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15 Christmas gifts for your pets

Here are 15 Gift Ideas for Pets because Santa Paws is coming to town! The holidays are here, and we can’t leave out our furry friends. It’s not too late to fill their stockings too.

Double Dog and Cat Bowls

This dual feeder is perfect for small and medium pets. One food bowl and one water bowl with a water bottle for an automatic refill! This dish is also special because it has a tilted platform, so it’s in the perfect position for older kitties and puppies to get their food without hurting their necks!

Smartphone Controlled Feeder

The perfect gift for tech-savvy pet parents. This smartphone-controlled food bowl can hold up to 15 meals! It will feed your pet regularly so travel parents and those who work long days don’t have to worry. The most fun part of this… right before the food is dispensed you can record a 10-second voice recording.

Automatic timed Pet Feeder

This pet feeder is also amazing for working pet owners but isn’t linked to your smartphone. An affordable, battery-operated pet food dispenser. It takes AA batteries and has 6 cells you can fill with food or treats!

Puppy Chew Toys

My table legs would have thanked me if I had gotten this for our dog when he came home in July. So would my chair legs. And my kid’s shoes…. and the wall of our laundry room… The point is- puppies chew, and these are the PERFECT gifts for your pooch babies. It’s a 20-pack that includes 9 ropes, 2 dog treat balls, 1 rubber dog toothbrush stick, a banana toy, a flying disc toy and includes poop bags as a gift!

Interactive Cat Windmill and Food Dispenser

A puzzle for cats to amuse themselves with TWO layers of action. The trackballs will give your cat hours of amusement, with the added benefit of you getting to watch your little kitty hunt and play. It can also be filled with treats, so when the cat rotates the platter- a treat pops out!

Interactive Cat Toy with Feathers and Catnip

If you’ve ever seen a cat after they had catnip… you’ll understand it’s the phrase “it’s like catnip”. They are so obsessed with it, and it’s highly entertaining. The feathers, the holes for them to bat their toys, added with the cat nip makes this such a good toy for curious kitties.

Automatic Moving Ball Multi Pack

The only thing I love more than playing with my pets is buying something battery-operated that will play with my pets for me. This multi-pack will for sure keep those cats occupied. The coolest part is that there are motion sensors in the toys that allow them to move and stop automatically. Truly a hands-off toy!

Large Water Dispenser for Dogs and Cats

180 ounces of water with a wireless pump will make a safe and convenient fountain for one or multiple pets! It needs to be plugged in to work, and once running it has a purification filter that will keep your pets hydrated and safe. When there isn’t enough water in the bowl, the pump will automatically shut off! And it comes with a one-year warranty, so if it breaks or you’re unsatisfied… no sweat.

Pup Claw Dog Toys (With a squeaker)

Do I even need to tell you why this one is both an amazing and hilarious gift? A tiny puppy seltzer?! Waggermelon? Mutt mango? Stop. It’s too much. Take my money.

 

Dog Rope with Suction Cup for Aggressive Chewers

The suction cup on the bottom is just what the dog-tor ordered. (That was a lot and I know it. But I am leaning into it.) I love that they can literally tire themselves out with this one. It’s durable and cleans the dog’s teeth while it stimulating them with internal sounds when shaken!  You can even fill it will dog food or treats to encourage play!

Outdoor Playpen with Cover!

Cats, bunnies, hamsters, hedgehogs, chinchillas, tiny dogs… This one covers the small pet spectrum! Give your little pet some outdoor time with this portable yard fence. It is waterproof, easy to fold, and covered with a zipper! It’s a good way to take your little babies with you camping or to the park or beach!

Greenies Gingerbread Dog Treats

Even your pet deserves a seasonal flavor, and these Greenies give them just that. No, not peppermint mocha flavored (thank goodness, please don’t caffeinate my dog) but the classic Christmas taste of Gingerbread. These are available in teenie, small and large. So every dog gets the portion control they need- something I am still working on in the holidays. This brand is also known to fight plaque so it’s a gift that tricks them into being healthy.

