DOES YOUR SMALL CLOSET NEED A PROFESSIONAL CLOSET PLANNER?
If you live with a small closet, then you know the struggles you face to keep things well organized. Finding a place for all your clothes is a feat into itself. With limited space and perhaps even a single rod or wire rack in your closet it may be time to make some improvements.
A set of fresh eyes may be helpful in finding creative solutions to those everyday headaches. The very best professional closet planners ensure the improvements made to your closet add value to your home and your everyday living. Homes on the Delaware shore are generally smaller in scale so finding room for all your essentials is crucial. A professional closet planner will map out the most efficient design based on your specific needs and closet measurements.
Designing a pretty closet may seem easy, but if an accurate assessment is not done it will be all for naught. There is nothing pretty about unmanageable shoes, or more stressful than inadequate shelves for things like gym bags, purses or stacks of folded clothes. Oh, lets not forget the wandering hamper that has found a temporary home under the blouses where there should be a double rod. There is a better way! Let us walk you through the process.
THINGS TO CONSIDER:
BUDGET
This is one of the most overlooked areas. For whatever reason people are uncomfortable talking amount money. Whether you hire a professional or not, you need to have a clear understanding of what you want to spend on the project. If drawers are in the plan, but put the project over budget, that's perfectly fine. Consider using open shelves for now to keep you within your budget and add the drawers when you want to invest a little more into your space - that's totally doable! Just make sure the designer plans for standard width shelf stacks to avoid special order drawers in the future. (HINT - the more moving parts in a closet the more it will cost - i.e: drawers, doors, pull-out hampers, pants racks, etc.).
HANGING CLOTHES
As much as a designer may want to see your closet "as is" they also need to know if you're planning a major purge. If you have a dozen pairs of jeans hanging in your closet that have not been worn in years you may want to donate them to clear your space for the things you do love and wear. Freeing space of clutter also clears the mind and leads to a far less hectic life.
Does your closet have the dreaded single rod? Do you have more wasted space than usable space under your short hanging clothes? If so, double hanging may be in order.
If you only have a handful of knee length dresses and an even smaller collection of maxi dresses, formal gowns and/or robes then you may want to consider housing them on one long-hang rod to avoid one small section of medium-hang and one small section of long-hang in your closet. (HINT- Clothes move less freely when on rods under 18". Sharing say a 24" rod or longer allows the clothes to move along the rod more freely, but cuts down on the material cost of your closet as well)
SHELVING
If you have a single rod surrounding your closet then you may find the shelf above it less than convenient when trying to reach that favorite sweater of yours. And let us not forget the shoes floating around on the floor. There truly is a solution far less expensive than adding a closet addition to your home. Many do not realize it takes as little as 12 inches to add shelves for shoes or folded clothes. And as little as 18 inches for drawers, hampers, baskets, etc. The possibilities are endless and why taking a full inventory is a must (HINT - did you know if a woman were to chose an 18" hamper and shelf stack opposed to a 24" she would be losing precious storage for shoes or folded clothes? By increasing by only 6" she will have enough space to double her stack of clothes or increase her shoe storage by 30%).
NOTICE HOW DROPPING THE SHORT HANG ROD ON THE LEFT ELIMINATES WASTED SPACE AND ALLOWS FOR SEVERAL ACCESSIBLE SHELVES FOR FOLDED ITEMS..
ACCESSORIES
This is when you can start customizing a space more specific to your everyday needs. Some people like open shelves to see everything at a glance, while others prefer to utilize doors to conceal or keep things free of dust. Surprisingly, some small walk-ins are still large enough to add a few drawers for undergarments and such.
Polished Chrome, Brushed Chrome or Oil Rubbed Bronze finish selections as well.
Pull-Out hampers not only keep things tidy, but make laundry day a whole lot easier.
Available in Three Sizes: 18 Inch Holds 12 Pairs of Pants; 24 Inch Holds 18 Pairs of Pants; 30 Inch Holds 24 Pairs of Pants
Pull-Out Slack Racks with Hangars for those who do not hang their pants by the waistband or cuff are always great.
Three Tier Jewelry Organizers are Available as a 18, 24 or 30 Inch Drawer Insert
Drawer Inserts are fabulous for keeping things neat.
Lingerie Dividers can be used for bras, panties, socks and so much more.
Belt Rack with Full Extension Slide Holds 6 Belts (pictured in polished chrome) — Available in Polished Chrome, Brushed Chrome and Oil Rubbed Bronze
Storing belts can be effortless with a full extension belt rack that can be tucked away when not in use and then pulled out when needed. The same can be done with ties.
Full extension slide-out tie rack holds 15 Ties
Handles and knobs should not be overlooked! It can easily change the personality of a space when chosen wisely
CROWN MOULDING CAN BUTT UP TO THE CEILING OR SIMPLY BE INSTALLED AGAINST THE TOP OF ANY HEIGHT SYSTEM FOR A DECORATIVE , FURNITURE TYPE LOOK.
FINISHING TOUCHES
Please, do yourself a favor and do not overlook your handles or knobs. It is by far the easiest way to dress up a less expensive door or drawer front and is most certainly the jewelry of the closet, much like moulding. It truly can take ordinary to extraordinary! When used wisely it adds little to the cost of the project, but adds so much to the look and feel of the space.
You are only going to do this once. This is an investment in your home and your everyday life. So take your time, seek help from a professional closet planner and don't be cheap. Prudent, yes....cheap, no. Keep things in perspective, have a budget, trust your closet planner and have FUN with it!
If you should have any questions, please comment below. We are here to help simplify lives one closet at a time.