How To Make Storage Organization in Your New Home Your Own

Buying a home is an exciting event! This is true whether you purchase a new build or an existing property because a new home has invigorating potential. Doing enhancement projects to make your storage solutions functional & aesthetically pleasing can elevate your home experience.

According to a 2019 survey from Trulia, 90 percent of homeowners plan to make enhancements at some point, and nearly 40 percent of those homeowners are planning to do so within the next two years. If you’re one of the many homeowners who’s thinking about implementing smart organization solutions, look no further – here is a three-step process to help you.

1) Understand Your Needs

Creating storage organization that works for you starts with clearly understanding your storage needs. To begin, ask yourself the following questions:

• What is my preferred organizational method overall? Think about your level of organizational tolerance (or lack thereof).
• What spaces or rooms am I focused on addressing? (i.e. Home office, murphy bed, master bedroom closet, pantry, linen closet, garage, etc.)
• What specific or unusual storage needs do I have for each space or room?
• How & how often do I use the items that I need to store? (It’s important to consider usage in order to gauge accessibility – there are always options for any given item but there’s usually one way that’s going to be best for you).

Write down your ideas so that when you meet with a space planner, you’re able to communicate your overall vision. If you’re asking yourself “why do I need a professional space planner” the answer awaits in the video below…

2)  Work With a Designer on Storage Solutions for You

Now that you’ve identified your ideas as a homeowner, you’re going to want to sit with a space optimization specialist & focus more on detail. This is a great opportunity to learn from a professional & explore specific storage options that are relevant regarding problems that bugged you in your previous home.

This step can be fun – really! The excitement comes from strategizing with a professional, as well as reviewing the proposed concepts & features you can implement. Take, for example, a walk-in closet system, and entertain the following possibilities for storage solutions, such as:

• Jewelry drawer inserts can be either acrylic or velvet. They come in various layouts, even tiered storage systems to hold your rings, bracelets & watches, thus helping to prevent scratches, tangles or damages.
• Our drawer boxes are of plywood with dovetailed construction. Matching dividers can be added to hold all manner of clothing and accessories like socks, underwear, lingerie…almost anything you can think of and all custom-made.
• Slide-out baskets just about anything, ranging from towels and bed linens to toys or sports equipment and pantry items.
• Valet bars are a personal favorite of ours because these simple devices are the ideal place for assembling an outfit or removing the plastic from your dry cleaning before you hang it up.
• Whether you have 6 ties or 160, we can provide a pull-out tie rack that enables you to store your favorite neckware wrinkle-free and efficiently.
• Belt racks come in many shapes & sizes and keep all of your belts well-organized and accessible.
• A vanity with a mirror on the underside of the flip-up lid creates a space where you can both store your cosmetics conveniently and apply them, right in your closet.
• Consider a slide-out mirror, too, so you can see yourself in your outfit for the day.
• Take advantage of vertical space by using single, double or triple hanging sections of different lengths. In some cases employ pull-down rods, which allow easy access to higher sections for children and those with limited reach.
• What about a unique roll-out vertical organizer? These are custom designed to house anything from scarves to jewelry and other accessories. You’ll wonder how you ever did without them.
• Enhance the utility and aesthetics with an island or peninsula that can be created to accommodate all types of items. You can use the top for folding and packing a suitcase, eliminating the need for continuous bending and walking back and forth to your closet. Depending on the space available, a well-designed island can add a tremendous amount of additional space and utility.
• Increase your usable space with a variety of different hanging sections:
  • Extra-long (for gowns)
  • Long (for dresses, coats & the like)
  • Mid-length (for slacks hung from the waist or cuff)
  • Double hang or triple hang (for skirts, shorts, shirts, blouses etc.)
• Shoe shelves positioned higher in the closet at an angle, provide visibility and are especially useful for heels and dress shoes worn less frequently.
• Cubbies can store sandals, sneakers, flats and slippers, and take up much less room than storing them side by side on a shoe shelf. These aren’t meant for dressy shoes or bulky ones but are a great strategy to gain space in your shoe storage area.
• Fold sweaters and place them on shelves – this prevents hanger marks and avoids stretching the shoulders.
  • Note: We recommend you store your sweaters on shelves instead of in drawers. Not only are drawers are a more costly, but clothing sitting at the bottom of a drawer will be unseen and rarely used. If dust is a concern, you can easily add doors in front of shelves.
• Decide: do you want to hang your jeans or fold them on shelves? There are pros & cons to both – you select, and we will create appropriately sized shelving.
• Are you a hat person? Keep yours on hooks or shelves for display and easy access.

For those who don’t have a large walk-in, we can maximize the available space and then add a free-standing wardrobe for everything that won’t fit in the closet.

There are far more storage options to entertain but remember, your goals for this step are to:

1. Maximize your storage space
2. Provide greater accessibility for frequently-used items
3. Address past irritants (minor & major: remember – fix what bugs you)
4. Have a great time making your closet special

Tip: Follow this golden rule – there is a place for everything, & everything has its place.

3) Take It to the Next Level: Aesthetics

Now that you’ve worked on determining the best storage solutions for your space, you can focus on creating an aesthetic: bold, calm, rustic, contemporary, etc. You should seriously think about and discuss your preferred color palette, door & drawer styles, hardware and lighting options when developing your ideal look & feel.

We offer over 90 different colors in a variety of textures including a selection of antimicrobial and antibacterial options. Choosing a color palette can be challenging because many people are overwhelmed by the large number of options. However, a good designer can quickly focus on the color families you find attractive & save you time. There’s also lighting to consider, which can develop based on a mood you prefer. The Closet Works’ goal? We want our customers to select every detail and enjoy the process! Check out our article on how to pick the perfect design color for your interior project.

From traditional to contemporary, we have a myriad of hardware options, ranging from contemporary to whimsical. We place great emphasis on this aspect because these design elements are so visibly important. You can choose from over 25 patterned glass inserts or mirror for a little visual interest. And there are numerous door & drawer styles to choose from, like the transitional beveled shaker or the contemporary raised panel.

Many owners anticipate that they’ll make enhancements to their home. If you’re one of these owners, why not make the most of the opportunity and add to your overall experience?

Interested in learning more about getting organized or The Closet Works’ installations? Request a free consultation with one of our professional Designers today.