How Intentional Closet Design Makes a Difference

Good closet design is often an afterthought in an apartment or home. Most of a builder’s time and resources go into the visible finishes in the kitchen and living areas. The interior of a closet often gets little attention. Standard closets can be oddly shaped, have obstructions protruding from the wall, be poorly lit, or have slanted ceilings that limit the available storage space. The traditional bedroom closet is one we’ve all seen: it has a single hanging bar and one or two shelves. Although this approach is beginning to change, I would argue that intentional closet design not only improves the homeowners’ living experience but makes a considerable difference in the storage capabilities of the space.

Intentional design with shelving, drawers, and multiple hanging heights.

Poor Design = Unnecessary Challenges

The challenge with the single standard hanging bar and basic shelf is that it reduces overall storage space and creates unnecessary challenges for access to clothing. It is up to the homeowner to figure out the best way to hang clothes and store shoes and accessories.

It leaves excess space underneath the hanging clothing that could be better utilized. It places the burden on you, the homeowner, to figure out what to do with all of your items. Do you buy shoe racks or cubbies? Do you pile objects below and hope they don’t topple?

Standard closet design with fixed rod and shelf.

Often the bar is placed two-thirds of the way up from the floor in a fixed position. If you are in a wheelchair are an individual outside of the 5-6.5ft height range, the placement of the bar creates an unneeded obstacle towards home and clothing organization.

Safety is paramount for seniors, and using a stool to access clothing becomes a hazard. Shouldn’t the bar’s height be adjustable at minimum?

For young children, the fixed height of the clothing bar limits independence when selecting clothes. Parents are required to either provide a stool for the closet or retrieve clothes for their younger children. Parents must wait for their children to “grow into” their closet and purchase a dresser for clothing access until they are tall enough to reach.

Poor design and inaccessibility also creates family tension during the elementary school years. Children can select clothing but are unable to hang it back up again. Even if parents teach the skill of tidiness, children have trouble following through with re-hanging clothing and storing accessories due to their inability to reach the provided hanging bar and shelves.

Children often resist the extra steps needed to manage clothing and in turn, delay learning the skill of personal organization.

Thoughtful Design = Improved Living Experience

Intentionally designed closets bring dignity, beauty, and functionality to the home. The size of the closet becomes secondary when the entire wall space is maximized. Whether the closet is shelving only, a combination of longer hanging and shorter hanging, or a double layer of shorter hanging, the closet instantly becomes more versatile and accessible.

The contents of the closet are instantly elevated because you’re able to see and appreciate what you own. You’ll save money by no longer purchasing duplicates of what you have. By finding clothing with ease, you’ll be more likely to invest in wardrobe pieces that compliment what you already own.

Closet redesign with Elfa Decor shelving from The Container Store

By having different zones in the closet for categories of items: handbags, shoes, blouses, pants, undergarments, accessories, you’ll save time getting dressed each morning.

At the end of the day, you’ll feel relief when returning items to their designated space in the closet. Putting clean laundry away is also much easier when clothing isn’t cramped together and piles aren’t toppling over.

With regard to accessibility, a well designed closet starts from the perspective of the homeowner or user. By installing adjustable height closet rods, the user of the closet has the freedom to place their most used items at a height that can be reached.

Drawers are optional, but the inclusion of drawers in a closet often eliminates the need for a dresser. This frees up floor space within the room.

Example of maximized space and zones for clothing from The Container Store

Younger children can access the lower hanging bars more easily. This builds independence with both clothing selection and learning the skill of tidiness. When children can reach their clothes to take them out of the closet, they most certainly can put them away.

Building confidence around the skill of organization and respect for what you own is an added benefit for parents. This reduces tension around bedroom cleanliness and personal responsibility.

I encourage you to consider the design of the closets when looking for an apartment/home to rent or buy. If you’re building a home, consider investing in closet design that will work for you and yours.

Will the closets be functional and contain your items in a way that encourages ease of use? Do you need to make additional investments in storage cubbies or shelving to make the space work for you? Will you be able to find what you need in a short amount of time?

By taking a few moments to think through how your day to day living will be impacted by the design of your closets, you may be saving yourself a headache and additional money in the future.