Try on these ideas for sizing a walk-in closet.
A walk-in closet is usually bigger than a front-access closet. The benefits include more storage space and better access to your clothing. In front-access closets, the wider the closet is, the wider the door must be. With a walk-in closet, only a small door is necessary to access everything in side. This gives you more options when arranging furniture in your room. So, what size is the right size for a walk-in closet? Does this Spark an idea?
Standard Widths
The standard width of a walk-in closet is at least 5 feet but may range up to 8 feet or more. At 5 feet, the closet is wide enough to contain a set of closet rods with 24 inches of minimum width for the hanging clothes, and 3 feet of walking space. Most people need about 3 feet of space to walk and move around comfortably. Any smaller and the space would feel too cramped to be called a walk-in closet. This size allows for a limited amount of storage, however.
Standard Lengths
Most walk-in closets that are 5 to 6 feet wide are at least 5 or 6 feet long. This means the total space is on average 6 feet square. With these dimensions, there is room to hang two sets of double closet rods on one wall, or a set of double closet rods along one wall and larger shelves along the other. If you need lots of storage for clothes, closet rods on each of the three walls besides the wall with the entry door is another option.
Larger Walk-In Closets
If you are designing a walk-in closet for two people, the average size is too small. In most cases, people have lots of clothes to hang along with several pieces of clothing to fold and store on shelves. In this case large closets that are at least 5 feet wide and 8 to 12 feet long are a better solution. With dimensions like these, the space is easy to divide between closet rods and shelves. Each person may have an individual closet rod and set of shelves.
Layouts and Shelf Sizes
Most walk-in closets have a set of double closet rods with rods hung at 80 inches and 40 inches from the floor. These are typically used to hang up clothes. Tall garments may be hung on another rod that is 72 inches from the floor. The space is then divided up into sets of shelves -- the first starting 18 inches from the ground, with the rest spaced 15 inches apart. The final shelf on top of the closet rod often holds odds and ends like sports gear or books. This layout provides a diverse set of storage options for most any homeowner.
Tags: walk-in closet, closet rods, double closet, double closet rods, inches from
