How to Make a Closet Into a Office or Retreat

To own or sell a house today, an office space is almost becoming mandatory. An easy way to add value to your house without adding space is to renovate a closet. With just a few steps, you can turn an ordinary closet into an extraordinary retreat.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Remove all clothes. For this space to be effective, elimination of all remnants of the closet is a must. Get rid of all your clothes and move them to another spot. Remove the closet bars, tie racks and any other clothing associated storage from the space.

2. Add lighting. Chances are the closet had very poor lighting. A good overhead light always makes a space look bigger than it is. There are many cheap, efficient lights now available that you can install without any wiring required.

3. Switch doors. Remove the closet doors and add new French doors or doors with windows. Perhaps you do not need to add doors at all, but if you want privacy, it might be a good idea.

4. Renovate shelving. If the shelving does not look too much like a closet, you may be able to just paint them. If not then replace them as needed. You will need some sort of storage space.

5. Add paint. A fresh coat of paint will freshen up the place. First mud and sand any spots or holes to make the walls even. Then give the walls two coats of fresh paint. Flat or eggshell works best. (If you are going to a lighter color from a darker, then you will need to use a coat of BIN or primer.) Make sure the color is different but complementary from the adjacent room to give it a distinct look.