closet!
This is fantastic! Thank you for the inspiration…I fear my "before" photos which are still my "current" photos are much much worse off then yours but I love the way you closet turned out! You have inspired me to get moving! Thanks!
What a fantastic makeover. I am a rolled-up magazine girl too!
My wardrobe needs a constant eye on it. It seems to have a life of its own in the way it accumulates junk in there!!
I love your blog. Thank you so much for leaving such a lovely comment.
I'm your new follower!
Sarahx
HI there! I am your newest follower from the weekend blog hop!! I love finding new blogs and your is lovely:) You can find me at http://www.bouffeebambini.blogspot.com
WOW great job. I love the transformation
Take a *peek* at my giveaways if you stop by. Everything is handmade and gorgeous!!
This is such a great transformation!!! I'm so glad you shared it, because you have really inspired me!!!
What a transformation! I think the matching hangers make a huge difference!!! I know, I'm crazy like that.
I redid my oldest son's closet just a month ago and I swear the hangers took it from ok to WOW!
Check it out here if you wish
http://dittledattle.blogspot.com/2010/10/modern-boys-closet.html
Great job….I am a believer that wooden hangers can make any closet feel like a dressing room. I'm swiping your bankers box idea 😉 Over from Thrifty decor CHick….glad I popped in.
Found you on Thrifty Decor Chick. I've been planning a closet redo and was stumped on what to do with all my scarves. I'm so sick of them slipping out of the ring things. Great idea using a shoe holder!
great idea with whe scarves…i'll be using it. where are your shoes though?
hi Lyn! I have one of those hanging shoe bags {but I cut it off a bit to fit} next to the black dresser. You can sort of see it in the photos. I also have my heels sitting on the shelf under the top row of clothes. You can see them peaking out. The ones I wear all the time are in a hall closet by our back door. So much easier!
Um, how did I never see this post? Great, now I have to go back and read every post you ever wrote…just in case I missed something. That's what a good stalker-follower-blogger bff does, right?
And I have the same striped tray, countless numbers of the white pots and the same hangers. Twinsies!!
Seriously, you did an amazing job! That is organizantional heaven!
I love this! My closet looks almost just like your before, except I have those awful wire shelves. I, too, was disgusted at the prices of a custom closet! Thanks for the tips and ideas of how to do it cheaper! I need to tackle mine, now!
Great closet makeover, very inspiring! I too was overwhelmed by the cost of a closet system from the big retailers so I'm looking for inspiration….thank you! I especially love your idea for storing scarves!!
Great job!
oh my gosh this looks so great!! great idea with rolling up the magazines to keep the boots up!
Great Inspiration, just what I needed! Thank you Thank you!!!! Off to put some stripes or a stencil on the closet wall and then organizing and finding a dresser! 🙂
Love it!! Fantastic job!! congratulations
free standing pantry
That's a great idea!! and they look so neat!!
♥ pantry
Wow, I did not see that coming! I am really impressed with what you have done with your closet. This really looks fabulous, and yes, very inspiring. Thank you for sharing this post. This gives me a head start. This will surely inspire closets Bergen lovers out there. Keep sharing your ideas!
I'm planning on doing something similar to mine tomorrow – I'm sure it won't look half as good as yours but I appreciate your great ideas! Thanks for the inspiration