Do you have a deep, but narrow and awkward closet like we do? It’s in our son’s room and we’ve never known what to do with it. But finally, I’ve decided to split it into half practical and half fun! The closet has incredibly high ceilings leaving a ton of storage space on top, and while I briefly considered making that into an actual treehouse, I came to my senses and decided to use the top space for storage, with the bottom transforming into a treehouse-inspired closet reading nook (or fort or… whatever it will end up transforming to each day!).
I’m going to still try to pack it with storage so we don’t lose all practicality, but today I thought I’d share some of my ideas and inspiration today for how we’re turning our little dude’s closet into an epic and colorful closet reading nook!
The “Before”
Here’s a peek at what the closet currently looks like! There are several different clothing rods (including one super low) that I am working on removing.
What looks almost like the “ceiling” of the closet here is actually a shelf that runs almost the entire depth of the closet (You can see some diapers stored above), with a shorter one that exists even further above that. That is what I’ll be turning into storage space.
Everything below that will be the reading nook! The photos tend to make it look huge, it’s not. It’s about 50″ deep by 30″ wide.
My Mood Board For the Space
I’ll start with my design plan so the layout and other details will have some context!
Sources
Felt Parrot | Basket Bag | Floral Pillow
Crochet Baskets | Shaker Pegs | Toucan
Wallpaper: Kitty McCall for Milton & King | Custom Stripe Fabric
Blue Sconce | Leopard Pillow
Purple Pillow | Blue Pillow
I wanted it to tie into the color palette of his nursery, but still have it’s own fun feel too! That’s how I landed on using wallpaper! I’m hoping to do a removable wallpaper hack so that we can easily swap it out down the road or if/when we sell the home. Will share more on that, later!
Our son has a pretty big obsession with the opening scene from the movie Rio and thus all sorts of colorful birds, so I loved the idea of making this whole reading nook feel like it was nestled in the trees! This colorful tropical wallpaper was perfect.
I’m planning on adding in some colorful plush bird decor pieces I’ve collected, plus perhaps making some of my own.
Printing Custom Fabric
I really wanted to contrast the tropical pattern with a bold stripe and I had seen a ton of stripe patterns on fabrics and furniture in this amazing sand/chartreuse combo. I couldn’t find any that were the right width for what I wanted so I ended up printing my own!
I’m planning on turning it into a tufted floor cushion for the space, and perhaps some additional cushions for the sides, too.
Photo via Vertbaudet
I used this site and uploaded my design (made it in Illustrator) and printed it on linen. It printed and shipped so fast. I think I had the fabric in hand less than a week after I ordered it. I was nervous about the colors being dull, but they are super vibrant!
The Layout
I want this space to be super cozy and full of pillows on the floor since we’ll mostly use it to read, hang out or play. As a result, I’m keeping it super simple. I’m creating a big tufted floor pillow for the floor and then adding lots of fun throw pillows on top of it.
I’m going to turn the bracket that is holding up the large shelf into a DIY peg rail. I bought these shaker pegs that already have a screw in them to make it super easy. I haven’t decided if I’m going to both sides, or just the back and one side, but my plan is to hang some decor items plus some baskets or containers that we can use for any excess storage needs.
Photo by Mer Mag
I may add a small shelf or two but the space really is narrow, so I’m hoping to avoid that. We have tons of book storage in the room (though our book collection just keeps growing) so I’m not planning to actually store books in this space.
The only other major decor element I’m going to add is one adjustable light, placement TBD. It’ll be a smaller version of the one you see in the mood board by our favorite lighting designer, Sazerac Stitches.
Turning a Shoe Rack into a “Treehouse”
Our house was built in the 1930s and this closet has what most people have told me is an old shoe rack built in. (There’s also a strong team for it being a tie rack, I still have no idea!)
I’m going to turn it into a treehouse for all our little character figurines!!! Almost like a miniature dollhouse. I’m planning to make narrow “shelves “to add on top of the wire bars and then make some fun things like an elevator or trap door. This will probably need a whole post of it’s own, but my biggest question right now is…
How should I “cover” it? Should I add a door? (What color???) Some sort of roll-up curtain? Something else?
