Walk-in Closet from Nowhere: How to Grab 5 Square Meters from a Standard Layout

In a standard 47m² two-room apartment of SM3 series, a full-sized walk-in closet with an area of 5m² appeared. The apartment owner reclaimed space from the bedroom without sacrificing comfort. We explain how to transform part of a room into a functional storage area without compromising living space.

Main points from the article:

• The walk-in closet was created by re-planning a 18m² bedroom;

• Size of the walk-in closet: 1.5 by 3 meters;

• IKEA PAX storage system was used;

• Lighting and ventilation were carefully planned.

When Square Meters Hide Behind Mirrors

"This was once a single room with an entrance facing the mirror, and the total area of the room was around 18 square meters," – says the owner. The re-planning allowed for a 5m² space to be dedicated to a walk-in closet, while still leaving enough room for the bedroom.

The key secret is proper zoning. Full-wall mirror panels in the bedroom not only visually expand the space but also mask the 'eaten' square meters.

How to Organize Storage in a Narrow Space

"The walk-in closet is about 1.5 meters wide and 3 meters long," – shares the owner. Despite the narrow passage, space is used as efficiently as possible:

• Three full-sized compartments for clothes on hangers;

• Slide-out drawers for laundry and accessories;

• Special sections for footwear;

• Shelves for books and perfumes.

Why IKEA PAX Is More Than Just a Wardrobe

"Without it, there's no point to my life," – the owner admits about the PAX system. Three sections of the storage system were placed in the walk-in closet:

• Racks for long and short clothes;

• Drawers of different depths;

• Shelves for seasonal items;

• Special compartments for accessories.

Lighting and Ventilation: Technical Details

The walk-in closet has thoughtful lighting and ventilation:

• Spotlights similar to those in the bedroom;

• Outlets for additional lighting;

• Doors are usually left open to allow air circulation.

"I didn't plan ventilation here, but I keep the doors almost always open when I leave so that the clothes can breathe," – explains the owner.

How to Hide the Entrance to the Walk-in Closet

"What kind of interesting doors are these? Where do they lead? They lead to the bathroom," – jokes the owner. The entrance to the walk-in closet was made inconspicuous:

• Hidden doors in wall color;

• Minimalist hardware;

• No thresholds.

No Regrets About This Decision

Separating part of the bedroom for a walk-in closet turned out to be a smart move:

• All clothes are stored in one place;

• The bedroom remains spacious;

• Space is available for a vanity table;

• Clothes are naturally aired out.

This re-planning experience shows that even in a standard apartment, you can find 'hidden' square meters. The key is to calculate proportions correctly and design a storage system accordingly.