Closets that are large and well organized are a pleasure to use.
There are two types of closet design. The first type is for the addition or remodeling of a new closet in a room with no closet or an inadequate closet. The second type of closet design is the location of organizational features to maximize the usable space within the closet. Adding a closet to a room can transform a room into a bedroom, adding immediate value to the house. Adding closet organization can dramatically improve the function of an existing closet. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Design a Closet
1. Measure the room where you want to build a closet. Transfer the measurements to 1/4-inch graph paper. Draw in all of the windows, doors and door swings, niches and features. Mark the locations of switches and outlets as well as ceiling fixtures. Note the location of any plumbing, pipes or ducting in the area that you know about. Draw in a small amount of the adjacent rooms to give you an understanding of how the closet will relate to other spaces.
2. Place the floor plan on a table, and tape it down. Cover the plan with tracing paper. Using the graph paper as a guide, draw in the location and size of the closet. The inside dimensions of the closet should be at least 24 inches deep from the inside of the drywall. The width of the closet depends on the available room.
3. Sketch in a closet door. The minimum is a single door at least 24 inches wide. The door swing should be outward toward the closest wall. Note the size of the room when the door is being opened. In small rooms, a door swing can eat up precious floor space, making it harder to place other furniture in the room. Consider a bifold door, or a door that slides into the wall.
4. Sketch several variations on the closet. Consider borrowing space from an adjacent room when possible. Note if the addition of the closet will require you to move electrical wiring. The primary issue when building a new closet is is whether it will make the room too small.
Design Closet Organizers
5. Measure your existing closet, and transfer the measurements onto graph paper. Show the doors, any windows and any other features that exist inside the closet. Do not draw in the existing closet rod and shelf. Note your exact dimensions.
6. Tape the closet plan on a table, and tape tracing paper over the drawing. Decide if you have a budget for custom, semi-custom or off-the-shelf closet organizing systems. A custom closet is built from scratch by a cabinet maker, and will be very expensive. A semi-custom is a closet system installed by a closet system company. This is less expensive than a fully custom system. An off-the-shelf system is purchased at a home improvement store, and you install it yourself.
7. Look at reference photos of closets you like. Examine the items you routinely store in your closet and determine the percentage of each type of storage you require. Example: you may wear very few long dresses, so you require just 5 percent for long dresses, hanging shirts 20 percent, hanging pants and skirts 30 percent, folded sweaters 25 percent and 20 percent for shoes and bags. This equals 100 percent of your closet space. Your precentages may vary from these.
8. Divide your closet storage based on your percentages. Draw in your drawer, shelf and shoe and bag storage first. Use double hanging rods for shirts and pants. Use the full height of the closet. Allow room to move around inside walk-in closets. Make several sketches, and use brochures from a semi-custom company to estimate standard cabinet and shelving sizes.
9. Take your plans to a cabinet maker, semi-custom closet company or your local home improvement store, and work with a closet planner at each location to solve any problems with your closet design.
Tags: your closet, closet design, existing closet, graph paper, Adding closet, cabinet maker