44 DIY Closet Ideas Built with Pipe & Fittings
Closets can be awkwardly sized (or even nonexistent if you live in a studio or very old house) making it difficult, if not impossible, to install efficient shelving and racks.
Some big box home improvement stores provide a few options, but they can come with a hefty price tag and are limited in their customization options.
Kee Klamp fittings and pipe provide an ideal solution. They’re budget-friendly, easy to install, and have an infinite number of possible configurations.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of 44 different pipe closet ideas that you can build yourself. When you design your project with Kee Klamp fittings and pipe, you’re only limited by your imagination.
Take a look:
Kee Klamp customer Katy has built multiple projects using the fittings but this closet was her first. She liked that the fittings were easier to use than threaded pipe, since all you need is a hex key (or Allen Wrench) to tighten each fitting into place. This setup also enables you to make adjustments to the project’s dimensions as needed, which is an attractive feature for someone who might be new to DIY projects.
Chris built this simple and sturdy wall-mounted rack to hang all his clothes. Recessed ceiling lights add a modern and minimalist touch. To build the same design, you will need 90° Elbow fittings, Single Socket Tee fittings, Two Socket Cross fittings, and Flange fittings.
Brian wanted to increase the value of his home by replacing the outdated Closetmaid look of his walk-in closet with an industrial unit. He looked at other closet organizer kits, but preferred the aesthetic of Kee Klamp fittings. This closet gets the best of both worlds by adding inexpensive wire shelves to the top of the rack and a wall-mounted shoe rack on the side.
Kee Klamp customer Angela built three different clothing racks for the walk-in closet of her master bedroom. The two racks pictured here have integrated shelving for easily storing shoes. Want to build something similar for yourself? This DIY closet system complete guide details all the parts you’ll need and how to assemble them.
Clifford built these shelves for his closet using Kee Lite Railing Flange fittings and Gator Tubing. Kee Lite fittings are lighter than Kee Klamp fittings but can still stand up to significant weight. Cliff noted that “Each shelf can easily hold a 250-pound man without flexing. I tested them.”
This might look like a built-in unit, but it’s actually a free-standing rack made to fit the dimensions of the space. Bob used one of these standard clothing rack kits and modified it for his needs. All the pipe was custom cut to fit his closet. He added an extra bar for more shirt storage, then fit a small cabinet inside to put his shoes in.
This unit floats shelves on the cross supports using Fixing Pad fittings. The vertical supports are mounted to the wall using Flange fittings. To take advantage of the extra space beneath the bottom shelf, you could add a clothing rack using Single Socket Tee fittings and a length of pipe cut to fit.
Black pipe with unfinished blonde wood is an easy way to make your closet look chic. If you like the look of this unit but aren’t sure how to build it, our team offers free design assistance. They can compile a list of the parts you need to get things started.
A large board mounted to the top of the rack provides long-term storage for shoes, hats, bags, or boxes of winter clothes. Another board mounted to the side of the closet helps divide the room and keep things separate.
Bags are a ubiquitous accessory, but there’s rarely dedicated closet space for storing them. Instead of using plastic hooks or drilling metal hooks into the wall, simply put a few Kee Klamp hooks onto the clothing rack. You can tighten the set screw so that the hook stays in place, then go back and adjust later if you want to move it.
An open concept closet design would also make sense in a mudroom or entryway. Family members can take off shoes, wet coats, or outerwear as soon as they enter the house. Using Kee Klamp hooks instead of hangers keeps the area looking tidy all the time, and wicker baskets on the top shelf hide small accessories like gloves and hats.
This shoe rack is built with threaded fittings, but building the same design with Kee Klamp fittings would allow you to quickly and easily adjust the height of each shelf as needed. This is useful when storing shoes of various sizes, such as high heels. Plus, if you want the same bronze and silver style as seen here, you can order Kee Klamp fittings in almost any color.
Don’t let the space below shelves go to waste. Turn it into another clothing rack instead. Simply add a Single Socket Tee fitting to the support pipe for the shelf, then another one for attaching it to the rack below. This example also uses Kee Klamp hooks, which would make it easy to hold belts or laptop bags.
