Your Walk-in Closet – Organized to Create Joy

The Closet Organization System for any Walk-in Closet

If you are like many people, you’ve been staring at your walk-in closet and wondering how you’re ever going to get it truly organized so that your clothing, accessories, and shoes are under control. No need to wonder anymore – a proper organization system for your walk-in closet is right around the corner. 

Putting a closet organization system in place may sound like a big project. With the choice of mix-and-match modular closet sections available from cabinet manufacturers today, it’s a simple matter of taking measurements and choosing the right layout to keep your hanging clothes wrinkle-free and your shoes their own dedicated space. 

What is a walk-in closet?

We’ve all seen huge walk-in closets on the home improvement programs on TV. The ones that are the size of most average bedrooms. These are envy-inducing beauties. They have: motorized, rotating shoe organizers, built-to-order accessory drawers, and row upon row of hanging racks for the celebrity homeowner’s formal gowns and custom suits. Most walk-in closets, however, are not so large and grand, yet still offer plenty of opportunity for improved organization. Even a small walk-in with dimensions of 4ft x 3ft can be transformed to serve you with well-organized clothes and accessories. 

What items do you really need in your wardrobe?

Before you rethink how you want to organize your closet, especially when you plan to purchase specific closet sections, you want to determine how many components you actually need. For example, you may need shelves sized with dividers to store folded sweaters, sweatshirts, and jeans. If your wardrobe has an abundance of this type of clothing, you will not want to fill your closet with hanging clothes sections. 

The first step is to remove everything from your existing closet space and lay it out by type: folded clothing, short and long hanging clothing, accessories (such as handbags, belts, scarves, neckties, and hats), and shoes. This may be the perfect time to get rid of clothing you haven’t worn for more than ten years. The sometimes-difficult decision to keep only those items you regularly wear each season or for special occasions, can save you money.

What type of organizers do I add to my walk-in closet? 

Here is where the fun part of designing your closet system comes into the picture. But if the prospect of actually designing your ideal closet intimidates you, see if your cabinet manufacturer provides a design service. Many cabinet companies have a certified cabinet designer who can assist you for no additional charge if you order your closet organization system from that company. 

Here are 4 tips to determine what you need for closet organization. 

1) Separate your long and short hanging items. 

Pants, dress shirts, blouses, and skirts have a relatively short hanging length, while full-length dresses need to hang from the full height. Based on how much room you need for each type, you can decide if you want to install a single or double hanging closet organizer and how much upper hanging bar space to leave for dresses and long coats. 

2) Measure the amount of folded clothing

A standard guideline to keep folded clothing organized – and not topple over on the stack beside it – is to keep your clothing stack to less than 12 inches high. If you are stacking bulkier items, This may only amount to two sweaters or three pairs of jeans in a stack. From there, you can decide how many closet sections with shelving you’ll need. 

3) Plan to keep shoes and boots accessible

A shoe rack is an essential feature in your walk-in closet system. Pair up and count your shoes and measure the width of three or four pairs set next to each other. This can help you decide how wide you need your shoe rack to be. It will also help determine how many shelves you’ll need to dedicate to shoes. 

4) Safeguard the accessories

Many closet systems come with drawers for socks, belts, scarves, jewelry, and other small accessories. You can often find a closet section with drawers and a cabinet with doors to keep anything more valuable out of sight. Choose from drawers in an open style, or add in-drawer organization trays to separate each belt or pair of socks. Measure the width of a few belts set out side by side. This can help determine the closet section’s width and how many drawers you’ll need to house your accessories. 

With measurements in hand, you can visit with the cabinet company designer and tap into their expertise. They will help you layout a closet system that can easily accommodate your wardrobe. The designer can even help you hire a contractor to double-check your measurements. They then order the right closet organization sections for you. If you decide not to install the system yourself, the same contractor can do the job. After all, he’s already familiar with the project. 

Cabinet manufacturers like Simply Kitchens can help you with the whole process from start to fabulous walk-in cabinet finish. Visit with a Simply Kitchens designer today to get started on the walk-in closet of your dreams.