How to Plan a Clothing Closet
Who doesn’t need a clothing closet? Customized clothing closets are the fantasy of many a clotheshorse and shopaholic. Whether your wardrobe is filled with ball gowns or baseball hats, clothing closets serve a functional purpose in nearly any size space. Even if you can't have your dream of a private space with a lounge chair, a dressing table, a soft carpet underfoot and a music system, you can create a clothing closet that matches your resources. As with all home improvement projects, start with an assessment of your needs and goals.
Storage Styles
Clothing comes in all shapes and sizes. Dresses and gowns require vertical hanging space on a rod that is hung high enough so that hems are not wrinkled. Business attire, such as men’s suits and women’s slacks, skirts and blouses, usually require about half the height of dresses and gowns: This way, you can have two levels of hanging in the same space. If jeans and sweats are more your style, then your need for hanging storage may be less, but you will have a greater need for flat storage space.
High-end walk-in clothing closets usually include beautifully fitted drawers and cupboards so that there is little visible storage space. While this is lovely to look at, it’s not an absolute necessity. Open cubbies and wire shelving can work well for storage of sweaters, jeans and workout clothes. If space allows, a small bureau will work well for items you wish not to have out in the open.
And what about shoes, purses and bags? Many of us have lots of shoes, but more often than not, we wear the same few pairs most of the time. When designing clothing closets, take into consideration your needs for shoe storage in the closet. What kinds of shoes do you have? Boots and sneakers take up considerably more room than do dress shoes and sandals. Space planning is especially important in this area. After all, a small pair of flip-flops stored in a big cubby is a big waste of space.
Additional Features
One of the goals for clothing closets is to keep clothes from cluttering up the bedroom. If space allows, building a small bench seat in your clothing closet will encourage you to dress and undress in that space, removing the temptation of piling clothes on a chair to hang up later.
Customized clothing closets can be a beautiful, high-end luxury, but with careful planning and a consultation with a professional carpenter, nearly anyone can create an oasis of organization in their smaller home as well.
Author Linda Merill is a professional interior designer and writer based in Massachusetts. Visit her decorating blog and her Web site. Linda is an amazing resource for interior design information. Go ahead and send her a message!