Foraging Mat for Dogs and Cats

The cutest little Christmas tree I have seen that is a secret dog and cat puzzle! Animals love foraging and sniffing out treats, so you’re encouraging them to do that in one of the hundred little places to hide under this foraging mat. Plus… it’s machine washable. The true Christmas miracle.

Snuffle Mat Feeding Game

I really don’t know if I love that it gets out energy by encouraging foraging, or if I love that it is called a “snuffle mat”. When they’re bored, they can sometimes dig into things they shouldn’t but this mat helps prevent needless frustration by giving them somewhere to target that energy. Plus, the suction cups help keep it in place so treats aren’t flung everywhere!

 

We all know pets are like part of the family! I hope you got some great ideas on how to make them feel loved this Holiday season.

Need some other Christmas Content? I’ve got you!

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DIY Christmas Tree Card Holder

Cute cousins, Old co-workers you miss and those beloved family pets all smile out at us from holiday cards. I love them so much, and I needed to find a way to display them. So I came up with this DIY Christmas Tree Card holder made out of wood and twine!

 

This post will contain affiliate links, so please see my disclosure page.

This is truly a beginner DIY project since all you need is a drill if you are able to have lumber cut at your local home improvement store! If not, you’ll need a saw.

Supplies needed to make a DIY Christmas Tree Card Holder:

– 1x4x6 pine boards (2) – if you’re trying to save money you can use furring strips, which are lower quality but still pine or white wood but less money.
-1 1/4″ brad nails
– Stain, paint, or finish of your choice
–bakers twine
–hot glue
–mini wooden clothespins

Tools needed to make a DIY Christmas Tree Card Holder:

-saw

Step 1- Cut your lumber:

Cut your lumber. Some home improvement stores will cut dimensional lumber for you. If yours doesn’t, you can use a hand saw or any power saw of your choice to cut your pieces. I recommend a miter saw for this type of cut.

I made sure to cut at 30-degree angles to get the branches.

Step 2 – Lay out your pieces:

Lay out your branches, then your longer piece on top. Then I used my 18 gauge brad nails. I did 4 nails per slat. Easy. Peasy. You could try wood glue, but it might not be as sturdy. Let me know if you decide to go this route.

 

Step 3 – Finish off your DIY Christmas Tree Card Holder:

I stained mine, painted some in different designs, and LOVE them each for different reasons! Then to turn this into a card holder, I simply added baker’s twine and mini clothespins. And there they were. All the faces of the people I love looking at me from a tiny tree! (I do wonder what these would look like with lights added to them, so if you decide to go in that direction, PLEASE tag me on Facebook and Instagram!)

 

 

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DIY Halloween Chain Fence

Everyone knows my Halloween yard is an ever-growing labor of love. This year I updated my cemetery arch, added a giant skeleton horse and hearse… (amazing), and lined my pathway with a chain fence. This DIY Chain fence was one of my easier projects, and it added some spooktacular details to my yard this year.

 

Supplies needed for your DIY Halloween Chain Fence:

– Black Steel Pipe (That’s what I used, but PVC Pipe would work too!)
-black chain (comes with the zip ties needed!)
–Q Hanger Hooks
–Solar Lanterns

Tools needed for your DIY Halloween Chain Fence:

-A hammer or a mallet to put the pipes in the ground

Step 1: Place your posts

Decide how tall you want your posts to be. I went with posts that were cut at 36″, and then I used the hammer to pound them about 6″ into the ground. When I spaced them, I had them about 6-8′ apart. To get the chains started, I installed them into the DIY Pillars I made with a screw hook.

These chains have s-hooks that I hooked right over the top of the pipe. For the second rung through the middle of the pipes, I simply used the black zip ties that came with the chains.

Step 2 – String your chain

I love this DIY chain fence because there are no (power) tools needed! Just a little time-consuming chain stringing. Put in some air pods, and snap those s-hooks into your pipe!

Step 3: Add the Torches

I went back and forth about how to add a little flair to the chain fence, and then it hit me! Torches! I found these amazing solar-powered torches, and they fit right in the top of my pipes.

This was one of my easiest Halloween DIYs, and it looks AMAZING all lit up at night. I love that I don’t have to plug anything in, and the solar-powered torches will for sure be used for another holiday DIY!

