Make your closet more than just a storage area
It’s been several years since our favorite cosmopolitan drinking, best friend quartet made our TV screens blush on the HBO series “Sex and the City.”
So many dramatic shenanigans, so many incredibly flawless outfits that were ridiculously on point – and one drop dead gorgeous closet.
Diehard fans will remember the walk-in closet that Mr. Big had built for Carrie in the first movie: white cabinetry with polished chrome hardware, white marble flooring, task and ambient lighting from toe kick to tray ceiling and a wall dedicated to shoes. Many, many pairs of shoes.
We all need bedroom closets that are functional and organized. And it seems like no matter how much closet space we all have, we could always use more. Maybe it’s time to create the perfect bedroom closet, either using the space you have or making a new space from scratch.
Big box stores
The most basic way to create a functional closet is to head to the big box stores. These retailers sell modular components that fit into existing spaces without having to spend big money.
The installation process is usually straightforward: Attach closet components to a series of horizontal and vertical support rods, incorporating short and long hangs, shelves in a variety of lengths and depths, and pullout drawers. These types of closet components work well in any layout and are budget friendly compared to custom options.
Hands-on experience
If you’re looking for a more hands-on closet design experience, find a company that focuses on the design and building of these spaces. Specialty designers tailor a closet to your specific space. They can create a layout just for you, taking into account your belongings and making sure every square foot, vertically and horizontally, is used.
In addition to functional storage, they will also provide you with decorative options: LED tape lighting that illuminates each and every cubby and hanging space, specialty cabinet finishes, on-demand valet rods that protrude from the cabinetry when needed – basically anything you can dream up in the way of organized storage.
These companies will ask you to provide a closet space that is ready for installation. That means you need to demo all existing closet fixtures and prepare the space for new fixtures.
Starting from scratch
If you are starting from scratch with a new home or an addition, allocating the right amount of space for your closet should definitely be part of your design plans. Just as you thoughtfully prepare the design of your bedroom and bathroom, make time to really plan out your closet – be it a formal walk-in closet, a pair of closets, a series of reach-in closets or something unique to your needs.
Don’t skimp on the details, functional or decorative. Be thoughtful about how you want to use your closet and how much you’d like the closet to hold. Then consider bringing in a specialized closet designer that will give you the decorative bling you desire, Carrie Bradshaw inspired.
Jennifer Leischer is the owner of J. Designs Interior Design based in Clayton. Contact her with questions, comments and suggestions at jenna@j-designs.com.