Even reach-in closets can give you lots of storage space if designed well.
Of course, walk-in closets are the ideal, but what if you aren't blessed with one? Is there anything you can do to improve what you have? Yes, there is. You can design a very functional, space-stretching closet that will give you lots of storage room. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. There are some online programs that allow you to design your closet on the computer, but for simplicity's sake, do it on paper. In either situation, measure the closet's width, depth and height. Create a box on a piece of paper with your measurements at a 1/4-inch or 1/2-inch scale.
2. In your design, do not have anything touching the floor. Even though some do-it-yourself kits show shelving that either touches the floor or is low, in the ideal closet you do not have to bend over to get anything.
3. Include double-tiered hanging for short items such as shirts, jackets, folded pants and skirts; a long-hanging space for evening gowns or straight-hanging pants; and some short-hanging spaces below with shelving above. This shelving would span the length of the rod below and have four or five shelves with dividers spaced for for the items they'll store, such as shoes or sweaters. There should never be shelves below the bottom-hanging shelf.
4. Consider the types of clothing you'll hang and draw your design on the paper, varying the use of the three hanging/shelving options. Include hanging walls for the areas that don't butt up to the wall.
5. If you design the hanging areas using a flat piece of wood attached to the wall as a hanging support board to hold the rod, leave enough of the board exposed at the top and place a flat board across the tops of those boards, adding extra shelving for a row of shoes. You can also place a board on the top hanging tier for hats or storage bins.
6. If the ceiling is high, include another shelf across the top for more storage of rarely-used items.
Tags: give lots, give lots storage, lots storage, your design