I really want to add a mini-fake door next to it like the below (So cute!), but I can’t figure out how to make that work with an actual door for the space.
Photo by Alpha Smoot via Cup of Jo
I’ll follow up with a post on all the details of this once I figure them out.
For now, that’s my plan! I’m so excited to makeover this closet into a reading nook and play space. Kids spaces are my absolute favorite to design. Stay tuned for the reveal!
Claire says
Hi there! What if you put a piece of framed art on the front, with hinges… and so the treehouse would be a hidden feature! It would look like all there is, is a piece of art, however only your son would know what lies beneath!🤪👍 ( and all your blog readers; hehe) have a great day!
Kelly says
I am laughing because this is SO SMART and he would love the “secret” aspect SO MUCH and it’s so much simpler than all the insanely complicated ideas swirling in my mind!! How did I not think of this!? Ha thank you for this!! May be the winning solution!!
claire says
i am glad! <3
Jamie O. says
I got one of those mini doors for my niece and we treated it like a fairy door in her room, so as to not compete with the actual door in there.
jenny says
I’m curious if you could possibly use an empty outlet box to “fill in” a little door sized hole in the wall- here are a couple that have no plugs, wire attachments, etc. and could make fun tiny toy storage!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GXKNBZW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ZQtpFbP4GZ6Z9
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GXKNBZW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_yWtpFb23C7FNW
If you didn’t want to make a hole in the wall, I’d argue that a tiny door on a hinge that opens up to a little (flat to the wall) scene, maybe the opening “Rio” scene printed as if looking through a window, could be so special!
Enjoy this fun DIY!
Kelly says
What a FUN idea!!! I love that!!
Valerie says
You could use a piece of plexiglass on hinges so everything can be seen but also kept in place with all the movement that will happen around it
Mia G says
Holy moly I **LOVE** that wallpaper!!!!!
This sounds like an amazing plan for this space! For the mini door, are you wanting to add it like in the picture but make that door actually function? Or do you mean as part of the covering for the future treehouse/figurine space?
(Just curious, I don’t actually have a solution!)
Kelly says
Honestly, I literally have no plan or purpose for it, I’m just obsessed with the idea of a tiny door and too impatient to wait until it’s time for the Tooth Fairy. Hahaha!!
Jess says
You could paint the door like a tree and then beneath it paint the tree trunk and put the fairy door in the tree trunk by the floor, depends if you were planning on wallpapering the whole thing though!
Sydney says
For the door inspiration – check our @tinydoorsatl!! She makes AMAZING mini custom tiny door replicas!
Mary CB says
What about a roller shade for a window? It doesn’t take any extra space to “open ” like a door,but could be completely opaque. Maybe paint a door or design on an old one, or use some extra wall paper. If you attached a pull rope, Arlo could use it himself. Love the wallpaper!
Kelly says
Ooooh that’s such a good idea!! Thank you!!
Marie says
Tiny door!!! You could try foam board or thin craft wood
Heather O. says
I am SO excited to see how this all turns out! I’d vote some kind of door for the “treehouse”. I think a curtain to roll up might be frustrating for a kiddo? Do you have the room to do a sliding door? Almost like a barn door that slides across?
Emma says
You probably want to make your own but Tiny Doors ATL ( https://tinydoorsatl.com/ ) does commissions!
Saegan says
I think it needs to be hidden behind some tropical leaf foliage. Maybe some that are painted bright colors also. Adhere them to a thin door? Maybe the small door could be mixed in also?
Mia says
We had those recessed shoe racks in our old 1940’s home. Here’s a link with an image of the same type of recessed rack on Retro Renovation.
https://retrorenovation.com/2011/07/17/7-odd-and-inventive-home-features-from-1954-including-a-fascinating-island-type-drainboard-sink/
Scarlet says
What a beautiful fun space for a reading nook. I love your colorful boho style and ideas!