Low ceilings or unusual angles shouldn’t keep you from making the most of your storage space. This particular clothing rack was designed to fit perfectly in a room with a low, sloping ceiling. To make one for yourself, all you’ll need are two Flange fittings and a length of pipe cut to fit.
A wall-mounted clothes rack doesn’t need to extend all the way down to the floor. If you only need a little bit of extra storage, Flange fittings mounted on some studs will do just fine. This makes for a stylish but practical closet solution in a studio or converted loft apartment. This particular project looks like it was made with threaded fittings, but you could build the same project with 90° Side Outlet Tee fittings and Side Outlet Elbow fittings.
If you don’t have any closet space, there’s no need to feel bummed about building a free-standing unit. This unique design uses 90° Elbow fittings to create a “stair-step” effect. This makes the piece visually interesting, but also makes it easy to hang shirts, coats, or dresses of varying length. The unfinished wood on the bottom and side add to the overall look.
When it comes to a free-standing closet, maybe you’re more of a minimalist. This option keeps things simple, which can help keep rooms from looking cluttered. It’s also incredibly easy to make. All you need are two Flange fittings, two Single Socket Tee fittings, two 90° Elbow fittings, and a few lengths of pipe cut to size.
This closet is slightly smaller and a more rustic interpretation of the last design, but uses many of the same fittings, but with Flange fittings for the feet instead of casters. There’s also a notch cut into the wood so that the vertical pipe is recessed into the shelf.
This clothing rack only uses Flange fittings, Three Socket Tee fittings, and 90° Elbow fittings. It also has a unique weathered style. Achieving the look of aged metal is actually quite simple and requires only a few household products. This DIYer aged the metal on a coffee table using toilet bowl cleaner, steel wool. and sandpaper.
Here’s another example of the same design as the last closet. If you don’t want to worry about designing it yourself, then take a look at this wall mounted clothing rack kit. It’s about six feet wide and eight feet tall. There’s also an extension option to provide an additional six feet of horizontal storage space.
This floor-to-ceiling unit is a stylish solution for anyone who only needs a little bit of extra storage. The vertical pipe passes through holes in the shelves, which rest on top of Three Socket Tee fittings and are supported in the back by another length of pipe and 90° Elbow fittings.
Just because closets can be small and have awkward angles doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of the space. This custom made design plays off the wooden walls and ceiling by using contrasting black pipe and fittings. Wire baskets on each shelf would work well for storing smaller accessories, such as belts, ties, or gloves.
These clothing racks are framed on either side by shelves, which are the perfect size for storing shoes. If you want to keep things more organized, you can do what this person did and store loose objects in matching boxes. When you build your closet with Kee Klamp fittings, you can build the shelves to perfectly fit any and all of your needs.
Sometimes the best solutions are the simplest. This project made use of some old dressers, then updated them with baskets and matching accessories. The bronze-colored rack above only requires two Flange fittings and two 90° Elbow fittings. The pop of color from the clothes adds visual interest to the room.
This free-standing closet would look great in an industrial loft apartment. In addition to a few stained and sealed pieces of wood, all you need are pieces of black pipe, plus Flange fittings and 90° Elbow fittings painted gold or bronze. Then add casters to the bottom shelf so that you can move the closet as needed. All in all, a unit like this could be assembled in an hour or two.
Take advantage of a large wall by installing a floor-to-ceiling open closet. While this one was likely built with a store-bought kit, you can create a similar effect with Kee Klamp fittings and pipe painted with our powder coating service. Plus, with Kee Klamp fittings, you can create a completely custom design.
This DIY pipe closet was built for a bedroom with limited storage space. The matching white dressers underneath the racks keep things looking tidy, as do the matching boxes on the top shelf. For the top shelves, it’s probably a good idea to stabilize things with a few Fixing Pad fittings.
Until now, there has always been a need to strike balance between adding more storage space and being able to reach high shelves. With Kee Klamp fittings, you can build a sliding ladder that perfectly matches your new closet.
There’s something timeless about the look of dark, stained wood with black pipe. You could even go to your local lumber yard and find some reclaimed wood for a closet that is as stylish as it is eco-conscious. Some Kee Klamp customers have even built shelves using bowling alley lane wood.
