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Closet Systems & Technology

Maximize Your Storage Space!
Beautiful solutions for the closet, garage & home office
By Michele Piazzoni

There’s always one room in the house that is never quite big enough, the closet. But if you’re feeling a little space deprived when it comes to storage for your clothing, shoes and accessories, you may not need a bigger closet - just one that’s more organized. Today’s custom-designed closet systems not only maximize your storage space, but transform any ordinary closet into a beautifully organized dressing room.
Consider this: without knocking down walls, raising ceilings or dismantling doors, a closet organization system can turn an unorganized 8-foot long closet into 30 feet of adjustable shelving space and about 11 feet of functional hanging space. In fact, the average closet remodel increases hanging space by about 30%. Shoe shelves, drawers, baskets, pullout tie and belt racks, and velvet lined jewelry organizers can also make the most of precious closet space. Perhaps most importantly, not only does the right storage system seemingly enlarge your closet, but having a specific place for all of your needs can make life a lot simpler.

“Many people are so excited when they start putting their stuff away and see how organized it will be” says Derrek Holland, owner of The Closet Doctor. “They realize that the closet organizers will help them stay organized and save time, and they just can’t believe how much extra space they have for all their stuff.”

The right closet system can provide neat and orderly storage for everything from socks to suits, T-shirts to formal wear, and lingerie to linens. The key is finding the right balance for each person’s specific needs. The average closet has far too much hanging space dedicated to long items, when the majority of most people’s hanging items can fit comfortably in a much shorter space. A single shelf leaves very little room for folded items. And what about all those shoes? By determining exactly what items really need to be stored in the closet, a design professional can create a system consisting of just the right mix of storage options, like space-saving shoe shelves designed to hold up to 60 pairs. Suddenly everything you own is visible and ready to go, not buried under a pile and forgotten.

Walk-in closets, which are so popular in newer homes, offer the perfect opportunity to use a storage system to transform the closet into a formal dressing room. Not only is there space for storing clothes and accessories in one area, but rollout hampers, a center island, fold-out ironing board and fold-out full length mirror put everything you need at your fingertips.

Best of all, today’s closet storage systems are not only functional, they are beautiful too! New finishes and custom touches liken them to fine cabinetry. Aside from the crisp, clean look of white melamine finish, rich wood tones are now available. Details like raised panel drawers with glass fronts, chrome baskets with leather inserts, or a granite-topped island are just a few of the upscale choices available today.

So stop lamenting the size of your closet and consider investing in a custom designed storage system. You’ll be surprised by how much space you have after all.

Are you looking for more space? Contact your local National Closet Group member for more information.