More Halloween DIY Ideas:

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DIY Cemetery Pillar Arch

Last year I made a cemetary arch, and it wasn’t my easiest DIY. I LOVED the end result. But man, there were things that I would have changed— so I did! This was my round two, where I made needed changes and loved the end result. This arch sits perfectly on top of my DIY cemetery pillars and I couldn’t be happier with my DIY Cemetery Pillar Arch Modifications.

 

Supplies needed for your DIY Cemetery Arch:

– 23/32″ Plywood Sheathing
–Rustoleum  spray paint
-2×2 wood

Tools needed for your DIY Cemetery Arch:

–Jigsaw
-Drill
-Miter Saw

Step 1: Plan it out

I knew I still wanted to cut the design out of plywood, similar to what I did in my last design. I wanted to change it around so it was stronger, add more lighting, and adjust how my arch was attached to the pillars.

Last year’s arch had a more drastic curve. I made the arch less curved this year so it would be stronger. And even though my old arch had the catchiest name, I shortened it this year. That decreased cutting time. I love a time saver. Added bonus- having fewer letters cut out of the plywood makes it a lot stronger.

Step 2 – Cut it out

I used my jigsaw to cut out all of the letters in cemetery then laid down my trusty tarp, and spray-painted it black. (I also think this textured design paint would look awesome).

This was probably the most time-consuming part of the project. It took me about an hour and twenty minutes to cut out my cemetery sign. If you have a clever cemetery name and a steady hand, it probably won’t take you too long.

 

Helpful tips: Make sure you have fresh blades on that jigsaw! Sharp blades will cut down on your time behind the saw. Also- make those letters pop! Last year it was really hard to see the black with the tree branches in the air. So I used white paint to line the inside of the letters to help them stand out.

Step 3: Assemble

This is another place where I changed it up from my older design. I used a 2×2 on the front of the arch to give it more stability on the pillars.

One of the things I love the most about DIY is that you are never done learning. I took a project that I already loved, and made it even better this year. It’s never boring around here, that’s for sure!

 

I made it my own with these awesome bats, my skeleton family, and of course lanterns and Halloween lights!

Looking for more Halloween Inspo? I’ve got that!

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Budget Decor

Teen Girl Bedroom Makeover

As a parent, it’s so important to me that my children have rooms that are their safe space. I want them to feel loved, comfortable, and secure in their space in our home. That’s why I took the time to ensure my sweet daughter felt my love with this teen bedroom makeover.

This post will contain affiliate links; if you have any questions about those, please see my disclosure page. I appreciate your support!

Lighting for a teen bedroom

The first thing I wanted to do in her room was set the mood. She is a gorgeous girl with a feminine flair. So first things first… let’s set the mood! She needed a chandelier fit for a princess. I found this stunning chandelier and knew it was the best jumping-off point to get the right vibe of the room.

I mean… is it not just such a glamorous vibe? But it just wasn’t enough, so I found these amazing LED lights that can be controlled by your phone. I strung them up around the door frames and the trim of the ceiling.

                                       

 

I bought two sets of these 100-foot lights, which were 200 feet in total. These are perfect for those moments when she doesn’t want that overhead light on and wants to set the room’s tone.

The last amazing piece of lighting, she had to have this sign. She is like… really pretty.

Window treatments for the new bedroom

We just spent all this time making sure the lighting was right, including being thoughtful about the light coming through the windows! I got new curtain rods so I could hang sheer curtains. During the day, she likes to have natural light coming in, so sheer curtains attached to the rod were the way to go for us.

But we needed an even more feminine touch, so we added these flowers around the top of the curtain rod.

Teen bedroom bedding

The most important part of any bedroom? The bed. Duh. So let’s focus on the bed portion of this Teen Girl Bedroom Makeover. She needed a new headboard that would match the new style of her room, so I went with this upholstered version that was shorter and more feminine. Comfort is first and foremost, so I made sure my girl got a new comforter and duvet.

It is so soft and comfortable that I am genuinely tempted to sneak in and nap there now. Win for her, win for mom.

