Not every project we take on is a full-scale remodel. Sometimes the most satisfying work is a straightforward upgrade that completely changes how a space looks and functions — and that’s exactly what this closet makeover in Newcastle, WA was all about.
The Problem: A Closet That Wasn’t Working
The homeowners reached out because their master bedroom closet wasn’t cutting it. Basic wire shelves lined the walls, and while they technically worked, the closet always looked cluttered and disorganized. What they really wanted was an efficient, well-organized walk-in closet that felt intentional — like a proper part of the house — without blowing their budget on a fully custom closet system.
Why IKEA PAX Was the Right Call
After talking through their goals, we recommended IKEA’s PAX closet system. It’s flexible enough to configure to just about any layout, and the quality is solid for the price. But here’s the thing about PAX units straight out of the box — they can look a little plain, even cheap. Just white laminate boxes sitting against the wall. That wasn’t the look our clients were after. They wanted something that looked built-in and custom, like it had always been there.
Fortunately, this is something we’d done before. After a couple of design conversations, we had a final layout and a game plan.
Assembly and Installation
Once we cleared out the old wire shelving and patched up the walls, we got to work assembling and installing the PAX units.
The PAX system is actually pretty easy to put together, but it goes a lot smoother when you’ve done it as many times as we have. The units went in quickly. Honestly, the hardest part of the whole installation was hauling everything up two flights of stairs — IKEA would only deliver as far as the garage.
The Angled Wall Challenge
There was one part of this closet that required a little extra creativity. One of the walls was angled at 45 degrees, and it would have looked awkward if we’d just stopped the cabinets short and left that empty triangular space. Instead, we modified the PAX unit and custom-cut the shelves to follow the angle of the wall. It was a little tricky to pull off, but the result was worth it — no wasted space, and it really sold the built-in look.
Trim, Molding, and the Details That Make the Difference
With the PAX units in place, we moved on to the part that really transforms these from furniture pieces into something that looks like it belongs.
We covered the face of the cabinets with thin strips of molding to hide all the seams between units. Then we added filler strips between the tops of the cabinets and the ceiling to close those gaps. Base molding wrapped around the cabinets and the closet perimeter, tying everything into the room. And to give it a little elegance, we finished it off with crown molding up top.
Color-Matched Paint for a Seamless Finish
The final step was paint. We took one of the PAX shelves to our local paint store and had them match IKEA’s white exactly.
Then came the meticulous part — masking, taping, spackling, and caulking every joint and seam. We sprayed all of the new trim to get a smooth, factory-like finish, and just like that, every piece of trim blended right into the cabinets.
The Result: A Walk-In Closet Worth Showing Off
Everything has a place now. Hanging space, drawers, shelves for shoes and folded clothes — all organized and easy to access. The crown molding, base trim, and color-matched paint pull the whole room together and make it look like a custom closet that was built with the house.
It’s projects like this that remind us that sometimes a few well-executed finishing touches make all the difference. You don’t always need a big budget to get a result that feels high-end — you just need someone who knows how to make the details count.
Thinking about upgrading your closet or tackling another project around the house? Get in touch or give us a call at (253) 448-9462 — we’d love to help.