This display was built for a boutique clothing store but would work just as well in a walk-in closet. There’s plenty of room for hanging clothes and the design could include several more shelves for storing shoes.
However, a project this big can be daunting for a beginner, so don’t hesitate to reach out to our team for design assistance. They’ve helped dozens of people and businesses build large, complex clothing racks.
Some people prefer the look of wood units but want the functionality of pipe and fittings. Take advantage of an existing wood cabinet by inserting Flange fittings and a length of pipe cut to size. If you want the rack to extend through two or more spaces, simply bore a hole in the wood before inserting the pipe.
Floating shelves add storage without needing much vertical support. They’re easy to install, too. Simply mount the pipe to the wall with a Flange fitting, then cap the pipe with a Collar fitting and a Malleable Plug. This design also has a few vertical supports in order to make space for a horizontal clothing rack.
The shelf on the left provides a flat storage surface as well as a rack for hanging clothes. It couldn’t be easier to make, either. All you’ll need are four Flange fittings, two Three Socket Tee fittings, and two 90° Elbow fittings. Assemble the pipe and fittings, mount it to the wall, and then you’re reading to mount the shelf to the top.
A pipe closet would be a fantastic way to store a child’s dress-up clothes or costumes. Kee Klamp fittings are also adjustable so you can change the height of the rack in a matter of minutes. As your child grows, you can move the racks up along with them.
If you want to build shelves that perfectly fit a particular space, then Kee Klamp fittings and pipe are an easy way to support them. These shelves use Flange fittings to mount a pipe that supports the length of the shelves, then Single Socket Tee fittings and pipe to support the width. Another rack underneath provides more space for hanging clothes.
If you like the look of this closet but don’t want to bother with mounting brackets, you could simply rest the shelf on top of the pipes and stabilize it with Fixing Pad fittings. Then you could use Single Socket Tee fittings and another length of pipe to install the clothing rack beneath the shelf.
This free-standing closet has hooks on the side for hanging hats and bags. To achieve the same steampunk style as seen here, use a Three Socket Tee fitting and an Obtuse Angle Elbow fitting. If you want a hook but don’t want to worry about additional parts, use Kee Klamp hooks instead.
If you have a wide but shallow closet, bi-fold doors are a great way to hide things whenever you have company over. This closet has racks mounted at several different heights for different members of the family. Young children can reach their coats at the bottom, while the middle rack leaves enough room for long trench coats.
This wooden closet is beautiful but might not be ideal for someone on a budget. You could replicate the same design with Kee Klamp fittings and pipe for a cheaper price tag. Top with some shelves using reclaimed and stained wood to get the same timeless style.
If you have solid wood beams in your ceiling, you might like the look of a suspended rack. All you would need is a length of pipe and a few Malleable Plugs to seal the ends. Then, suspend the rack from the ceiling using a few screw in hooks and some thick rope.
Dark brown wood with brown pipe and fittings might work well for someone looking for a country or rustic style. The shelves are tall enough to store several pairs of boots, and there’s a special hook for hanging a leather jacket. To build the hook, all you need is a Flange fitting, a 90° Elbow fitting, and a Malleable Plug.
Unfinished wood pairs beautifully with black pipe and fittings. Plus, the style looks upscale without being too hard on a budget. Going with unstained wood can also save you time while you’re building your project. It also fits naturally with a neutral tone carpet and wall.
Don’t let corners go to waste when it comes to adding storage. Staining the shelves the same color as the wood floor is a great way to add some cohesive style to the room. The black pipe and fittings also match the black finish on the chandelier.
Painting pipes and fittings is a great way to bring personality into your closet. You could achieve a similar look by ordering fittings in white, vertical pipes in gold, and horizontal pipes in white using our powder coating service.
Build Your DIY Closet
By now, you hopefully know what kind of closet you want to build, or you have several ideas for a custom design of your own. Whether you want to recreate one of the projects you see here or you want to bring something new to life, we’re here to help.
Our team offers project design assistance. They’ve helped countless homeowners and business owners build closets and clothing displays. They’d be happy to help you do the same.