Now that it’s cozy, This Teen Girl Bedroom Makeover needed to add the pillows… most importantly, that Nicholas Cage pillow. Nick is a long-running joke in our family (did you catch the cutout I hid in the corner of her room?)

She also needed some new Squishmallows- have you cuddled one of these suckers yet?! They’re insanely soft. She got a Boba tea and a banana. We threw down the adorable heart rugs next to the bed, and it was finished!

The bedroom makeover finishing touches

My daughter is a huge music fan, so we made this wall display for her vinyl records. (You can read the tutorial here if you think it would look great in your teen Girl’s Bedroom Makeover!)

Underneath the records, we put this beautiful vanity where she could sit, take her time, and get ready in the morning.

We added succulent planters and a storage bench so she could have a “catch-all” space. Lastly, this frame tv can be set to any image and is such a great piece for a space where you already have so many great things on the walls!

 

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Teen Girl Bedroom- Vinyl Record Wall

Any music fan knows that what you listen to is a huge part of your personality! For my music-loving teen, I knew she would love having her vinyl records on display in her room. And that’s how this vinyl record wall idea was born!

*This post does contain affiliate links. For clarification on those links, please visit my disclosure page! Thank you for being so supportive!

Materials needed for the Vinyl Record Wall:

–Vinyl record shelf (this is the exact one I used, but it is currently unavailable! I linked another one in case you want to buy it before it comes back in stock
-Back up Record Shelf Storage
– Hook (Optional- the original I used comes with these sticky hooks, but if you have to buy the second option, these would work.)
-Vinyl album covers

 

Tools needed for the Vinyl Record Wall:

-If you choose to use the screws to put the shelf holders on the wall, you will need a drill! I didn’t use the screws, and they have been on the wall for a year with no issue.
–laser level

All you need to do to get this Vinyl Record Wall ready to go is choose the space on the wall where you’d like to place your records. Decide how many total vinyls you would like to have displayed and configure how you would like them arranged on the wall.

We wanted to display 6 records, so we left 3″ between the shelves side to side, and 3″ between the top of the record and the bottom of the next shelf. We used a laser level to make sure we had them straight, and distanced the way we needed them.

Because my daughter (and I, let’s face it) like to switch things up often and rearrange, we decided not to screw the mounts to the wall. The set I used came with both a sticky mount that you put on first and screws that went on top of that. But as I said, it has been up for a year and hasn’t even budged!

At the end of the day, now my beautiful daughter has a place to sit down, do her hair and makeup, and look up to some of her favorite artists. If you don’t own any vinyl records, here are some that she has on display, and a link to her adorable record player. She has the baby blue one but it comes in over 30 colors!:

I have some fun artwork links below if you’re interested in using this idea with something other than records!

More makeover ideas? I have those for you!

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Basement Stairs Makeover

My basement stairs makeover is perfect for turning your basement from drab to fab. It’s amazing what a simple upgrade to some stairs will do to the whole living space. Our basement feels much warmer and more welcoming because of the simple changes I made, starting on the stairs!

Supplies you need to Makeover your Stairs:

-paint of your choice
-(Need a new brush and pail?! These are my GO TO paint brushes and my handy pail. Painting essentials)
-2×8 runners (I needed two for the length of the stairs
-1 piece of quarter round
–3/8″ staples

Tools you need to Makeover your Stairs:
–pneumatic stapler
–air compressor
-(You can use a hand stapler if you don’t have a pneumatic one. But you would need some intense hand strength!)
-scissors

Step 1: Choose your new stair color

My stairs started a darker color that I didn’t feel helped the flow between the up and downstairs. So when I was thinking about the color scheme for the basement, I knew I wanted to make it a bit more neutral. So I chose to use Sherwin Williams “Balanced Beige.” And right away… I was in love.

*note* because I am renting and will cover the stairs with a runner, I knew it would be easier to paint this back to its original color if I didn’t go all the way to the black treads!

Step 2: Purchase and install your basement stairs runner

I knew I needed 2×8 and two in length for my specific stairs. I found some awesome runners that matched my color scheme from Allen & Roth. It matched my needs for my basement, and I loved it. If you need some runner ideas… I’ve got you!

