You could just buy a wardrobe or two?

Are you talking about saving money, or doing a DIY, or... why don't you just buy the IKEA stuff? I do know that a full wall of IKEA cabinets can set you back a couple thousand dollars, so I'm going to assume you want to make something that is cheap and functional.

You, my friend, are a candidate for a utilitarian pipe shelving unit. Put up pipes from floor to ceiling, attach shelves, include some poles for hangers. Google plumber pipe shelves. I think Daniel over at manhattan-nest.com did a DIY post about it but can't find it right now.

This is another good one from IKEA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpFT8mTRTQI

In this case the back of the cabinets are the "wall" towards the bed.

Get to Craig's list and find shelving; even bookshelves for your folding clothes then do the pipe thing as PARNASSUS suggested above.
You can get inexpensive LONG curtains at Ikea and wa-laa, your walk through closet. If possible, hang the curtians on hosptial tracks unless you don't want them to be able to be moved.

If you are thinking about buying a wardrobe like the one shown in the photo above, consider flipping the cabinet(s) so the back of the cabinets make a full height headboard for your bed. Then clad the back of the cabinets with whatever suits your style. I'd clad them with rustic boards similar to this image.

http://modernroomdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Contemporary-rustic-bedroom-wall.jpg

First you need to ascertain that you have the space for this. Figure the depth of whatever storage or hanger depth you need, walk space (of about 36 inches) and the room taken up by the headboard or curtains or whatever you use. If that doesn't leave enough space for the bed or whatever furniture needs to fit, it might not work.

If there's room, you can have shelves and hanging space against the wall, in cabinetry that MAKES a new wall (with the backs of the cabinets facing the room and being used as/with the headboard, maybe), or on both sides if there is enough space.

If not enough space for using furniture on both sides, you might need a curtain or screen as a divider.

Then it's a matter of finding the furniture that will work for your needs. There are a lot of variables, and without more information and knowledge of what your landlord will permit, it's hard to advise.

I'd check out what is available in the as -is section first. At our local IKEA there are always PAX components- frames and tons of doors. A lot of it was simply display & you'll find MUCHO savings there.

We did this in our loft condo a few years ago & LOVED it. My husband built a 15 foot long by 10 foot tall closet (ahhhh.... what a dream that was!!!!!) and then we hung the ikea sliding panels from that. We floated our bed in the center of the room & used 3 hollow core doors as a headboard/ floating wall behind it (facing the closet). The doors were fastened together & painted & then we pushed our 2 dressers behind that to make them stand up straight enough. Our room was really, really big though (over 20x20) & it looked amazing.

Seriously measure out the space to make sure you have enough room to do this. It will feel cramped & annoying if you don't have ample room between the edge of the open closet & the dressers/ wall. 3 feet is enough for walking/ dressing, unless you also want to access a dresser, then 4 feet would be better.

Good luck!

Like some of the previous commentors suggested, I think you should buy two (or more, depending on the space) wardrobes and use the back of them as the "wall" which your bed or whatever can sit flush against them. Leave space on one side to get back to their fronts. Maybe line the wall opposite them with hooks or shelving for additional storage.

If you have the wall space, a freestanding ELFA system against the wall would work. The specialty closet pieces can get expensive, but the plain rods, shelves and baskets have worked well for me. And it's easy to move and reconfigure if you move.

I think this is a great idea. My one bedroom had two small built-ins side by side with old bi-fold doors. I ripped them out (including the door frames and separating wall) to make my room 2 feet deeper, then pushed side by side Ikea Pax into the space - voila - built in closets with sliding doors and MUCH nicer interiors! I then placed a 5x5 Expedit on top of a 1x5 Expedit facing the closet and wall papered the back. Instant feature wall and tonnes of storage space!
There's a photo or two of the end result here... https://pinterest.com/pin/253257179016422278/ https://pinterest.com/pin/253257179016422639/ https://pinterest.com/pin/253257179016422640/

Just remember that bright, direct sunlight can fade your clothes. Whatever your solution, try to shade any open storage from your windows.

You can do pretty much anything with this idea. A big coordinated unit like the IKEA one has its pluses -- it's tailored to your needs and looks sleek -- but you could also mix and match pieces from Craigslist and do some DIY -- mismatched chests of drawers with pipes suspended from the ceiling above for hanging clothes. If you want to embrace the idea of this being a dressing room, you could get a vanity and make it feel like a boudoir.

I would say 1. make sure you have the space PLUS your future walk-through doesn't obstruct windows, doorways, and electrical/phone outlets. Are you okay with the bed being in the middle of the room? 2. Instead of getting the exact same closet you could mix and match items, like a small cabinet, floating shelves, bookshelf, and dresser. That way you have a combination of open shelving, drawers, and closed shelving. Try to get everything the same width so it looks like a set. 3. Make your own curtains. 4. Measure, measure, measure before you start anything!

Install the aforementioned pumbing pipe rods for hanging clothes at various heights mounted studs on the back wall. Facing that (where the dresser is in the above pic) place two tall bookcases for folded clothes & decorative baskets of socks, underwear, etc. Tack a single piece of cut-to-fit hdf/mdf/plywood to the back side of the bookcases. Use batting & fabric to upholtser if you need a headboard. If not, add trim & paint or wallpaper for an eye-catching backdrop for the bed. And/Or use the curtains between the two if you'd like more closet coverage. There's a million ways to accomplish this...use your imagination and have fun.

edit: mounted *on* studs

@GEORGINALOUISE love those pinterest links - I'd love to see more, you should fill in the house tour or house call application form!

I look this same idea and applied it to my space. You can say I have a studio apartment with a loft. The base level is an open room sectional sofa but I also needed a "private" clothing/dressing area. I turned my dresser (stackable) into two rows side by side, which acts as a wall (pictured as a curtain in the photo above) between my living space and dressing area. Great idea!