Give yourself a budget-friendly closet makeover with this Target closet bookshelf hack. We have a full tutorial and list of materials for you!
I have a small closet that hasn't been functioning very well for me. While browsing social media, I first saw the "viral Target bookshelf closet hack" and I instantly loved the idea. It is a closet makeover you can do with a modest budget.
Now, MY closet makeover has gone viral! With 2.3 million views on TikTok and counting, my bookshelf closet hack has inspired people too!
You have to know what it was before to appreciate the difference this closet makeover made. Below is the closet with just one simple shelf and one rod.
Closet Makeover
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The photo below shows how I was making it work for me. Most of my dresses, nicer tops, and jackets were hung in the closet and I had some bins on the shelf to hold accessories, bags, and other things like that. I also had a stacking shoe rack on the floor which you can barely see behind the dresses.
I wanted everything in my closet to be visible. That way it would be easier to keep organized, and I would wear the things! I can't tell you when I last wore some hats and shoes I have because, as they say, "out of sight, out of mind."
Can you believe this is the same closet? As you can see, I removed the mirror doors and painted my closet before I added the bookshelves. It was in dire need of a full makeover.
Table of contents
What is the Target bookshelf closet hack?
This is a closet makeover where you use bookshelves from Target and extendable closet rods to create a closet that fits your needs. It looks like a custom closet but costs WAY less!
You can do this Target bookshelf closet hack in any closet, whether it is a walk-in closet or a small reach-in closet.
Materials Needed for a Small Closet Makeover
- $40 Target Bookshelf
- 18-30 in. Extendable Closet Rod
- Metal Pole Sockets
- #4 ⅜" Wood Screws
- Makita Drill
- Measuring Tape
- Pencil
Optional Closet Organizer Items:
- Stackable Shoe Rack
- Non-Slip Hangers (great price!)
- Clear Shelf Dividers
Why should I use THIS bookshelf?
- First of all, it's $40. For a tall, decent-looking bookshelf that is as inexpensive as it gets.
- The Target bookshelf has adjustable shelves, meaning you can put the shelves in any spot you like. This makes it easy to organize your closet for YOUR needs. You could use an entire bookshelf just for shoes, or omit the shelves altogether and hang everything.
- The height makes this shelf ideal for *most standard closets whether they are walk-in or reach-in. (*in the U.S.)
- It is easy to assemble these shelves. The instructions are clear and easy to follow.
- You can use a standard screwdriver or a drill to put it together. No special tools are needed.
With all that said, if you don't have access to the Target closet bookshelf, make sure you find a shelf that fits your closet and has adjustable shelves.
Here are the specifications for the Target bookshelf in case you are wondering if it will fit in your closet:
Overall Width: 24.5 inches
Overall Height: 71.18 inches
Overall Depth: 11.5 inches
Distance between shelves: adjustable
Distance from floor to bottom of bottom shelf: 0.8 inches
Distance between side frames: 23.2 inches
Depth of Shelf: 11.4 inches
Before you Start
- Make sure you measure your closet space before you buy bookshelves and put them together.
- Do not use the screws that come with the pole sockets, they are too long and will poke through the bookshelf walls.
- Instead, you will use #4 size ⅜" Wood Screws.
- If you want to add a stackable shoe rack to the top of the closet, make sure they are the correct width. The one I have linked is the exact one I used, it is the same width as the bookshelves.
- Clean and prepare your closet. Do paint touch-ups if needed.
How to do this DIY Closet Makeover
- Assemble bookshelves according to the package instructions.
- Put bookshelves in your closet and anchor them to the walls using the anchoring hardware that is included with each bookshelf.
- Arrange shelves where you want them to go according to your desired closet organization.
- Measure carefully and mark where you want to install your closet rod (and corresponding pole sockets) with a pencil.
- Use a drill to install pole sockets on either side of the bookshelf walls.
- Install extendable rods.
- Put stackable shoe racks on top of bookshelves. (optional)
- Put your clothes in the closet, and enjoy your new closet organization!
How to Organize a Closet
- Declutter: Remove everything from your closet and donate items that you no longer need, use, or love. Do not put anything back in that you don't think you will wear again.
- Uniform Hangers: Using non-slip hangers that are all the same size creates a cohesive look and maximizes space. Non-slip hangers tend to be thinner, and if hangers are the same, your items will hang at the same level.
- Organize by Category: Group your clothes by category, length, and then by color or season. This makes it easy to find what you're looking for and keeps your closet visually appealing.
If you use our tutorial, we'd love it if you leave a comment and a positive review. They mean a lot to us!
Closet Bookshelf Makeover
Video
Equipment
- Drill
- Tape Measure
- Pencil
Materials
- Target Bookshelf
- 18-30 in. Extendable Closet Rod
- #4 ⅜" Wood Screws
- Metal Pole Sockets
- Stackable Shoe Rack
- Non-Slip Hangers great price!
- Clear Shelf Dividers
Instructions
- Assemble bookshelves according to the package instructions.
- Put bookshelves in your closet and anchor them to the walls using the anchoring hardware that is included with each bookshelf.
- Arrange shelves where you want them to go according to your desired closet organization.
- Measure carefully and mark where you want to install your closet rod (and corresponding pole sockets) with a pencil.
- Use a drill to install pole sockets on either side of the bookshelf walls.
- Install extendable rods.
- Put stackable shoe racks on top of bookshelves. (optional)
- Put your clothes in the closet, and enjoy your new closet organization!
Notes
Shannon
Turned out great! What is the name of the paint color? So pretty!