18 incredible cupboard makeover ideas

Cool and quirky cupboard transformations

When space is sparse and you need to utilise every inch of your interior, a redundant closet could hold hidden potential. Forget storing coats and a vacuum cleaner; these inspiring real-life cupboard makeovers show you how to maximise your alcoves and add character to your home.

From a poodle dressing room to a stylish home office, a luxe make-up station and a Harry Potter-themed den, read on to decide which one to replicate...

Farmhouse-style baking station

DIY and craft enthusiast, Mindi of MyLove2Create was given the task of transforming her sister’s empty kitchen pantry into a cool, usable space.

The kitchen had recently flooded and been remodelled, during which extra storage cabinets were added, freeing up this space for something a little different. So, how did Mindi put this vacant walk-in cupboard to good use?

Farmhouse-style baking station

Well, Mindi decided to create a baking station! To modify the space, the DIY-er bought some lumber and a countertop from Home Depot, cut them to size and fixed them in place.

Chalk paint and a space-saving sliding door finish the baking nook beautifully. Plus, inside there's space for storing all your favourite baking ingredients, as well as a work area for kneading dough, mixing batter or cutting cookies. A small step below the worktop allows Mindi's niece to get involved, too.

Beautiful closet nursery in wardrobe recess

Designed by Sarah Sherman Samuel, this stunning closet nursery is a masterpiece of space-saving design. Making the most of every inch of interior space, Sarah removed the unnecessary built-in wardrobe doors and used the recess to create a beautiful closet nursery.

Sadly, we don't have a before image, but the after photos, captured by photographer Max Wanger, really speak for themselves!

Beautiful closet nursery in wardrobe recess

The dreamy space comes complete with a crib and storage shelves that are out of baby's reach. There's also a changing station, a cute mobile and a wastebasket for handy nappy disposal.

What's even better, the stylish nursery nook was finished with removable wallpaper from Chasing Paper, which means it can be quickly and easily changed whenever the mood strikes, without damaging the walls.

Compact laundry room with faux tiles

Designed in the early 2000s, this ugly utility closet featured brown walls and beige linoleum flooring, until owner Sarah of Sammy on State got creative.

To transform the tiny room on a small budget, Sarah purchased white hexagon tiles from Floor & Decor, a butcher's block countertop from Menards, as well as basic unfinished wall cabinets that she painted. Let's take a look...

Compact laundry room with faux tiles

From dark and drab to bright and beautiful, the laundry closet is now wonderfully practical, with a washer and dryer, a worktop for organising clothes and storage for all those essential powders and liquids.

To replicate some high-end black metro tiles that Sarah spotted in her local Starbucks, she painted the wall and used a Sharpie pen to create a fake tile pattern – crafty!

Budget-friendly make-up station

Hannah Maria Clark used to get ready in her bedroom, but the brightness of her mirror's light proved disruptive for other members of the household, so she decided to turn her small hallway cupboard into a private make-up station.

Budget-friendly make-up station

All Hannah needed to do to transform the space was paint the walls and existing shelves in Dulux's Natural Slate and add a few finishing touches.

These included a large mirror from IKEA and savvy storage boxes and fairy lights from Home Bargains. A chair allows her to stay comfortable while she gets ready and the folding doors can be closed whenever the space isn't in use. Total spend? Just £5 ($6.60)!

A 'clotchen' walk-in wardrobe

Cyn Stiller of Hot Pink Pineapples is enthusiastic about all things fashion and design, so since her home featured two kitchens, she decided to turn one into a glamorous walk-in wardrobe.

This before photo shows just how dull and uninspiring the kitchen was before Cyn worked her magic...

A 'clotchen' walk-in wardrobe

Nicknamed the 'clotchen' (closet kitchen), Cyn applied trim to the cupboards and painted them in two shades of pink, adding gold handles for a luxe finish.

Pull-out drawer organisers mean Cyn can easily access her clothes, while shelving provides the perfect spot for displaying her favourite shoes. A handy rail is ideal for hanging dresses and a large mirror not only provides a spot for those final fit checks, but enhances the room's sense of space.

Adorable walk-in wardrobe for dogs

Lauren Schmitt designed the ultimate walk-in wardrobe for her beloved poodles, Lottie, Willow, Pippi and Penny.

Lauren's poodle closet can be found in Southern California and has been kitted out with everything her dogs could need.

Adorable walk-in wardrobe for dogs

Lauren cleared the redundant space before installing shelving units for all of her dogs' toys, leads, collars and accessories. An adorable poodle rug finishes the room perfectly, making it worthy of every dog lover's Pinterest board.

Ultra-organised craft closet

As an avid DIY-er and organisation enthusiast, Lela Burris craved a space to store all of her craft items and an unused closet provided the perfect place.

The cupboard started life as a bland space in need of some TLC, so Lela began the transformation by painting the walls and applying removable wallpaper for a splash of colour.

Ultra-organised craft closet

Lela also installed adjustable shelving and purchased a craft cart on wheels for easy access in and out.

A shoe organiser also provides extra storage on the back of the door. Lela then created labels using a Cricut Maker, so she can easily find exactly what she needs.

Harry Potter kids' den

Fans of Harry Potter will be obsessed with this closet, since children's librarian, Courtney McCarraher Bonnet, has recreated Harry's original bedroom at Privet Drive.

From the outside, it looks like a regular under-stairs cupboard, but step inside and you'll find the ultimate Harry Potter-themed secret nook. This is what the space looked like before...

Harry Potter kids' den

Magical, fun and filled with cool Harry Potter details, the den is perfect for escaping with a book, or practising your spells!

