A built-in closet or wardrobe is a great way to add storage to an overcrowded home. It works just as well when a family is just looking for a way to organize, or even to upsize or downsize their stuff. Instead of having chests of drawers scattered around a room, a built-in closet allows you to stow clothing, linen, and just about anything out of sight while still being within quick reach. While you can also opt for a stand-alone closet, the built-in type has the advantage of utilizing the space from floor to ceiling, and with its being installed right against existing walls, you can be sure it maximizes space the most. For this project, you will need a jigsaw, 2 x 4 lumber, carpentry tools, nails and screws, drywall, closet fittings, sliding doors with tracking, primer, and paint.

Step 1. Draw up plans for the wardrobe with all the dimensions of the wall and the size you want. Alternatively, you can search for blueprints on the Internet and just adjust the dimensions according to your space. Home improvement stores may also have such plans.

Step 2. If you intend to have interior lighting in your closet, find sources for electrical wiring in the wall prior to starting construction, and mark the area using pencil or tape.

Step 3. Mark the place where the two sidewalls and the closet entry wall will go with masking tape or a pencil. A standard wardrobe measures 28 inches in depth, so make sure your measurements are at least 28 inches deep. Construct the side walls using the 2 x 4 pieces of wood. You can either frame up the side walls on the floor, and then raise them to position and anchor them to the wall, or build the frames for the side wall directly. Close the three walls in with more 2 x 4 panels.

Step 4. Make a mark to note the center of the wardrobe. You can make sure everything is lining up correctly by hanging a plumb bob from the marks on the ceiling to meet the parameter lines on the wardrobe floor. Nail 2 x 4 pieces of lumber to the existing flooring and to the ceiling for a finished interior. Also nail some more 2 x 4’s to the front of the wardrobe to make a door frame. Then, tack or tape precut drywall sheets to the side, ceiling, and front walls of the wardrobe to finish its interior.

Step 6. Make a hole on the drywall section that covers the electrical power source. To install a ceiling light in the wardrobe, cut out a section from the drywall in the ceiling.

Step 7. To install the sliding door, first fasten the tracks on the bottom and top of the opening using screws. Then position the doors on the track.

Step 8. To finish the wardrobe, install drywall onto the exterior or sand and finish the surface. Also install the pole sockets inside, where you will hang a clothes rod. If your closet is rather wide, add a center bracket to keep the long pole from sagging.