Most department and home improvement stores sell shelving kits to improve closet storage.
Closets weren't a priority in older houses because most people couldn't afford to fill closets the way we do today, as explained by Star Craft Custom Builders. The result is that people who live in older houses often need creative ways to maximize the closet space they have. Depending on what you need to store, revamping a closet in an old house can be as simple as buying different hangers or as complex as redesigning the entire closet wall. Does this Spark an idea?
Shelving and Cabinets
The problem with most old closets is that they weren't designed to hold much more than basic clothes -- they don't have the necessary shelving to hold items like shoes or towels, leaving much of the closet wall space wasted. Have a carpenter install some shelves above and below the curtain rod. If this is too pricey, you can get simple metal shelving at home improvement stores that screws directly into the wall.
Second Clothing Bar
If you know you need to use the closet for clothes instead of general storage, a simple fix is to install a second clothing rod. This may mean you have to raise the first rod, which in turn may mean raising the shelf above the primary rod. This isn't an ideal solution for women with a lot of long dresses, but it can suit a children's closet well. Alternatively, you can improve your hanging space by using a collapsible hanger system. These hangers hook to each other so you can store more clothes vertically.
Utility Storage
Utility (broom) closets in old houses tend to be a mess because items like mops aren't hung up properly -- that is, items are tucked into corners where they can fall instead of distributed evenly around the closet. If you don't use the closet for clothes, take out the clothing rod and add peg board and some side shelves. You can use the peg board to hang up your tools and use the shelving for containers. The center of the closet still will be free for things like your vacuum.
Wardrobe Wall
Closets in old houses often aren't deep -- they don't approach the space held by the modern walk-in closet. You may be able to turn an old closet into a wardrobe wall. This idea involves installing shelving and additional separators into the closet space. Instead of having a single closet door, however, you conceal the closet contents with individual doors, more like a cabinet. This improves accessibility because you are no longer limited to the doorway width.
Tags: closet clothes, closet space, closet wall, home improvement, home improvement stores