Because I am in a rental home, I did this a little differently than I would have if this were a home I owned. I would have removed the treads and added some padding. But I used my pneumatic stapler and some 3/8″ staples in this case.

I was attaching the staples under the bullnose overhang, so they would be kept tight and also hidden. I wanted the seam to be hidden, so I cut it with scissors and tucked it under the seam as well.

*pro tip* I used a little story stick to make sure I was stapling in the middle of the stairs to ensure the runner was not crooked.*

I cut off the excess in the bottom and finished the runners with a quarter-round. This will keep the end from fraying and give the stairs a “finished” look.

                     

And there you have it! A basement stairs makeover that will upgrade your whole space!

 

 

 

 

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Decorating Your DIY Office Built-Ins

I really loved building my DIY Office Built– Ins for my own office.  If you haven’t checked out how I did that yet, pop over and look at it! But once they were built, not came the fun part… it’s time for Decorating Your DIY Office Built-Ins.

 

 

This post will contain affiliate links- please see my disclosures page if you need any information on that!

Find your color theme:

For those of you who haven’t watched the video on painting my cabinets, I knew I wanted to use a pink color in my office. It’s the first room guests are greeted with, so it was a bold choice. (I’m a bold girl) and I love how it turned out. The color is Sherwin Williams Redend Point. It is described as “earthy” and “rosy brown,” so the hot debate has been whether it is pink or brown.

I live in a historic rental, and I painted my room pink. So I know my theme would be finding the mix of vintage, modern, feminine, and practical when it came time to Decorate my DIY Office Built-Ins.

The first step to adding in the vintage touch was putting these decor accent pieces on the cabinets and around the chandelier with krazy tape.

 

Add your Accent Pieces

I added vintage-looking scroll bookends and a sconce that I found and loved in keeping with the more vintage theme. This Venus bust is so gorgeous, and I had some decorative trunks I added as well.

Make your shelves functional

I needed some storage on these shelves for papers and to keep things organized! So I added some separators and some drawers on the shelves.

You can customize them to fit the look of your shelves, so I’ve added a few great options below for whatever look you’re going for!

I also added this globe, a gold bowl, and I HAD to have a few succulents. (I opted for plastic— one less thing to think about!)

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DIY Office Built-Ins

Self care means creating these DIY Office Built- Ins for my own office. I knew I needed it to be the perfect mix of practical, functional, feminine and fabulous. And not to brag but… I nailed it.

If you haven’t had a chance to check out my DIY Breakfast bar, go do that! A lot of the process is very similar, and can be used here. So if you have already done the breakfast bar, you’re ready to roll in your office as well!

This post will contain affiliate links- please see my disclosures page if you need any information on that!

Supplies needed to make your DIY Built-in Shelves:

-cabinets (The ones I used on the bottom are linked here in the post- These are 15″. To save even more money you can buy these unfinished! You will have to paint them either way, but on the unfinished ones, the coverage isn’t quite the same)
-4×8 foot plywood
-poplar 1×2 is the trim around the edge of the top (poplar is sold by the foot so one piece 89 inches and one that is 26 inches long to go around the edge)
-1×2
-1×6
-trim
-pvc decorative trim (there is option after option after option!)
-metal panel
-black paint
-Sherwin Williams Redend Point

Tools needed to make your DIY Built-in Shelves:

-table saw
-cabinet screws
-miter saw
-jig saw
-multi-tool
-brad nailer

Step 1- Get your supplies

Cabinets are a must-have for these office spaces, I needed storage first and foremost in my DIY Office Built- Ins.

Then you want to find your bottom cabinets. I used two of these 15″ bottom cabinet drawers. I didn’t want them sitting directly on the floor to keep a gap for the wires, routers, and power cords I needed. To give it a raised base, I used 2x4s to build supports. They were screwed together, then the lower shelves were set and screwed on top of them.

(Before I started on the countertop, I used the 2×4 frames underneath them so there would be support there. They got placed on top of the bottom cabinets and screwed both into the wall studs and into the cabinets. The counter on top is a 4×8 foot plywood piece of plywood I had ripped to fit the top.  You can do this yourself with a table saw, or you can have it ripped for you at Home Depot or Lowes.

