Considerations and Challenges in Walk In Closet Design

What does YOUR dream walk in closet look like?

With the perfect walk in closet design, getting ready in the morning can become an uplifting experience because it is so easy to put an outfit together and find exactly what you need that day to be your very best.

Here are some simple but necessary considerations for walk in closet design - to avoid those “features” that drive you crazy, as I have seen them over and over again in older and newer homes alike.

Corners and Doors

The first thing to look at in walk in closet design is how you are going to "turn corners". One very simple rule: Pick one wall where the hanging will go to the end of it and turn and start the next wall preferably with something else than hanging, like drawers or shelves. Do not do the opposite, such as shelves to the wall and then hanging on the next wall, that will make it hard to get to the shelves in the corner.

The closet door location is of great importance because the length of the return walls (those are the walls next to the door, that go to the closest corner) will determine what –if anything- can be designed there. 12” will allow for shelves, 24” for hanging.

Drawers

Most people prefer to see the drawers facing the entrance. Consider that placement and see how everything else works around that and go from there. Do remember, that you can almost always add drawers to your bedroom. Very rarely will you be adding hanging space. So I suggest making sure you have planned all the hanging space you want in your walk-in before adding closet drawers.

Outlets and Switches, Heating Vents and Air Returns, Trim and Baseboard, Soffits, Lighting, Safes, Attic Access and More

All these have to be taken into account, a switch may sometimes be moved to the outside of the door, you can build on top of a heating vent, a hanging section can cover a safe or another rarely used opening.

Pocket Doors

Custom Closets can be installed against a wall with a pocket door.

Types of Walls

Drywall, concrete, steel reinforced, lattice, brick, all can accommodate built in closets.

Section Widths

A nice feature to use in walk in closet design is sections of equal width. While the shelves and rods are all adjustable horizontally, having several sections with the same width allows to change a hanging section into a shelf section and vice versa. I consider this to be a very nice selling feature further down the line, that gives the future house buyer a feeling the closet can be transformed to suit his needs.

Double Hang vs. Long Hang

Again, because the rods are adjustable, you can change each section according to your needs. A double hang may become a long hang as the need arises.

Closet Height

A standard closet is 84”, which leaves you space to use the top shelf. If you have a 9 or 10 foot ceiling you can have your closet go to 96”. You can also go the ceiling with a 10 ft. wall, that gives you a lot of extra closet storage. You can also build higher than 96” with sections that have triple hang, with the top rod being a pull down rod. This is a great way to store your off-season clothing in your walk in closet. Such high closets may have storage behind doors at the top of other sections, also for long-term storage.

Peninsulas and Islands

You can add these to your walk in closet as long as you have at least 24” (preferably 36”) around the island, on all sides, between the outside of the hanging sections and the outside of the island. They can be designed in a multitude of ways, maybe with a bench, a space for a safe, lots of drawers and cabinets behind doors.

Windows

Under a window is a great place for a set of drawers. A large window may accommodate two. Drawers are typically from 24” to 36” wide, depending on the space you have. Often the width is chosen to match the width of the window, or at least to be centered under the window.

Lighting

If you have a window, do remember that sunlight can bleach your clothes, so you may want to consider blinds. Without a window, you want to plan the lighting. Fluorescent (rather than incandescent) lighting is a good idea, especially in a smaller space, since it will not produce extra heat. And keep those light bulbs away from the top shelves, I have seen fires that happened because the top shelf was used and the lighting was too close.

Humidity

Depending on your location, humidity can accumulate in a walk in closet and cause problems. A dehumidifier can help here.

General Design Considerations

Depending on the size of your closet, there may be a multitude of different walk in closet designs that would work equally well, but that would give different options of spaciousness, elegance, practicality. What you choose to emphasize is up to you and the designer’s experience and taste. An experienced closet designer will know how to put together all the different pieces that give your closet:

• Simplicity of floor plan (basic design)
• Efficiency of space use
• Proper balance of different elements (hanging, shelving, drawers)
• Style to match the rest of the house
• Accessories

The result can be very personal. I just love calling my clients on the day of their installation and hear how excited they are about their new closet, that is specifically built for them with all the features that work best and that give them the most pleasure.

On the other hand, there are smaller walk in closets that really can handle only one functional floor plan. A good designer will be aware of that.

Once you have the floor plan, you can decide how to dress up your closet. You have a number of closet design options (closet styles) available.

Today’s custom closets make it possible to be creative and have a lot of fun designing closets with so many combinations of style and looks.
From the very bare contemporary looks and the simple Shaker designs to the more sophisticated, traditional, high-end styles, you can pick and choose all the details for your walk in closet that will give you the most pleasure and uplift you every time you walk into it.
Closets are typically about organization and storage, but they can mean a lot more as you use your creativity and fantasy to mold the looks of the spaces you use daily.
A major source of joy with my work as a designer is to access the dreams of my clients and to create a walk in closet design that suits them the best in every way.

One last consideration when designing a walk in closet, is to look at the overall value of your house, and not over-design or under-design, unless you are very clear on your reasons for doing so. A custom built closet is a permanent fixture in your house that you will leave behind when you move. It increases the value and desirability of your home.