Whether only fit for a broom or spacious enough to use as a room, bedroom closets hold the key to our personas. No matter how small, any closet can be customized to fit your lifestyle.
“The key is planning,” said Sally Reinholdt, of Closets 911, a professional organizing company. Reinholdt’s husband, Joe Minor, of Creative Home Décor Services, designs and installs closet systems.
“Start going through all your clothing and shoes before you get started,” said Reinholdt. “Throw out anything that you haven’t worn in 18 months. This will help you determine what type of system you need.”
Although Minor designs all kinds of closets, he prefers using Elfa , a wire modular shelving system. “It’s versatile, simple and sturdy. You just need to install one top rail and it holds everything,” said Minor. “I’ve been installing Elfa for years. I’ve never had a disappointed client with Elfa.”
Costs for Elfa systems range from under $200 for a basic closet to more than $3,000 for larger configurations. “The best thing about Elfa is you can take it with you,” said Minor. This makes the system a hit with apartment dwellers.
Some people prefer traditional wood-like drawers. Minor recommends www.easyclosets.com and the ClosetMaid system. ClosetMaid has both wire and laminate options. “You can create a similar look to what you’d find at companies like California Closets, but at a fraction of the cost.”
If money is no object, go with a custom closet. Customized options include everything from pull-out packing racks, boot trees and carousel rods to integrated laundry systems. Celia Welch designed the master bedroom closet for the D.C. Design House to look like a luxurious dressing room, with built-in compartments with glass doors. She completed the room with antique furniture and a chandelier. “You could actually have tea in here,” said Welch.
Interior Designer Victoria Sanchez created a custom ladies shoe closet.
“When I saw the space I thought about what I would want in my house”, Sanchez said. She designed cantilevered glass shelves mounted in front of mirrors to give the space the feel of an upscale boutique.
Sanchez said no matter what your budget, it’s important to use a professional. “It doesn’t have to be someone expensive, but you need a professional who understands and knows the product line and all the options available.”