Step 2 – Secure the cabinets and make the shelves a countertop

I clamped the lower cabinets together and attached them with screws. I drilled pilot holes first. This makes the whole things seem super secure and sturdy.

This is when I started the countertop on the lower cabinets. The countertop was not stained yet, because I wanted to paint the lower cabinets, and I wanted to add tape before I did that. I needed to cut the plywood to get around some PVC in my home, so I was sure to make it fit like a puzzle. I added trim down the sides to finish it up.

 

Step 3 – Start painting your shelves, and add stain to your countertops

When I tell you I had no idea that a paint color could cause such an uproar… phew! I called this Sherwin Williams color “pink” (which I stand by, it is definitely pink in person) and boy did I get some hot debates in my comments. Pink, tan, mauve, whatever you want to call it. I love this color and it was the perfect addition to my office space.

Our home is historical and Victorian, and I wanted to bring that into the DIY Office Built-ins as well. I found these amazing little accent pieces to add to the corners with Krazy Tape. This stuff is crazy fast, and crazy strong! I think it added just the right touch to my cabinets.

I was also able to find the perfect accent piece to math and go around my chandelier that hangs in front of the office shelves!

For the stain, I used this pre-stain wood conditioner. Next, immediately I used one coat of medium walnut. I used this stain and followed with FOUR (yes. Four) coats of this polyacrylic. This process was all about layering, so I added the stains pretty immediately on top of each other.

Step 3 – Paint and Secure your upper cabinets and countertop

Once I had the countertop stained, it was time to add the upper cabinets. I used plywood and built and painted the two sections.  The shelves between the two of them are made with ripped plywood, and connected them using pocket holes in the center shelves. Lastly, I added a top to the unit with 1x2s as trim, and a 1×6 around the top that I connected to the wall. I wanted to cover the seam and add a decorative element. So I added this PVC with adhesive that I attached and painted. So gorgeous!

I also painted the side black because of the gap in the wall. The router needed to be covered, but still have good airflow. I attached the metal panel to the cabinets, and it was such a perfect solution!

These Built-Ins are SO loved, they’re the perfect mix of vintage and modern. It’s the perfect workspace for me. I added decor and styles to the rest of the room to match, and now my office is a dream.

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Children’s Bedroom Closet

 

Children’s Bedroom Closet- Military Closet 3 of 4, coming right up! (If you missed how I renovated the husband’s closet and that beautiful primary closet in this military family, check that out now!)

Materials needed for a Military Closet Makeover:

–Shelving unit 
-1×12 melamine board (cut in half to make two shelves)
-1×4
-white paint (optional)
–shoe rack (24 inches wide- the exact length of the closet depth)
–hangers
–laundry basket
–bins up top (perfect for hand-me-down storage!)

Tools Needed for a Military Closet Makeover:

-drill
-saw- for cutting 1×4 (if you don’t have access to a saw, your local hardware store will cut your 1×4 for you)

*This post contains affiliate links. Please see the disclosures page for any concerns)

Step 1: Organize the closet

When you have children and are lucky enough that they have hand-me-downs, you know you’re saving money, but you wrestle with, IS THIS WORTH THE STORAGE!? So, because this child has an older sibling of the same gender, we knew she had inherited some clothes to grow into. First, we needed to accommodate those with storage. Next, we started by weeding out the toys and the clothes to be grown into.

First of all, we took all toys out of the child’s closet and moved them to storage totes under her bed, so the closet would be clothes only, and toys could stay in the playroom and under the bed.

Under bed storage to hold all toys that aren't in the playroom
Under-bed storage to hold all toys that aren’t in the playroom

Don’t forget to peek in the dressers:

Before heading into the closet, I first tackled the drawers. I used these amazing drawer dividers to separate long and short sleeves, bathing suits and socks, and all the little kid odds and ends.

Drawer dividers help separate your drawer into functional space
Drawer dividers help separate your drawer into functional space

Step 2: Measure and find the child’s closet systems

Next, I headed to the closet. This closet is 3 feet deep and 4 feet wide. Kept the wire shelving because they would have bins on them for storage. I wanted to leave a foot of space for a laundry bin because I wanted to encourage some independent organization! (Mom to mom, I had her back.) This picture clearly shows the space set aside for a basket.

