How to Turn a Hallway Closet into Custom Built Ins

Hey friends! I'm so excited to share how I took this boring, loud, super irritating hallway closet and turned it into functional, beautiful storage.

This is a project I've been meaning to tackle for about two years and every time I walk down my hallway, I wonder why I waited so long. I LOVE how these custom wooden cabinets improved the look and I'm happy to have storage drawers here, too.

If you've got a closet you're not 100% happy with, I hope this gives you some ideas for how to customize it to fit your needs!

Check out additional project details here: https://www.woodshopdiaries.com/diy-h...

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Helpful resources for this build:

How to cut plywood sheets: https://www.woodshopdiaries.com/cut-d...
How to use a pocket hole jig: https://www.woodshopdiaries.com/how-t...
How to use a dowel jig: https://www.woodshopdiaries.com/how-t...
How to build cabinet doors: https://www.woodshopdiaries.com/how-t...
How to build drawer boxes: https://www.woodshopdiaries.com/how-t...
How to install drawer boxes: https://www.woodshopdiaries.com/how-t...
How to install cabinet doors: https://www.woodshopdiaries.com/how-t...
How to add adjustable shelves to cabinets: https://www.woodshopdiaries.com/how-t...
How to trim out windows and doors: https://www.woodshopdiaries.com/how-t...
Bathroom vanity where I assembled doors using T&G lumber:    • How to Build a Bathroom Vanity | Doub...  

Full disclosure: This project did cause me to lose some cubic feet of storage space. The VOLUME of space inside the “new” closet is a little less than the existing closet. However, the adjustable shelves and storage drawers in the new built ins allowed me to utilize the space much more efficiently, so I was able to put everything back in and actually still had room leftover.

So, it’s not always about the AMOUNT of space you have. It’s about how you use the space you have. However, if you feel that you need every square inch of space you can get, this may not be the project for you.

That said, for reference, this closet was roughly 84″ (which is 7′) wide, about 18″ deep, and 96″ (which is 8′) tall INSIDE. I built these built in cabinets to kind of “slide” into the door opening, so the cabinets themselves ended up being roughly 72 ½″ wide, 21 ½″ deep, and 81″ tall. Most of the space lost was just the very top–which was hard to access anyway, so losing it wasn’t a big deal.

Tools & Materials:
*Affiliate links below

Tools:
Circular Saw: https://homedepot.sjv.io/AooaYx
Cutting Guides (Kreg Rip Cut & AccuCut used here): https://amzn.to/3Y38tDQ & https://amzn.to/49jZFAe
Drill/Driver: https://homedepot.sjv.io/Aoo6Ya
Miter Saw: https://homedepot.sjv.io/b3DkDx
Table Saw
Brad Nailer: https://homedepot.sjv.io/c/1404662/13...
Pocket Hole Jig Kreg 720: https://amzn.to/32eoPBY
Kreg Micro Pocket Hole Jig (the small one in the video): https://amzn.to/47Xyvxy
Dowel Jig (optional): https://amzn.to/3sNQ83O
Shelf Pin Jig: https://amzn.to/3SWWbh7
Concealed Hinge Jig: https://amzn.to/47uH8j6

Materials:

For Cabinet:

(3) 4×8 sheets ¾″ plywood: https://homedepot.sjv.io/EazMWQ
(2) 4×8 sheets ¼″ plywood
(8) 1x6x8 tongue & groove boards OR (16) 1x3x8 boards (cedar used here)
1 ¼″ pocket hole screws: https://amzn.to/3FKfikk
2 ½″ wood screws
Shims
(4) pair 18″ drawer slides: https://amzn.to/3sNLWRK
(4) pair concealed hinges for inset doors: https://amzn.to/46vXBlO
Dowel Pins: https://amzn.to/3urFKPD
Wood Glue
Shelf Pins:

For Trim:

(3) 1x4x8 boards
(1) 1x6x8 board
Cove, half round, and crown moldings

Minwax Helmsman finish: https://amzn.to/47QIULt
Black knobs: https://amzn.to/3SYS1W2

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:50 Demo existing closet
01:55 Assembling the Built In Cabinets
05:28 Assemble Face Frame
07:28 Installing drawer slides
08:01 Building and installing drawers
09:29 Installing the Built Ins
11:39 Assembling the Cabinet Doors
13:18 Installing the Doors
14:22 Trimming Out the Built Ins
16:05 Finishing Hallway Built Ins
17:05 Final Reveal