Closets

A high percent of the usable space is wasted in the typical closet. The key to making better use of the space is to evaluate what will best fill the space when the project is completed. Most standard closets include a top shelf and a single rod. If you plan to fill the closet with long coats and storage boxes, the standard closet will do you fine. Most families actually have a high percentage of shorter items like shirts and blouses.

Closet Organizer

You have two primary options for organizing a closet. You can purchase ready-made units and assemble them in place or you can take the do-it-yourself route and build the shelves and containers from scratch. Either way careful planning and measuring are important first steps.

The major sections of the closet organizer include:

1. Hanging space for long coats and dresses.

2. Shorter hanging space for shirts and blouses.

3. Upper shelf storage.

4. Shelves or racks for shoes.

5. Lower shelves for storage.

Allocating the proper amount of space to each of these sections is the key to the ultimate closet organizer. For most standard closets a rule of thumb is as follows:
15% for long hanging items
25% for short hanging items
20% for upper shelf storage
15% for shoes
25% for other shelve storage

Adjust these to fit your particular requirements and you have the ideal closet organization plan for you. There are several styles to choose from. Wood or simulated wood shelving is the most popular and offers the most flexibility for the do-it-yourselfer. Metal rods and wire basket combinations are also popular but limit you to the dimensions of the pre-fabricated components.

Often a closet can become more functional by simply adding a middle shelf and rod below the existing rod to double the hanging space for part or all of the hanging area. A second closet rod is a simple fix for many closets.

If you plan to enlarge the closet by removing or adding walls, follow the same procedure of planning, measuring and constructing the closet organizer components that best fit your particular needs. A walk in closet expands the wall space for the ideally organized closet.

Closet Organizer Manufacturers

Fairfax Custom Closet
Closet World
Closet Factory
Rubbermaid Closet Organizer

Related Books & Publications

Related Websites

Closetstogo.com

Resources

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