Dream a Big Closet Dream

By, Angela Diffly Fashion Writer on Colleen's Blog

I’ve decided I’m never coming out of the closet. Or at least, I don’t want to now that I have a really, really good one.

Since the housing market has forced most of us to stay in our current homes even if we’d like to sell and trade up, it’s time to get creative. I had my house on the market for six months and I had every room looking livable and staged to the best of my ability. I have a small third bedroom that I never quite knew what to do with. It would be a perfect child’s room (if I had a child) or a nice exercise room (if I didn’t live near a park), but alas, I staged it as an extra bedroom and it never got used.

After I gave up on the dream of selling my house in this market, I started reevaluating how to live in the here and now (literally). The second picture in the grouping with this post is of the little extra bedroom while on the market (yawn), pre-fabulous-ness.

After the for sale sign was long gone, I started walking through the house wondering what to do with my space. I was getting ready to go out on the town with some girlfriends and an idea hit me (it was probably a clothes hanger, come to think of it) as I was struggling to pry apart my jammed clothes to find what I wanted to wear. If there’s one thing I know for sure about my house, it’s this: the closets suck. The “master” closet is a walk-in, but it’s very narrow, so when I walk in, I’m really “wedged in” between the wall and the hangers trying to claw my way through everything I own to find something great. And I know I have some great stuff. But I can never find it. Because I can’t SEE it. Every woman who’s ever wished for a bigger closet can relate.

So I made the only practical decision any sane woman would. I decided to transform that little bedroom into my dream closet. Some friends ask me why I did it, and my answer is always “Why not?” It’s fabulous. I love it. And I swear it’s made me a better dresser (or at least a happier one). I feel so Carrie Bradshaw in the dream closet that Big built. Seeing is believing, ladies, so here you go, take a look at the featured picture in my grouping.

It is the view looking at the shoes & hanging clothes. Closet shelving is from IKEA Pax wardrobe frames. Plenty of room for my lovely shoes to be on display, along with my dresses, jackets and skirts. Shelves can be for folded jeans, tank tops and of course, my clutch collection.

One of the best things about this closet is the little nook that was once the closet in the new closet. We removed the louvered doors and opened it up to be a little sitting / primping area. Take a look at pictures #3.

The nook's paint color is Velspar “Cosmic Pink”, which looks fabulous against white boarders and accents. Little vanity dressing table and bench came from Target (white vanity set). I changed out the knobs with little crystal knobs from Lowe’s. Small details, like a rotating jewelry holder (Picture #4) shows off the prettiest stuff and keeps sparkly treasures at arm’s reach on built-in shelves nestled on both sides of the vanity.

The dressing room is anchored by a pretty, square, cream-colored ottoman from Overstock.com. You’ve got to love Overstock for cheap delivery of big stuff! 

And the dogs love to hang out with me in the new dressing room on the cream-colored shag rug (also from Overstock.com). (Picture #5.)

Groovy wallpaper is not damaging to the wall – it just peels off if you ever want to take it down. Wallpaper is French Kiss from DesignYourWall.com. Large mirror (Picture #6) was purchased from a nice guy on Craigslist. It was kind of a hideous bronze color until it was spray painted shiny silver! Now it looks glamorous and I love it! 

And check out this gorgeous chandelier I also purchased from our friends at Overstock.com. It didn’t photograph well but follow the link & take a look!

And finally, here’s how happy I am that I made the decision to turn the little bedroom into a dressing room, aka my dream closet. My advice is to look around your house and think outside the box. You just may have a little diamond in the rough space waiting to metamorphosize into something your heart always desired (Picture #7.)

Anyone care to join me for a glass of champagne in the closet?

Cheers!

-Angela