Closet Design Ideas And Organization Tips For Your New Home

If you recently purchased a new home, you may be concerned about storage and whether there is enough closet space to hold your entire wardrobe. Especially when you are packing your belongings and realizing how many items you are actually taking with you. One of the best parts about moving into a new home is that you are starting fresh. Everything is empty and there is an opportunity to start with a clean slate. With a little planning prior to moving in, the process of unpacking those boxes will be much more efficient and save time.

Here are some closet design ideas to help get you organized so you can start off on the right foot in your new home.

Understand Your Needs

Begin by first identifying your needs and know what your goals are for the space.  Understand the items that you will be storing. Consider the frequency of use and how you like to store them – folded, hung, concealed or displayed. It is very important to maximize the space and make everything as accessible as possible. Think about accessory items such as watches, bracelets, necklaces and earrings and how you would like to house them. For example, some guys might prefer to have their ties rolled up in drawers with dividers, others might choose to place them on a slide-out tie rack. Here are some hidden features that can make a big difference and go a long way in making your closet and more functional.

Some Key Features

With any closet design, one of the most important goals is maximizing the available space and making everything as accessible as possible. Taking advantage of vertical space is a key component in optimizing storage capacity. Pull-down rods provide a flexible option to add an additional level of hanging and can adapt to your changing needs. Space saving items like hidden mirrors and fold away ironing boards make sure bulky items do not take up valuable real estate in your closet. Tilt-out hampers inside a cabinet keep dirty clothes out of sight. Valet bars come in handy when removing the plastic from your dry-cleaning or planning your wardrobe for the day. Using these ideas and more will truly enhance your closet design.

Organization Strategies

The golden rule when it comes to organization is to make sure there is a place for everything and everything has its own place. Barbara Reich of Resourceful Consultants suggests in this 10 Secrets Only Professional Organizers Know article that you might want to “group like things together so there is no question where to find them”. This could either be accomplished by placing shirts, pants, slacks and blouses together for example, or organizing clothing items by season. Another option is to place those items you wear together in the same location. You may also group clothing based on how frequently you wear them. The bottom line is what works well for one person, may not work well for another. Arrange and store your clothing in the manner which best suits your lifestyle and preferences.

Shelving should be sized and adjusted to meet specific storage needs. Drawer inserts and dividers keep jewelry items sorted and untangled as well as socks paired together. Belts can either be stored on racks that slide out, or rolled neatly and placed in drawers with dividers. Shoe cubbies and flat shelves are great options for everyday sandals and sneakers. Slanted shelves with shoe fences are nice for storing dress shoes, which may not be worn as frequently. Footwear needing special care, such as cloth or suede shoes, may be best stored in boxes. Determine what is best for you so that the entire space is functional and also fits your taste and style.

In the end, gauge your expertise, knowledge and comfort level. Even if you know what you want or think you know what you want, consider enlisting help from the professionals and see how an in-home consultation can enhance your closet design.

Schedule a free in-home design consultation with a Designer who is up on the latest trends and available options. They often come up with ideas that you may not have thought of which would be ideal for your project. If you need assistance with the buying or selling of a home, consider our friends at the Wadsworth Team who can walk you through each step of the process and bring you home!