Custom Closet Design Ideas
It’s best to base your design within the types of clothing you might have. Below are a few clothing dimensions you should know:
Folded sweaters and shirts require 9 to 15 inches of linear space each.
Coats can require as much as 68 inches of vertical space.
Pants and jeans require up to 50 inches of vertical space (about half of that when folded).
Skirts require up to 45 inches of vertical space.
2. Include the correct amount of double- and single-hang sections. Evaluate your wardrobe and take inventory of what you own. Do you possess more blouses than dresses? Do you have any large winter coats and jackets? Whether to include more double hangs or single hangs will hinge on your current wardrobe. Shirts, blouses and slacks belong on double hangs, while dresses and long coats and jackets normally need single hangs.
If you have many dresses and evening gowns, tally them up so you recognize how much single-hang space you need. If you don’t have many (or any at all), exclusively use double-hang sections. This will help you maximize your storage space. Men’s closet spaces normally don’t require many, if any, single-hang sections (exceptions are for hunting gear or long coats). Adding more double-hang sections will better accommodate a wardrobe composed of mostly dress shirts and slacks.
3. Figure out the best solution for corners. As tricky as corners are in general, they manage to be even more complicated in closets. There’s usually less space to work with.
The best approach is to utilize as much space as you possibly can; you can never have enough storage for your clothing. Corner shelves allow you to do just that. They can be used to hang clothes or store purses and suitcases. Additionally they produce a more seamless closet design. Suffice it to say, you might not have the space for a corner shelf. If not, it’s perfectly acceptable to have your panel overlap the adjacent wall (as in the closet above). While the resulting corner space may not be super easy to access, you won’t be wasting any storage space. You’ll be able to hang seasonal attire like winter coats in these hidden spots.
4. Ensure there’s enough room to have an island. Islands absolutely are a dream addition to any walk-in closet. Although the spacing has to be right. A 36-inch walkway on each side of the island is ideal, but you can get by with 30-inch or 24-inch walkways if you’re prepared to sacrifice a small amount of clearance space. Which means you need at least 10 feet of linear space (12 feet to have 36-inch walkways). The more clearance space for islands with pullout drawers, the better.
5. Make the shoes fit. If you’re including a shoe rack, saving space is just one a part of the challenge. The other? Ensuring that your shelves and cubbies are big enough to comfortably store your shoe collection. A pair of women’s shoes generally measures anywhere from around 5½ to 10 inches wide, while a men’s pair is 6½ to 10½ inches wide. There should be enough linear space to house the pairs you own (or at least the pairs you wear often). The most effective rule of thumb is to allow 7 to 12 inches of space per pair. If you own boots, make sure that some of your shelves and cubbies are high enough to fit them. Ankle-high boots normally start at 3 inches high, while midcalf and knee-high boots may range from 9 to 17 inches high.
6. Find room for a bench. It’s a fantastic spot to put on your shoes, button up your shirts and so forth. The easiest and perhaps most economical choice is a free-standing bench. You can place it next to your island or along an unused wall in your closet. Built-in benches are a natural fit below windows, especially higher windows. Include a drawer to provide a little extra storage space.
7. Don’t overlook your accessories. No household is short on accessories, be they purses, jewelry, ties or belts. It can help to produce an organized space for these particular belongings too.
Belt and tie racks may be compact and mounted to any dead space you may have along walls. It’s also possible to want racks to hang your purses on to more quickly put your outfits together. including a jewelry tray in one of the drawers is also an alternative. You can put trays in the island or perhaps in a drawer in or near a vanity.