The perfect nook to place a laundry hamper

The first thing I included was the 3 tier bookcase.  I used a small shelving unit next for more hanging options. And lastly, included a shoe shelf.

A shot of a perfect feminine closet a little girl

Step 3: Children’s Closet- adding storage

Ok. This is where these hand-me-downs can bite you because they’re amazing and money savers… but where? Am I right? We needed extra storage for all her future fits, so I added a top shelf. This was accomplished with the 1×4 and melamine.

This type of wood is already treated and laminated; I had it cut into two pieces. One went on top of the small unit, and the other went above the wire rack.

I needed to ensure these were secure, so I got 1×4 and cut them to fit each wall in the closet. I made sure the 1x4s were screwed into studs. This is the support for this piece. Very important.

Adding shelves and LED to the highest part of the closet
Adding shelves and LED to the highest part of the closet

Once the 1×4 boards were in the wall, I attached the shelf to that and wanted to ensure it was secured to hold the shoe storage she needed! I used these fabric storage bins to store the clothes that this child will grow into. In a children’s bedroom closet- especially with a military family, you move a lot and want to be as organized as possible!

Step 4: Organize The Storage

This label maker was so helpful because I could label the size of the clothes they will grow into and make it as organized as possible.

Adding labels to opaque bins is the perfect way to still know exactly what you have and what you need.
Adding labels to opaque bins is the perfect way to still know exactly what you have and what you need.

I accessorized her closet with an adorable shelf, hangers, and a great mirror because this cutie was very into dressing up.

Lastly, the biggest closet addition must be the LED lights I added.

The ones that are linked are lights that you plug in, but there are some other things you can do as well; you can get battery-operated or remote control lights, so I wanted to link some options.

In the end, it’s a child’s closet that an adult would love. And what’s not to love about that?!

Looking for other makeover inspiration? Try:

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$150.00 Small Closet Makeover

You saw how I renovated the husband’s closet in this military family, so next up, a $150.00 Closet Makeover- Military wife edition.

This closet was in the primary bedroom, only 2 feet deep and 5 feet wide. So small for a shared closet! Mama needed more space, so her husband was sent to the hall.

Materials needed for a Military Closet Makeover:

–Shelving unit (I lucked out and found my closet units on base, saving a lot of money. I got them from Military Exchange for 89.00- and I found it here for 99! You need to measure the space you need and buy accordingly. I will link some options at the bottom of this page for similar units)
-1×12 narrow shelf
-1×4  (approx 10 ft)
-white paint (optional)
–shoe rack (24 inches wide- the exact length of the closet depth)

Tools Needed for a Military Closet Makeover:

-drill
-saw- for cutting 1×4 (if you don’t have access to a saw, your local hardware store will cut your 1×4 for you)

*This post contains affiliate links. Please see the disclosures page for any concerns)

Step 1: Organize the closet

No shade, mom. We keep everything for everyone. For years. So if your closet looks like this “before,”… same.

A messy closet
Hangers and clothes and shoes all shoved into a very crowded closet

Once we got the items pared down to just the essentials, we started eyeballing what we had left and what potential closet they would be stored in. That cleared out space and gave me a better idea of what storage would be needed in future closet makeovers.

A messy closet
A further zoomed-out look at a very crowded and messy closet

This mama knew how easily it can happen to shove things into the closet and store them for everyone. So we decided to remove the closet doors and keep them in storage. She wanted a beautiful set up that she was incentivized to keep clean, so we went for an open concept!

Step 2: Measure and find closet units

The primary closet was *small*, as I mentioned. So  I found Closet Maid shelves that would fit that space. I unscrewed the wire rack I knew I would not be using and got to work assembling the shelving unit and placing that inside the closet. The unit I found was 1 foot wide, and I put it right in the center, which gave me two feet on each side. On one side, I did the double hanging, which would take care of all her hanging clothes.

Closet shelves assembled and put together

Reminder: This unit was bought on base. But here are some units that are available elsewhere and are similarly priced, and you can look for one that best fits your space.

