A closet with an open door reveals coats of various colors hanging on a rod. Below are white IKEA drawers, while the door has hats hanging on it. In the foreground, a framed cityscape image and a green plant highlight the organization of this stylish space.
| | | | | | | |

DIY Coat Closet Organization | An Ikea Trofast Hack

ByLisa

Do you ever feel overwhelmed with an organization project? Well, you are not alone! I would like to think I am an organized person, but the truth is, most of my organization has a shelf life. Meaning, I can organize and tidy a space but in the long run I tend to revert to the original state. It wasn’t until we re-designed my closet that I realized the true secret to maintaining organization. Today, I am applying that to our coat closet! 

A closet efficiently uses IKEA TROFAST bins for flawless organization. Clothes hang neatly above, while jackets find a cozy home inside. A DIY sign proudly declares the "IKEA TROFAST closet hack" from Garrison Street Design Studio.This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my policies.

The real secret to sustainable organization is to give everything a proper home that makes putting things away easy. This sounds simple enough, but can be challenging when working with a small space. Our coat closet is no exception. I have been anxiously wanting to make it over for years, but never came up with quite the right plan. Since our house was built in 1978 the closets leave quite a bit to be desired, especially when it comes to size. They are small and all have quirky dimensions that don’t always line up with standard closet solutions. To top it off, I did not want to spend more than $100 which was a pretty tall order, but I did it! PS. You can catch behind the scenes video in my archived Coat Closet Insta stories.A neatly organized closet boasts IKEA's efficient design, with winter coats hanging above stacked plastic drawers. The drawers, labeled with categories like "Gloves," "Hats," and "Socks," create a tidy and efficient space for seamless organization.

If you are new around here, let me tell you a little secret. I kind of have a love affair with Ikea 😉 Seriously. They make a lot of very affordable products that can be used in non traditional ways, making the possibilities endless. Low and behold, Ikea once again held the key to my happiness with the Trofast. And in case you are wondering, Ikea does NOT pay me in any way for this (although they totally should). I am just a real groupie 😉A neatly organized closet features labeled Trofast pull-out bins. The setup includes sections for hats, gloves, scarves, and tote bags on the left. On the right, there are bins for dog supplies, treats, light bulbs, and food to ensure seamless organization in your space.

Let’s start at the beginning. This is what our coat closet has looked like for many years. It is the home to not only our coats but frequently needed items like light bulbs and bulk items we buy from Costco that don’t fit in the kitchen, and all of Marvin’s supplies, food, and treats. To say it pulls multi duty is an understatement. Did I mention its only 37×19? True story.A closet with an open door reveals assorted coats hanging. The floor is cluttered with boxes, cleaning supplies, dog food, and household items. Shelves above hold storage bins and packaged goods—ideal for anyone seeking IKEA-inspired organization solutions.

I have legit measured this closet 100 times. Almost as if I hoped it would magically grow and open a door of opportunities. Sadly it never did, but I realized I was missing the most obvious fact. There was about 2-3 feet of space we were not effectively utilizing at the top of the closet! Now before anyone claims that vertical space is only for tall people, let me be clear, I am only 5’1″. If I can reach it, anyone can reach it! For real.  So we took everything out of the closet including the closet rod. The image showcases an empty beige closet with a black door opened to the left, highlighting organizational possibilities. A white wire dangles against the back wall. The dark wooden floor adds contrast, while part of the right wall is visible, enhancing the Trofast system's potential placement.

The plan was to build up with lots of storage on the bottom. Lucky for us, the Ikea Trofast was the perfect fit and price! The frames we used are only 11 3/4 deep which also allowed us to still be able to pull out the bins. We used eight of the small bins and two of the medium sized bins. The Trofast was designed by Ikea as kids storage, but I can see endless possibilities for this work horse and have a feeling we could see more of the Trofast in my future organizing projects 😉A partially assembled white IKEA bookshelf stands on a patterned rug, with other assembly pieces scattered on the floor. Ideal for organization, it leans against a dark wall, waiting to transform any space.

The closet also got a fresh coat of paint (Valspar’s Wet Pavement leftover from another project) and I scraped the ceiling. If you have never scraped popcorn ceilings, I must say, it is oddly satisfying! If you would like to see for yourself, I posted a clip of it in my archived Coat Closet Insta stories.A small IKEA closet converted into a home project space with a step ladder inside. The paint-splattered floor and walls tell tales of creativity, while a spray bottle rests on one of the ladder steps, reminiscent of industrious afternoons spent crafting and organizing.