Courtney covered the walls with pages from a damaged copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and finished the space with décor inspired by the magical world, including a wanted poster, a toy owl, a Hogwarts suitcase and a golden snitch.

A cool 'cloffice'

In just three short days, Rachel Metz converted a built-in wardrobe into a dreamy 'cloffice' (closet office).

Designed for her cousin, a social media blogger, the space is now a one-stop shop where she can tackle projects and unwind after a long day.

A cool 'cloffice'

Costing just £153 ($200) to complete, Rachel removed the mirrored doors and shelves, painted the interior and created floating storage from plywood.

Light-weight drapes allow the space to be covered up when guests come to stay.

Chic mudroom with a DIY Sharpie wall

For years, Tammy's hallway closet was a mess; a space for shoes, coats and ugly dog crates.

So, along with her DIY partner Sarah, she decided it was time to remodel the space once and for all.

Chic mudroom with a DIY Sharpie wall

The decorating duo cleared out the closet, installed hidden shelves in the corners and fitted a mudroom bench, which makes putting on shoes a breeze. Below the bench, there's plenty of space for Tammy's pampered pooches to relax in style.

Amazingly, the mudroom's back wall was created using a Sharpie pen and a homemade stencil. Total spend? Just £84 ($110)!

The ultimate dressing table

This old and cramped closet was once cluttered and unattractive, but thanks to a TaskRabbit makeover, the wardrobe is now functional and fabulous.

Let's take a look...

The ultimate dressing table

The walk-in wardrobe offers plenty of storage space, as well as a glamorous dressing table. The look was achieved on a small budget, thanks to a simple lick of paint, new shelving and a vanity unit.

Now a spot any A-lister would be proud to use, the dressing area proves how easy but dramatic a closet transformation can be.

A miniature launderette

Lela Burris is the queen of organisation and has carefully created a stylish yet highly functional home. Lela wanted a spot just for laundry, so she took a 40-square-foot (3.7sqm) closet and turned it into a chic yet simple utility room.

The space, measuring just five feet (1.5m) wide, is just big enough for a washing machine and tumble dryer.

A miniature launderette

Completed in a single day, the miniature launderette features floating shelves, a fold-away drying rack and a stunning accent wall.

Not one for wasting space, Lela also utilises the tops of the machines, thanks to a tabletop ironing pad.

Stylish walk-in pantry

As far as kitchen pantries are concerned, Gabrielle's is up there with the best of them, but that wasn't always the case.

Originally, her kitchen featured a rather basic walk-in pantry, where she could store food and essentials, but in 2019 she decided to undertake a makeover to end all makeovers...

Stylish walk-in pantry

Designed to mimic a grocery store, this amazing walk-in pantry was easily crafted using simple shelving, glass storage jars and bespoke labels from Talented Kitchen.

Standing units provide extra space below, while glass doors and cute signage on the exterior make it utterly charming and unique. Gabrielle admits that her partner is the handyman behind all of her cool DIY projects. We're obsessed!

A creative homework station

Emily Simpson lives in Memphis and loves nothing more than decorating and getting creative at home.

For this project, Emily decided to turn her daughter's former closet into a gorgeous area where she could do her homework.

A creative homework station

Stylish and adorable, the homework station was achieved using a desk, some vibrant wallpaper and a couple of shelves. There are plenty of sweet details here, too – including a miniature fairy door.

There's also plenty of space for books, photos, pens and crayons, making this kids' 'cloffice' cute and highly functional.

Upstairs laundry room for a new mum

In a bid to make laundry a simpler process for a new mum, Absolute Remodeling was tasked with turning an ugly upstairs closet into a practical laundry zone.

Before the transformation, the homeowner's washing machine was located in a cold and damp basement, so moving her facilities upstairs seemed an obvious step.

Upstairs laundry room for a new mum

The tiny upstairs closet was given a fresh lick of paint, while a custom-made shelving unit and a new sliding door mean that every inch of the cupboard is maximised.

Chic office nook for an influencer

Cara Irwin of Gold à la Mode is a Jersey Shore content creator, specialising in interiors and DIY. So it's no wonder that in her house, there isn't a boring closet in sight!

Needing a place where she could focus on her work, Cara decided to turn a redundant wardrobe into a chic home office.

Chic office nook for an influencer

Both stylish and smartly crafted, the 'cloffice' nook was simple to create. Cara removed the cupboard doors, installed removable wallpaper from Chasing Paper and purchased a vintage desk to finish the cosy area perfectly.

Hotel-worthy linen store

Gabrielle's stylish pantry is not the only closet in her house to have received a stunning makeover. The DIY enthusiast has also transformed her hallway cupboard into a beautiful, hotel-worthy linen store.

Hotel-worthy linen store

Thanks to her handyman husband, Gabrielle now has a pretty spot to store her towels, lotions and potions.

Her partner removed the old metal shelves and installed stylish beadboard wall panelling and rustic wooden shelves for a country-inspired finish.

Closet reading nook

Suzanne Louise’s bedroom benefitted from two closets, so she decided to put the smallest one to better use.

With a horde of books cluttering up her basement, she scoured Pinterest for ideas, stumbling upon the perfect solution – a reading nook!

Closet reading nook

Suzanne removed the closet door and clothes rail and after some small touch-ups, painted the interior and applied wallpaper to the back wall. She then installed a light, created a storage bench with a lid and added several shelves.

Finally, she sourced foam and fabric and paid her neighbour £15 ($20) to create a beautiful upholstered seat. All this for just £206 ($271)!