When you plan a new closet or redesign an old one, have some guidelines in mind to set the stage for a versatile, accessible and storage-friendly addition to your room. There are no standards set in stone for closet building, but a few measurements will lead the way and help shape your design. Does this Spark an idea?
Basic Measurements
The typical closet is at least 24 inches deep to give clothing room for vertical hanging. This measurement is specifically for bedroom closets hanging clothes such as shirts and pants. If you want to hang coats or larger clothing items, expand this depth to 28 inches. That is the standard measurement for coat closets. Making the closet deeper adds some storage space, but if you really have a lot of gear to store, consider expanding the width of the closet instead.
Shorter Closet Layouts and Designs
Most closets are 4 feet wide, but may be up to 8 or 10 feet wide depending on the home's size and the needs of those designing the closet. This width allows for a few standard layouts. In 4-foot-wide closets, using a double stacked rod on one half will allow for shelving on the other half of the closet. However, many times a simple 4-foot-long closet rod is installed. This provides enough room to hang up all the clothes a person owns. Another option is to install a 3-foot rod with 1-foot-wide shelves next to the rod for socks, underwear and shirts. This is ideal if you do not have a bureau to store these items.
Shelving Dimensions
When planning your closet layout, keep in mind your shelving options. Most shelves are at least 2 feet long but can be up to 3 feet long. This is plenty of room to store sweaters and folded shirts along with any other item stored in closets. Shelf height varies between 12 inches and 15 inches, and generally speaking the shelving starts at 16 inches from the floor. Normally, a shelf is installed over the top closet rod, and in double rod configurations, a shelf may or may not be installed over the bottom rod. This is due to the lack of space to store items on this shelf because clothing from the top rod hangs too close to the bottom rod.
Wider Closet Layouts
When closets are wider -- say, 8 feet -- there are more options in layout and design. One popular option is to add a set of double-stacked rods, each 4 feet long. One is hung at 80 inches and the other at 40 inches off the floor. This accommodates all hanging clothing for two people. The remaining 4 feet is divided into shelving areas, typically 3 feet wide, and one longer-garment hanging rod, set at 65 inches from the floor. This hangs dresses and trench coats. Balance the closet rod space with shelving space because each proves very useful. Remember each garment takes up an inch or so of rod space, so plan the closet rod lengths accordingly. Reduce the rod space and increase shelf space if you have more items than clothes to store.
Tags: feet long, feet wide, Closet Layouts, floor This, from floor, inches from
