The IKEA Hack That Created a “Magical” Walk-In Entry Closet

As much as I’m looking forward to the first day of school after a long summer, the thought of our morning shuffle still makes me twitch. Three kids, endless reminders: Wake up. Brush your teeth. Get dressed. Shoes. Backpack. One claims I never gave them their shoes. Another demands cereal right now. The third moans, “I’m dyyyy-iiinnng.” We finally make it to the door—only to realize that, after all that, someone’s still missing a shoe and someone else has to pee. Meanwhile, their teacher somehow gets 18 preschoolers to hang up coats, wash hands, and sit at a table without a single reminder or complaint. Eighteen kids. No yelling. Just smiles, on some Mary Poppins-level of order.

I started paying attention and saw the magic wasn’t as mystical as it first seemed—it was, to a significant extent, spatial. Each child had a cubby with their name and picture. A tiny, clearly defined space that seemed to make them want to take responsibility.

So I put my DIY detective hat on and grabbed my tape measure, hunting for space to create a cubby system. In our 650-square-foot one-bedroom? No space available. So I’d have to make some by repurposing what we had: that overstuffed entry closet filled with who-knows-what (since no one dared excavate it to find out) and the IKEA TROFAST bins we used for LEGO storage.

A few hooks and some elbow grease later, two underutilized things became one functional walk-in cubby with stations for each child: 

• Bottom bins for socks (doubles as a step stool)
• Hook for sweater and backpack
• Top bins for hats and mittens—or sunscreen and goggles in the summer
• Opposite wall for shoes and scooters

• Perfect for tight spaces: At a little over eight inches deep, it fits in even narrow closets or entryways.
• Right-sized storage: Enough for little socks and mittens without wasted space.
• Budget-friendly: It uses affordable bins you might already own.
• Kid-friendly: It’s low enough for them to reach everything.
• Teaches independence: They can see, grab, and can put away their own things.
• Morning helper: It cuts down on last-minute scrambles for socks, mittens, or shoes.

What was once a 3×3 foot closet full of forgotten junk is now one of the most functional spots in our apartment. And while it hasn’t completely saved our mornings, it’s made them a whole lot easier, calmer, and — dare I say — just a little more magical. One ‘Cubby at Home’ at a time.

This post originally appeared on Cubby. See it there: The IKEA Kid’s Closet Hack That Makes Our Mornings Easier (and a Little More Magical)