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.
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DIY Small Coat Closet Makeover with IKEA Trofast Hack

ByLisa

Turn your small coat closet into a high functioning, organized dream with this small coat closet makeover using the IKEA trofast. If I had to guess you are in the same boat I was. Your hall closet is a disaster zone. The entire closet is stuffed with jackets sliding off hangers, shoes kicked into corners, and random junk you forgot existed and probably don’t even need in the entry closet. But I have good news! With these IKEA bins and a few hours of work you can turn chaos into a functional little closet that actually holds your family’s stuff without the meltdown.

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.

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  • Cost: Under $100

Where This Messy Coat Closet Started

If you ever feel overwhelmed with an organization project, don’t worry, you are not alone. And while I would like to think I am an organized person, 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!

Let’s start at the beginning. This is what our coat closet has looked like for many years. It is on the main floor right off the kitchen and close to the front door. And while we do store our winter coats in here, it also acts as storage space for dog leashes and dog food as well as a whole lot of other smaller items. It also provides easy access to frequently needed items like light bulbs and bulk items we buy from Costco that don’t fit in the kitchen. To say it pulls multi duty is an understatement. Did I mention its only 37×19? Gotta love small closets. 

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.

The Problem 

Since our house was built in 1978 the closets don’t have much space, 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 for the entire makeover, which was a pretty tall order. 

There was a lot not working in here. Particularly the size, but that was not going to change. Despite me measuring it 100 times, as if it would magically grow and open a door of opportunities. Sadly it never did, but after a closer look 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 reals. 

An open Ikea closet with a black door reveals an empty interior, featuring a single shelf and hanging rod. A visible crack in the lower corner of the wall adds character, while a small plant is partially visible on the left side.

PS. You can catch behind the scenes video in my archived coat closet Instagram stories.

The Secret to Organization

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. And our coat closet is no exception. So I did what I always tell everyone else to so and we took everything out of the closet including the closet rod. This helps you see past what is already there and envision the new possibilities. 

The image showcases an empty beige closet with a black door opened to the left. A white wire dangles against the back wall. The dark wooden floor adds contrast, while part of the right wall is visible.

The Solution

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 storage solutions 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 any advertising fees 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.

The plan was to build up by removing the top shelf and add 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 for kids toy 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 like the linen closet 😉

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 first thing we did was give the closet 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 Instagram 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 clothing rod we had previously removed because it’s pretty heavy duty and already the right size. 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 using printable sticker paper so we can easily identify where things go. I also swapped out all the mismatched hangers for wood hangers that keep us from stuffing the closet too full.

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.

The new closet has plenty of storage containers for smaller items that were always cluttering up the floor and falling over on the top shelf. Not to mention getting lost in the chaos on the back wall. 

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 storage 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.

To say he is a spoiled dog might be an understatement!

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 this space no longer stresses me out when I open the closet door! I feel organized and I know where everything goes.  The best part is 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!

The Finished Coat Closet

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.

The closet even has extra space now for guests’ coats.  

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.

Having a dedicated space to store all the small items has been a game changer! 

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.

The back of the closet door was a great place 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.

Now the coat closet feels like a breath of fresh air when I open it instead of distress and dread. 

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!

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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 Small Coat Closet Makeover with IKEA Trofast Hack, appeared first on Garrison Street Design Studio.

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