How to Design and Organize the Perfect Walk-In Closet

Walk-in closets are the dream of any homeowner looking for extra room to keep their belongings. Designing and organizing a walk-in closet can significantly enhance the look of your space and bring a new sense of luxury and efficiency to your home. However, knowing how to plan a walk-in closet is daunting for many people unfamiliar with the process.

So how do you design a walk-in closet that meets your hopes and needs? No matter the space, you can create the perfect walk-in closet with careful planning and organization. To help you get started, this article will take you through the best practices to create a walk-in closet that maximizes functionality and aesthetics. Let’s get started!

1. Assess Your Closet Needs

While you might have a grand idea of what you want your walk-in closet to look like, knowing how to design a walk-in closet requires you to understand your needs first and foremost. Before you start planning the details, assess your wardrobe and storage requirements. Set aside time to take inventory of your closet, including your clothes, shoes, accessories, and other items you want to transfer to your walk-in space.

Assessing your needs will help you eliminate items taking up space and determine the necessary features of your walk-in closet, including any hanging space, shelves, drawers, and additional storage features required.

2. Declutter Your Closet First

Many homeowners find far more belongings in their closets than expected once they perform an initial closet assessment. Whether or not you find yourself in this spot, taking time to declutter is integral to a successful walk-in closet project. Even if you plan on having a larger closet than before, you still need to ensure that your walk-in space is organized and functional–decluttering is the first step to improving this possibility.

As you empty your closet, sort everything into organized categories, evaluate each item, and consolidate as much as possible. Now you can plan your walk-in closet and leave extra space to populate it with items you’ll use more.

3. Plan Your Closet Layout

Your walk-in closet should have features to bring you the most convenience when you’re getting ready daily. Planning your closet layout goes beyond taking measurements to create a plan encompassing a detailed process to ensure functionality. For instance, when planning your closet layout, consider the items you use most frequently and prioritize access to these objects in smartly-positioned shelves, drawers, and storage.

Consider dividing your closet space based on specific factors, such as different clothing types, and designate zones based on these factors. Once you know you’ll have room for everything you need, you can venture out and consider additional features to take your walk-in closet to the next level. Whether you want an island to keep your accessories or a seating area to stay comfortable, planning your layout guarantees the space to make your dreams a reality.

4. Balance Hanging and Folding Clothes

Understanding how to organize a walk-in closet requires a delicate balance of hanging and folding your clothes. Your walk-in closet must be practical, but you also want to keep the space aesthetically appealing to help you feel good whenever you get ready to head out. While there isn’t a right or wrong answer to whether it’s best to hang or fold your clothes, your organizational and aesthetic preferences can influence this decision majorly.

The best place to start is by planning to incorporate both storage methods into your final design. Consider hanging some of your clothes, such as dresses and blouses, while leaving room for shelves to break up repetitive hanging space and place items like your pants, hats, and purses.

5. Don’t Overlook Your Shoes

Everyone loves shoes, but many homeowners overlook their importance when designing a walk-in closet. Your shoes likely take up more space than you’ve noticed, and neglecting to consider them in your closet planning can cause issues when designing your new space.

Rather than tossing your shoes on the floor of your walk-in closet and eliminating your walking path, consider adding shelves built to house your shoes in your closet design. Keeping your shoe storage in mind will make it easier to organize and clean your closet in the future and eliminates the hassle of only being able to find one shoe on a dirty floor.

6. Personalize Your Closet Design

Your walk-in closet should be a personal space to prepare or decompress after a stressful day. Beyond basic functionalities, you must design your walk-in closet with your preferences and add some unique flairs to make the space everything you dream of.

Infuse your walk-in closet with personal touches to reflect your style and personality, such as a full-length mirror, a small vanity area, or seating and rest spaces. Determine your favorite accessories and design a space to display them for an added touch of elegance. Incorporate meaningful patterns or designs into decorative elements like artwork, rugs, or curtains. Whatever you choose, a personal touch will make your new space more meaningful.

Tips for the Perfect Walk-In Closet

Designing your walk-in closet doesn’t begin and end with a layout. Once you’ve completed your space, you must follow several practices to maintain it and keep it looking its best. Here are some additional tips to consider when designing and organizing your dream walk-in closet:

• Maximize your vertical space with double-hang rods, adjustable shelves, and high-storage solutions.

• Assess your needs based on your lifestyle and wardrobe.

• Establish a consistent organization system by categorizing your items in labeled bins, baskets, and shelves.

• Use complementary lighting to ensure visibility while matching your closet aesthetics.

• Frequently declutter and reassess your wardrobe to maintain an organized space, prevent unnecessary accumulation, and make room for new items.

• Utilize storage like hangers, dividers, and drawers to keep your items easily accessible.

Plan Your Walk-In Closet at Nashua Home Design Center

Knowing how to design a walk-in closet is only the first step in making your dreams come to life. Nashua Home Design Center is the hub for all design and organization information necessary to make your walk-in closet space everything you want. Our extensive educational resources ensure you have what you need to plan your walk-in closet like an expert. Get started by checking out what Nashua Home Design Center offers today.