Custom closets primarily do one thing — they are storage solutions that neatly store your clothes.
However, just as important as having a custom closet well-made by a closet professional is knowing some closet space best practices to maximize its use.
Some storage tips involve adding some cost-effective items to your closet, but it’ll be worth it after you see the results of a maximized closet space.
The perks of efficient use of storage are a well-organized wardrobe making it easier to get ready for the day, increased storage capacity, and a cleaner-looking organization system.
It’s not enough that you commission a nyc closet design service. Whether you’re using a small bedroom closet or a huge walk-in one, these custom closet space tips will bring out the space in your closet system.
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1. Sort Your Clothes by Seasons
Sorting your tops from your bottoms and your accessories is an unspoken closet rule.
However, just as important is that you should further organize your items by season.
Let’s say you’ve already organized your entire wardrobe by tops, bottoms, jackets, and accessories.
What you’d want to be doing for each category is having clothes meant for cold weather on one side, and clothes meant for warm weather on another side.
This is so that before you head out, you already know which side to pick your clothes from.
This means your summer linen suit jackets go on the left, your puffy wool jackets go on the right, you get the idea.
Your bottoms may be segmented by having shorts to the left, and thick denim pants to the right.
This applies to your pairs of shoes as well. Your loafers can sit to the left, while your winter boots can go on the right.
For smaller accessories, some drawers can contain summer wear, such as shades and caps, while other drawers can be for winter wear, such as scarfs and mitts.
This makes finding your clothes easier and quicker. An organization system like this doesn’t take up additional space.
Some discipline is just needed when hanging your clothes as they come out of the dry cleaners.
Even if you’re pressed for space, you can still organize your clothes by the season. Here are some mini walk-in closet ideas for small spaces.
This practice isn’t just for the seasons. Sometimes, it can suddenly rain. In that case, you’ll know where to find your boots and umbrella.
2. Add an Island or a Vanity
If you have a spacious walk-in closet but don’t have a center item or island, you might as well just have a huge dance studio.
An island adds to the layout of your room and also maximizes the space by adding something functional at the center.
This island could be a work desk, a large comfy stool, a couch, or a vanity to store accessories.
Without an island, you’d be left with a lot of dead space in the center that won’t have much use.
This doesn’t make for a very effective walk-in closet. Even more so, this doesn’t fully utilize the space you have.
You can opt for a drawer for your island to store your accessories. Or, a cabinet with open shelves for your pairs of shoes.
A vanity complete with a mirror and make-up area can also work as your island, instead of having it against a wall.
In addition, an island with a centerpiece such as a bouquet of flowers or a small tree adds some personality to your walk-in closet.
Also, having an island allows you to momentarily put things down on it, such as a drink or folded clothing. This is nuanced habit humans have.
3. Focus on Lighting
Besides the typical drawer and shelving your closet is supposed to have, you should also see to it that you have enough lighting in your custom closet.
You’re probably thinking — “how does lighting help with the storage for my closet?”
Lighting is a small but essential fixture for any room. No matter how small a room is.
Even some feet wide janitor’s closet has at least one lightbulb inside. Here are some lighting tips for your closet:
- Place lighting fixtures near your clothes. You’d want to properly see their color and texture. The slightest difference in the color shade makes a huge difference to your overall outfit (i.e., midnight blue vs black)
- Add a window to let in natural light. Your closet is no different from your living room’s lighting needs. A small window with adjustable curtains or blinds will help bring adequate sunlight into your walk-in closet.
- If you have a mirror, you’d want the area of your mirror to be well-lit as well. You need to properly perceive yourself in the mirror before heading out.
Lighting isn’t just an aesthetic for your room. It’s a functional aspect that can help you optimize your closet space further.
Think about it — could you properly fold clothes and store them when the room isn’t properly lit?
Can you decipher your socks drawer from your underwear drawer in the dark? Same idea with shelves and other closet sections.
4. Add an Extra Clothing Rack
More shelves aren’t always the solution. While adjustable shelves are useful in organizing your clothes, sometimes you just need more hanging space.
You can instantly double your hanging space by adding a second clothing rod to your closet.
Simply elevate the clothing rod in any given closet space to make room for hanging space beneath it.
Then add a second clothing rod below the newly-created space.
Extra clothing racks aren’t just limited to clothing rods. You can hang racks on dead wall space to make them useful.
These are essential for placing your hats, coats, scarfs, etc.
5. Make Sure Your Clothes and Accessories Are Visible
An important aspect of utilizing closet space is that you can see the extensive selection of your closet.
This saves you time from looking through opaque structures and remembering where you put your clothes.
Here are some ideas on how you can do that:
- Use glass partitions. Not only do they make your shelves look more premium, but you can also see your items through them.
- Use open shelving. The absence of a door and drawer allow you to immediately see and reach for your clothes and accessories. This also maximizes walking space around your walk-in closet if you’re cramped for space.
- As mentioned earlier, use adequate lighting so that you can see your clothes even when preparing for steak dinner.
- Opt for wide shallow shelving for your closet organizer. Minimizing the depth of your closet will lessen the tendency of clothes being stuffed in the back to be forgotten for all time.
- Refer to your custom closet company for solutions. A custom closet company may make suggestions for your closet system depending on what key jewelry, pairs of shoes, scarfs, etc. you’d want to highlight.
- Use drawer organizers. Stuffing your socks, underwear, and other clothing into a random pile within your drawer will make them harder to look through.
Making sure your clothes and accessories are visible doesn’t just mean making them seen.
It also means that they can easily be found when you need them. So besides open shelving and adequate lighting, organizers are a must-have for your closet. Look into closet organizer ideas for efficient design and function.
6. Add Bins and Baskets for More Storage
Bins and baskets horizontally organize otherwise vertical shelving. They’re a closet’s best friend for adding shelves and organization systems.
They are on shelves as organizers are to drawers.
Having bins and baskets in your closet may double as a hamper, giving you a place to store your dirty clothing.
In Closing
Maximize your well-spent closet money by optimizing your storage space.
Optimized storage space doesn’t mean more space, but rather, how that space is used.
So you don’t necessarily have to upgrade to bigger shelves or have a closet redo to achieve this.
So long as it saves you time when deciding on outfits, your space does plenty.
