If you’ve ever gone green with envy over a celebrity’s luxury closet, you can stop fretting. Custom wardrobes aren’t just for the rich and famous anymore. Today, you can easily create a personalized closet worthy of any glossy magazine spread.
But don’t let those gorgeous Pinterest boards fool you: developing an efficient closet system is far more involved than adding extra shelves and shoe racks. There’s a reason why closet design is a niche business and not something the average homeowner does daily.
Deciding to DIY your custom closet can create problems that only appear once it’s too late. To avoid these pitfalls, it’s crucial to be aware of the most common closet design mistakes. Learn from them, and you’ll be on a faster path to functional, stylish, and infallible custom closet storage systems.
Steer Clear of These 8 Mistakes When Designing Your Custom Closet
Ready to master your custom bedroom closet design? Let’s look at some cabinetry mistakes that could turn your dream closet into a nightmare.
1. Not Decluttering in Advance
We see this one all the time. Clients are eager to whip their wardrobes into shape but forget to take stock of what they own. That’s a huge deal breaker!
A few signs might indicate it’s time to declutter your wardrobe include the following:
- It’s full of clothes you no longer wear.
- You have no idea where anything is.
- It’s so jam-packed that your clothes get wrinkled.
If you’re looking to make a fresh start with your new custom closet storage, you’ll have to do things right. Start by tidying up your closet to have an accurate inventory of what you need. Your cabinets will be much easier to work with when you don’t have unused/unwanted clothing taking up valuable space.
2. Not Having the Right Type of Shoe Storage
Fancy yourself a shoe collector? Chances are you struggle to keep your precious pairs in line. Sure, not all of us have the room to fashion a Hollywood-esque custom closet shoe storage system. However, you can still choose from a wide range of options to ensure all your shoes have a home.
For example, cubbies can hold informal footwear such as sandals, flip-flops, slippers, and sneakers. Angled shelves with shoe fences can prop up your pumps and dress shoes. Eeveryday shoes are best stored on flat, accessible shelves for easy changing.
Sounds confusing? Get in touch with a professional custom cabinetmaker like Holland Custom Cabinets. We can work with you to chalk out a custom closet design that fits your style perfectly.
3. Not Making the Shelves Deep Enough
Shallow shelves might work for smaller clothes items, but t-shirts, pants, or longer shoes will likely hang out. We don’t need to tell you why that isn’t ideal, plus it looks sloppy!
Ask your custom cabinetmakers for deeper shelves that can accommodate a wide variety of clothing. This way, you won’t have to stuff your t-shirts and dresses to keep your closet in order.
4. Not Making the System Adjustable
It’s almost a given that your mix of clothing will change over time, which means your wardrobe must be able to evolve with it. If your wardrobe rods are rigid and placed at the same level, they may not be able to accommodate new dresses and suitcoats.
Ensure that your new closet is designed with flexibility in mind. Choose a custom closet storage system that has side support rails and incremental holes. These elements allow you to adjust your rods, shelves, and drawers as required.
5. Not Adding Adequate Lighting
Although lighting is incredibly essential to a custom bedroom closet design, it’s often overlooked. It’s hard to get dressed in the morning when you have to retrieve things from a dark cavern.
Most standard closet systems come with a dim ceiling light that doesn’t do much. However, your custom closet storage systems can have whatever lighting you desire. You can use puck or strip lights to illuminate glass shelves and drawers. You can invest in low-voltage LED bulbs to promote visibility in less accessible areas of your closet. Remember, it’s your closet, so feel free to experiment to your heart’s content.
6. Not Utilizing the Space Above the Top Shelf
Leaving dead space above the top shelf is a rookie custom closet design mistake. Sure, you might be able to store a few small items up there, but you’ll still miss some opportunities for organization.
The easiest fix to this problem is to install your top shelves at least a foot below the ceiling. This will give you enough space to store suitcases, extra bedding, or a couple of stray shoeboxes.
A custom closet should be designed with ergonomics in mind. The goal is to maximize the available storage space, so you’re not losing out on nooks and corners. Talk to a professional custom cabinet designer for more information on optimizing useable space.
7. Not Tailoring the Closet to Your Specific Clothes
You can’t ace your custom closet design without understanding your wardrobe. Maybe your work attire takes up the most space. Maybe you have more shirts than dresses. Maybe you’d prefer hanging your clothes instead of stacking them up.
Whatever the case, your custom closet storage design will vary based on the type and variety of clothing you own. Think about the number of drawers and shelves you need to stow your current (and future) clothes. Also, do you plan to share your closet in the near future? How will this other person’s clothes fit into the space?
A custom closet for the bedroom can be a hefty investment. Make sure you cover all your bases before deciding on a final design.
8. Not Including Specialized Accessory Storage
The right accessories can make or break your outfit, no questions asked. For instance, if you keep losing your favorite belts and jewelry in the maze of your closet drawers, it’s time to make some changes.
A proper custom closet for jewelry storage can help keep your rings, necklaces, and earrings visible and within easy reach. Plus, drawer dividers are perfect to organize socks, hosiery, lingerie, belts, and multiple other accessories. You could also invest in wall-mounted or slide-out racks for additional pieces.
The Bottom Line
By sidestepping these eight custom closet design mistakes to avoid at all costs, you can create a functional closet that serves your needs for years. Plus, with all your essentials within easy access, you’ll save time getting dressed every morning.Looking to build custom closet storage? Reach out to Holland Custom Cabinets. Our craftspeople excel at wood and wood finishes, and our custom-built cabinets are designed to stand the test of time. Call us today at 619.443.6081 or fill out our online form to tell to schedule a consultation.