*When I put together the shelving, notice how I turned the top two pieces upside down. Because only one side is painted, I wanted the painted side to be visible when looking up at the shelves. Unless you are over 7 feet tall, you won’t see the unfinished tops of these shelves.*

Step 3: Adding a top shelf for closet storage

Shoes. Am I right? We needed extra storage for the shoes in this closet, so I added a top shelf. This is where the 1×4 and melamine.  This is a type of wood that is already treated and laminated. It went on top of our units. But I needed to be sure it was secure. So I got 1×4 and cut them to fit each wall in the closet.

shoe rack installed into the right side for shoe storage

I made sure they were screwed into studs. This is the support for this piece. Very important.

Speaking of shoes, we decided to use a shoe rack on the right side. (The one listed under materials is what I used from Lowes. You need to measure your space, and if you find you need another size, here are some options)

 

If you notice, I made one of the racks taller than the rest on her shoe rack. That is so her taller boots and heels have a place to go. I did that by flipping the second Closet Maid shoe rack upside down on top of the first when I installed it.

Once the 1×4 boards were in the wall, I attached the shelf to that and wanted to ensure it was secured to hold the shoe storage she needed!

 

I accessorized her shelf with a mirrored tray like this to hold some perfume, a mirror, and other knick-knacks she wanted on display. You could use dried flowers, have pictures displayed, or an elegant or funny quote about getting dressed.

Looking for other makeover inspiration? Try:

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Build and Create Home

Hall Closet Renovation

Giving this military family closet makeover was such a fun project, and I loved working on repurposing a hall closet in this military closet makeover series.

This closet started as a hall closet as storage for the kiddos. Most of what was in the closet were things that were full of kid items (parents, we’ve all been there), and they decided when we were renovating each kiddo’s closet we would add storage into their spaces for their future clothes. That freed up this hall closet to allow me to do a military closet makeover for the husband!

Materials Needed for a Hall Closet Makeover:

-Shelving units (I lucked out and found my closet units on base- which saved a lot of money. I got them from Military Exchange for 89.00- but if you don’t have access to a military base- I’ll link some options at the bottom of this page for similar units)
-1 Piece Melamine (8 ft)
-1×4  (approx 10 ft)

Tools Needed for a Hall Closet Makeover:

-drill
-saw- for cutting 1×4 (if you don’t have access to a saw, your local hardware store will cut your 1×4 for you)

*This post contains affiliate links. Please see the disclosures page for any concerns)

Step 1: Purge your hall closet

As I said, this hall closet was originally holding things for kids, so our whole reorg started with a simple game of “do we need this”?

Once we got the items pared down to just the essentials, we started eyeballing what we had left and what potential closet they would be stored in. That cleared out space and gave me a better idea of what storage would be needed in future closet makeovers.

Step 2: Measure and find closet units

The husband’s repurposed hall closet was 3ft deep by 8 ft long- standard 8-foot ceilings, so I knew what unit sizes I would need.  I unscrewed the wire rack I knew I would not be using and got to work assembling the shelving unit and placing that inside the closet.

Reminder: This unit was bought on base. But here are some units that are available elsewhere and are similarly priced:

Step 3: Adding a top shelf for closet storage

We needed even more storage, so we added an extra shelf to the closet unit. This is where the 1×4 and melamine.  This is a type of wood that is already treated and laminate. It went on top of our units. But I needed to be sure it was secure. So I got 1×4 and cut them to fit each wall in the closet.

           

I made sure they were screwed into studs. This is the support for this piece. Very important. If you don’t own a stud finder… you need one!

Once the 1×4 boards were in the wall, I attached the shelf to that and wanted to make sure it was secured so it could hold the storage baskets we needed!

Speaking of storage… LOVE these baskets to add even more storage and keep that closet looking clean. The smaller white tubs were from Walmart, and the etched ones were from Target.

My client also had these tie hangers, which saved so much room in repurposing the hall closet in this military closet makeover series. I ended up attaching them to the last 1×4 that I had secured onto the wall.

 

Looking for other closet inspiration? Try:

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