We then re-hung the closet rod we had previously removed. It was raised to 79 inches and like I said before, this is not too high for me, and I am only 5’1″!An efficiently organized closet features two columns of labeled IKEA plastic drawers. Above them, white hangers line a rod, while the door displays a plaid garment bag. The wooden floor complements this tidy space.Then, we loaded everything back into the closet. I even made labels for all of the bins so we can easily identify where things go.The small closet, featuring meticulous organization, displays jackets hanging neatly on a rod. Below, TROFAST white storage bins are perfectly arranged. Mounted on the open door is a sleek black wall organizer. The floor is wooden, completing the efficient and stylish space.A neatly organized IKEA closet features two columns of white storage bins. Each bin is labeled with contents like hats, scarves, dog treats, and light bulbs. The closet is beautifully set against a dark hardwood floor, showcasing efficient organization.Somehow, Marvin has managed to take over three of the bins, and he knows which ones are his, haha!A small dog curiously peers into a meticulously organized closet featuring TROFAST pull-out bins labeled for hats, scarves, wrapping paper, dog stuff, light bulbs, and extension cords. These bins are neatly arranged on two shelves, exemplifying expert organization. Open white cabinet with Trofast bins for seamless organization. Top bin: "Dog Stuff" with toys. Middle bin: "Dog Treats" containing a Dentastix bag and dog biscuits. Third bin: "Light Bulbs." Bottom bin: "Dog Food." Labels crafted in vinyl lettering bring order to your Ikea storage solution.

For the dog food bin I wanted to make sure Marvin’s food stayed fresh. While the Trofast bins do have lids available, they are not airtight, so I picked up some of these jumbo ziplock bags. It fits perfectly and keeps our pup’s food nice and fresh. A curious dog sniffs at an open drawer containing blue storage bags filled with items. Above, in what resembles an IKEA setup, two drawers labeled "Light Bulbs" hold bulbs both boxed and loose. The scene unfolds on a wooden floor, reminiscent of the simplicity found in a TROFAST system.Now I can honestly say our coat closet no longer stresses me out when I open the door! I feel organized and I know where everything. This easy closet organization makeover was budget friendly coming in at less than $100! And for those of you who have husbands that can’t seem to find things on their own, the label system makes this a no brainer!

DIY Coat Closet Organization with IKEA Trofast

A neatly organized closet features winter coats hanging on a rod, with labeled IKEA Trofast drawers below for kids' clothes. A plaid face mask is casually hung on the inside of the door, highlighting efficient organization.A white shelving unit, reminiscent of IKEA's TROFAST series, features labeled plastic bins neatly organized in columns. Labels read "Hats," "Gloves," "Scarfs," and "Bulk Items." The semi-transparent bins reveal folded items inside, set against a grey wall for effortless organization. A white Trofast storage unit in a corner with multiple labeled plastic bins offers efficient organization. Labels read "Dog Stuff," "Dog Treats," "Light Bulbs," and "Dog Food." Some bins are slightly open, revealing contents like bags and boxes.I even managed to hang up the umbrellas and Marvin’s coat on two Command hooks I had leftover from my hidden jewelry storage hack. A black and red plaid dog coat hangs on a dark wood door, perfectly organized next to a folded black umbrella with a white handle, embodying the essence of an orderly closet. Open the closet door to reveal neatly organized coats in a small wardrobe. Below, white IKEA drawers hold various items. A plant is visible in the foreground, and a blackboard on the door holds a plaid-lined pouch and a scarf, enhancing this trofast storage space.

If you enjoyed my DIY Coat Closet Organization, please share it on Facebook or hover over an image and save to Pinterest! And if you don’t already follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook, I would love for us to be friends!

Love new ideas? Subscribe to receive DIY and design inspiration delivered straight to your inbox! Plus you will receive access to all my free printables, which are exclusively available to my AWESOME subscribers as my way of thanking you for your continued support!

Two images showcase a DIY closet organization using IKEA Trofast. The top displays a cluttered closet with coats and various items, while the bottom reveals a neatly organized space with bins and neatly hung coats. A stylish room serves as the backdrop, highlighting efficient closet solutions.

This post, DIY Coat Closet Organization An Ikea Trofast Hack, appeared first on Garrison Street Design Studio.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *