SO: Custom Closet Layout

[FoxInFiji]

Speaking of walk in closet storage who wants to help me critique our master closet layout? Sorry this will be long as usual. In our current multi-bathroom remodel the size of our walk in closet doubled (because we tore out the chimney and fireplaces) and the master bathroom got smaller. We'll only have room for one dresser in the new layout and DH will use it. So we're going to build a custom closet system with drawers so I can store all of my clothes in there and DH will have his hanging clothes in there. I'll be using it as a small dressing room as well since DH works nights and I work days (ie I'm getting dressed a few hours after he went to bed).

Here's the latest plan I've come up with:


On the wall opposite the door is a full height hanging, open shelving, drawers, and double hanging with a pants pull out and small rod.


On the wall to the left is DH's side (LOL yes it's small but 90% of his clothes are folded and we just bought a massive 6' long dresser for him). Double hanging on one side and hanging with a few drawers below. The top drawer will be a fold up, swivel ironing board that hides behind a hinged drawer front.




On the wall next to the door is a tall shelving system for shoes. We'll also have a shelf dedicated to TV equipment for the wall mounted TV on the other side of the wall. It will be a remote sensor on the TV and all of the equipment will be in the closet since we don't have much walking space in the bedroom.


Then behind the door is some deep storage that fits the big bins we use for off season clothes. Next to it is a jewelry area with a mirror. There will be fabric covered corkboard to hang necklaces around the mirror. The top drawer will be for jewelry with a sliding tray inside to get more storage. The drawers below are extra deep for bulky items...not sure if this is necessary but all of the other drawers are the standard 8" deep in the closet and DH's dresser so it would be nice to have some variety.



What do you think? Too tight of a space for ironing board? Have a better idea for the storage in the corners? Do we need more hanging/shelving/drawers? Are the extra deep drawers a good idea?

[FoxInFiji]

Oh and one more crazy idea I had. You know those toekick drawers we've talked about for people's kitchens? What about trying to have those here? We would have 3 locations to add them in. They are a little more work but we're trying to use every square inch. What could I use those for in a closet? I was thinking they would be prefect for flip flops which are hard to stack on our shoe shelf. What else? Hidden jewelry location? Ties?? Junk?? LOL I'm coming up short on this one.

[FoxInFiji]

Yes we'll still have a second ironing board in the laundry room. I just find myself having to iron my "no iron" shirts every morning so it would be really convenient to have it in there.

[bethaboo]

I like the layout. I think a toe-kick drawer is a great idea. It would be great storage for lots of things - flip flops, tights, thinner scarves, swimsuits, jewelry.

Also, I love the idea of having an ironing board in the closet. Very practical!

[lemondrop]

I think your plan sounds good, and if you have a full-sized ironing board elsewhere, the small built in will be a good to have as well. I only use about 1/3 of the ironing board when ironing my clothes anyway.

I think you should have a plan of what to put in the extra deep drawers before you install them. It would be easy to just bury clothes at the bottom and not have access to them.

Do/will you have good lighting in there? That would be really helpful for dressing. We have one bulb that wouldn't put off enough light to make it the main dressing area.

I couldn't think of any good uses for the toe kick drawers, but Bethaboo has some really good ideas.

[kyliek29]

I think your layout looks great! And I just want to say that I'm totally jealous of the size of your closet! I have a tiny 5' long closet with sliding doors (that I have reconfigured). I do like the ironing board in your closet. It seems whenever I need to iron something I drag out my iron and small ironing board and bring it into the bedroom, so it would be convenient! And I think I would be able to use the extra deep drawers.. maybe to fill with sweatshirts?

[FoxInFiji]

Thanks for the suggestions! Lots of good ideas Beth on using the toe kick drawers. I'm thinking that if we did go with the those we'd get that slim flat metal hardware that attaches to the top of the drawer. Basically you wouldn't know they were there unless you were feeling around for them. That way you don't stub your toe on knobs like the jewelry drawer has and it would be hidden.

Yes we're going to have a lot of lighting in the space. We're going with two flushmount fixtures each with two 60W bulbs. Then we're also going to have some accent lighting under the upper most shelf that runs around most of the room. I picked up a white LED rope light after Christmas last year and we put in a switched outlet at the right height in a corner of the room. The front of the shelf will have a wider face frame so you won't see the rope light. It'll provide light to see the hanging items better because the shelf will create a shadow on the clothes. Our electrician convinced us to use some kind of accent lighting under the shelf and this was the cheapest way I could think to add it.

I agree we'll have to figure out what to put in the deep drawers. I already know about 4 or 5 items we have that would be perfect for that space but it's not enough to fill the drawers. I tend to be pretty OCD about getting rid of old clothes on a regular basis and unlike my sisters and mother I don't buy clothes I don't love and use often. This closet will have a lot of free space. I think I own only 6 dresses or so LOL. The double hanging and main set of drawers is what I'll have filled.

...You know that gets me wondering maybe I should forgo the "his side" "her side" stuff and make the left side on the first wall double hanging as well and have a short section of tall hanging on his wall instead.