5 Tips to Add or Upgrade your Closets and Storage
Are you unhappy with the amount of storage space in your home?
If so, you are not alone. According to a National Association of Home Builder survey, 64% of the respondents are unhappy with the amount of closets and storage available in the home. That’s probably why it’s one of the most desirable features for a new home, second only to a luxury kitchen, and why it appeals to multiple generations, from Baby Boomers to Gen-Y.
Upgrading a home with much needed closet and organization space is a gift that keeps on giving. You can do this with refurbished, or newly added space, or by making better use of existing spaces. So today, we’ll look at 5 tips to help you add or upgrade to help you get more closet and storage space.
1. Before you Organize, You Must Clean
Everyone wants a little more space for storage, but before you start investing in closet components think about what it is exactly what you want to store.
You might be surprised to uncover old baby linens, kids clothes, dishes, linens that you haven’t used in the last 6-12 months – if not longer. If it hasn’t served a useful purpose in that time, pack it up for the dump, local Salvation Army or thrift store, recycling or transfer station.
Don’t let the same mistakes happen all over again, purge the clutter, before you create the clean.
Endless Inspiration for the Floor of Your Dreams
GET DESIGN BOOK2. What? Why? Where?
Before you start designing a closet or storage space in your home, evaluate why you need more storage or closet space. More importantly, where it will go, and what will be stored there.
If you are building new or adding on to your home to create more storage space, this step will help you identify where in your home the closet space should go, so you get the best use, and ease of access.
If you don’t have the luxury of adding on to your home, you may be able to find existing space to add more storage and closet room. This includes spaces under the stairs, existing furniture like Ottomans or coat closets. Or perhaps some currently underutilized closets and cabinets.
Taking these steps will help you understand, and articulate, your exact needs. This is especially important if you are going to start working with a closet company and/or builder to bring your vision to life.
3. Ask the experts.
You can gain insight from industry experts to understand all the possible factors that go into planning for your new closet and storage, some of which you may not have even yet considered.
This can save you a considerable amount of time, give you the most value for your investment, and ensure you are satisfied once your project is complete.
Here are a few industry resources:
PLANNING GUIDE
Organized Living
If you are just starting out a preliminary planning guide, like this one from OrganizedLiving.com, can give you some valuable insight.
It covers everything from dimensions of closets, what types of doors to use, strategic shelf placement and other insightful tips. Click on the cover below to access the guide.
FREE DESIGN CONSULTATION
California Closets
If you are looking for a more personalized closet solution, then a company like California Closets may be a great project partner for you. You can follow this link to sign up for a free design consultation with a consultant!
DESIGN YOUR OWN
Easy Closets
If you want to gather some initial concepts and ideas, or a die hard DIY then a self help tutorial may be the way to go.
Easy Closets offers a “design your own” online solution that can help you do just that.
4. Condense & Contain
Building a new closet or storage area is only step 1.
Once you have the space, and before you begin to fill it, and relapse into disorganized chaos, consider some new methods for keeping your space neat.
- • Install adjustable shelving at, below and over head to take advantage of every available inch of storage space. After all, why have one rod for your shirts, when 2 will fit in just as well.
- Invest in a step stool that allows you to reach these new high points of your closet so you will actually use the space.
- Consider a small rolling caddy that can pull double duty and move from room to room
- Invest in hanging bags or wall shelves to store keys, wallets, sunglasses, and other day to day items that you need to have at your fingertips
- Contain your accessories to keep items like purses, belts, necklaces, and scarves from cluttering up your space
- Invest in shoe storage, and consider saving the originals shoe box, which are so much easier – and neater – to stack as your shoe collection grows
Most importantly, keep in mind you can never have too many baskets, bags and bins to store your items in, but you can run out of shelves and space to put them all. Be sure to coordinate your storage components so they don’t just create more clutter for you.
5. Don’t Break the Bank
You’ve got your eyes on the prize, but your wallet may be looking for a break. The good news is closet organization and storage solutions don’t have to be expensive!
Naturally, building and installing brand new closet space in a home, is going to represent a much large investment than installing some new Rubbermaid wire shelves. And whether you have $500 or $10,000 you can spend that money wisely to get the full value of your investment.
If you are adding onto your home your remodeling remember bigger is NOT always better, “a larger closet doesn’t replace a properly designed closet”, according to OrganizedLiving.com. You spend up to $4,500 more for a larger, poorly designed closet, than a compact well designed one.
If you are overhauling existing space there are dozens, if not hundreds of resources and products to choose from. Retail stores have nearly doubled their storage and organization products and retail companies like Rubbermaid, Ikea, and ClosetMaid have the products you want to get your project done.
