Designing an efficient and organized closet system takes some planning and know-how. There are online closet design programs, but they limit design options. There are also professional closet designers available at closet showrooms, and often they are very knowledgeable, but leaving total trust in a design - that you will be living with and paying for - may not be suitable for everyone. By learning the rules of creating a good closet design, you can either design the closet yourself or arrive at a closet showroom prepared.
What is the Reason for Getting a New Closet
The first step is to know why you need or want a new closet. Possible reasons include:
- Need more hanging space;
- Need more shelf space;
- Want drawer space;
- Need to get rid of a dresser in bedroom to make more space;
- Want to upgrade the look of the closet;
- Want to separate the items of two people in the closet, so each person has their own section.
What is Your Organizing Style
Some people hang everything, including t-shirts. Some people hang their pants by the cuff, while others fold their pants over a hanger. Some like to use shelves, while others like drawers. Think of what type of organizing style you feel most comfortable with.
Take Inventory of What You Have
Know the amount of space that is being used by the items in the closet.
- How much space is being used by long-hang items, like dresses or pants hung by the cuff?
- How many pairs of shoes are in the closet?
- How much shelf space would be needed to store the items that are being stored on shelves?
- How many drawers would be needed to fit the items that go in drawers?
While inventory is being taken, keep an eye out for anything that can be donated or moved to a different location. If anything can be purged from the closet, and the goal is to gain space, keep this in mind when you get to the design phase.
Measuring the Closet
Most closets have right angled walls and are either square shaped or rectangle shaped. In this case, the required measurements will be the walls directly to the left and right of the door (even if it is an inch), the depth of the closet on both sides, the width and height of the closet, and the width and height of the door. The type of door is also important. All angles, electrical outlets, windows, alarm boxes, and any other oddity needs to be noted. This may seem straight-forward, but there are important things to know. Make sure to pay attention to the following:
- Resulting measurements may be different when measuring the lower part of the wall, as compared to the upper portion, so check this.
- Measurements that includes the baseboard and measurements that do not include the baseboard will be important for most floor mount closet systems.
- Each opening of sliding doors will be important for reach-in closets, if you want drawers.
Now that the planning is complete, you have all the information needed to go on to the design phase.
Go to, Closet Designing - The Design Process, to continue.
Find out how to organize a closet by watching closet organizing videos and by reading How to Organize - Closet Organizing Tips.
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