Walk-in Closets and Closet Organizers
Traditional closets are a nightmare.
It would be wonderful if every home and apartment came with dozens of walk-in closets full of shelves and organizers. There would be a place for everything and everything would be in its place.
Most of us have grown accustomed to living with small closets. We are all familiar with clothes jammed together on a rod, shoes piled helter-skelter on the floor, and shelves that are too high to be functional. The potential for clutter lurks in every home. If you're remodeling, though, it may be possible to add a walk-in closet. At the very least, you can add organization systems inexpensively.
Your first job is to identify your clutter, find a place to put it and organize that space efficiently. Whether you are building a new closet or retro-fitting an existing one, you must first analyze how you will arrange things to keep everything orderly and accessible.
I met my first walk-in closet (except on programs about the rich and famous on television) in a rental condo when we were on vacation. It was love at first sight. Fortunately walk-in closets are no longer considered luxury items so ideas, design plans, and a great many options are available. A walk-in closet provides the ultimate in efficient wardrobe storage.
You can revamp your current closet or design a walk-in closet using little used space in your existing home.
If you want to create a closet in an area where none exists, consider partitioning off one wall of a large room, or think about converting another room in the house into a multi-functional room as well as a closet. Most of us have rooms in our homes that are used for overflow or “junk” if you prefer that word. This room can be converted into a dressing room or sitting area as well as a closet system, or just partition off the other half with shelves and cabinets to make it into a functional storage
area. Yes, you will lose some floor space but you will gain a well-defined storage area.
A walk-in closet will add value to your home and create a place that you can use and enjoy. If you are remodeling your home for retirement living it would behoove you to consider accessibility features when making your plans. Your walk-in closet isn’t just another room; it is a place to keep your clothes and your accessories together in an organized fashion.
Your closet should mirror your lifestyle, whether you live in the world of suits and cocktail dresses (or tuxedos) or sweaters and jeans. A standard sized rod and shelf closet does not utilize space efficiently and you don’t have to look very hard to see that there is a tremendous amount of wasted space.
You can find ready built modules that you can install yourself or you can hire a closet organizer. If you don’t know where to begin, hiring a professional may be the way to go, however the price will be considerably higher. Regardless of which way you choose to go, you will want to plan carefully and make your closet as efficient as possible. By using modular units and adjustable shelving, you can adjust your closet to reflect your changing needs.
You will want to become familiar with the term closet systems and decide what system will work for you. Built-in, floor-based and wall-hung systems are the three most common choices. A wall-hung unit hangs on a track. It gives a clean contemporary look with everything off the floor. A built-in system is permanently joined to the structure of your house and will add a custom look but will be difficult to dismantle if someone wants to change it later. The floor-based units are built from the floor up and also give a built in look.
Before you start tearing things down and buying organizers, start by looking at everything that will be going into your closet and take an inventory. How many short-hang items, long-hang items, and medium-hang items (determined by the size of your clothing and how you like to store them) do you have, and how much space do you need to hang everything? This is a good time to get rid of items that don’t fit and you haven’t worn in three years. Yes, you are creating more room but if you aren’t careful, even a walk-in closet can soon become a disaster area.
Source: The Black & Decker Build Your Own Custom Closet: Designing, Building & Installing Custom Closet Systems
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