Design a closet specific to your storage needs.
Organization of one's personal items is an often-overlooked key ingredient to achieving a serene, productive lifestyle. One essential step toward achieving a harmonious home environment is organizing wardrobe closets to maximize space and minimize waste and clutter. Determine what kinds of items require the most care and room. Measure available closet space and adopt a plan for the closet design that optimizes visual aesthetics, as well as efficient use of all available storage space. Does this Spark an idea?
List Storage Items
Do you have room for all your shirts?
Know the wardrobe and the wearer's habits to determine an optimum design plan. Men, women and children all require special consideration for locating certain garments. One person may require that every pair of shoes be clearly visible, while another person may be more concerned with easy access to socks and undergarments. Children have specific needs with regard to height and accessibility. The first step to determining appropriate closet dimensions is clear knowledge of what the closet is meant to store and for whom.
Measure Available Space
The closet must be at least 24 inches deep.
Allow at least 24 inches of depth and 84 inches of height for the closet. The width will be determined by the amount of space available. Consider the contents of the closet to determine how best to measure distances between shelves and hanging bars. If the width of the space is 72 inches or less, plan on stacking two closet bars three vertical feet apart from each other. If the width of the space is larger than 72 inches, consider using one long closet bar with supports in the middle to keep it from sagging under the weight of clothes.
Maximize Unused Areas
The area between the top closet bar and the ceiling is a wealth of space that could be used to store out-of-season items. Leave enough room above the highest closet bar for a shelf that can accommodate slide-out bins or boxes to store blankets, linens or rarely used items, such as hats or gloves. Similarly, the area between the bottom of the hanging clothing and the floor could be set up for shoe-storage shelves, dresser drawers or further closet organization systems. Measure the available space before purchasing any premade items.
Consider Lighting
Use fluorescent lighting.
Plan to place an artificial light sources between the wardrobe and the wearer. Placing the light behind the person viewing the interior of the closet will cast shadows on the clothing, making the contents of the closet difficult to see. Follow local building code and National Electric Code requirements to determine the best placement of a lighting fixture on a closet interior. Always use fluorescent lighting inside a closet to avoid the dangers of heat-inducing incandescence.
Account for Additonal Items
Additions to the wardrobe are inevitable and should be taken into account when designing dimensions for a closet. Take into consideration how often the wearer brings new items into the wardrobe. Allow for at least three additional articles in each category of items, such as shirts, pants, shoes, ties or belts. Make sure that as additions are made, unnecessary items are discarded to keep the closet in working order and keep the clutter at bay.
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