Walk in wardrobe
Quick tips for decluttering and organising your wardrobe If you have been keeping clothing for purely sentimental reasons, move these items to a different location. There’s nothing wrong with keeping things because of the memories they evoke; they just don’t belong mixed in with your regular clothes. Get rid of clothing and accessories you can’t remember wearing in recent memory. If you’re hesitating, ask yourself why you haven’t worn the item. Is it uncomfortable? Not your style? Or do you need another piece to make it work in an outfit? Separate clothing that is not appropriate for the current season. You don’t need to move it out of the closet, just be sure your clothes for the current season are front and centre. Making your closet more functional doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. A high shelf, some hooks on the wall and a basket or shoe rack on the floor may be all you need. If your closet is very dim, add a light so you can see your clothes.
This immediately creates a sense of luxury. But how about extending this luxury with the inclusion of recessed LED strip lighting? Illuminating the kickboards or even the robe hangers (like in the picture) will soften the space with the use of indirect lighting. Modern Closet by Wokai Design Wokai Design Save Email The lighting you choose for the space can even highlight features that you want to be display. You can make those pieces appear as art within the robe. And, of course, from a function point of view, you want the lighting to run its course and present you with the best outlook possible. If you are using recessed LED strip lighting in the robe, make sure the position of the strip will light up the clothes below. If it’s located too far back into the shelf, it is a waste of good lighting.
Wokai Design Save Email Bits and bobs (ties/ belts/ jewellery/ scarves) Those accessories that make all the difference to an outfit definitely deserve their own space in your robe, too. There are so many different options to choose from, including ties, belts and scarf hangers that attach to rods, racks that pull out and drawers with compartments. Modern Closet by Scott Weston Architecture Design PL Scott Weston Architecture Design PL Save Email Visually displaying your jewellery will also add to the luxury of your robe. You could install drawers with felt inserts and glass tops to achieve that ultimate high-end look.
Famous For Kitchens Australia Save Email It’s a nice design trick to have shelves, whether fixed or pull out, on an angled position. Doing this enables you to get a better view of your shoes, so you’re not fumbling around trying to find matching pairs. For shoes that are seasonal, like snow boots or gardening boots, these can be stored in clear plastic boxes so they are kept protected, but you can still see clearly where they are.
Wharfside Save Email 3. Tidy up the hallway Hallways tend to get clogged up with a mountain of kicked-off school shoes, runners and thongs, making a serious mess of our entrance spaces. This straightforward solution requires investing in a slim shoe storage unit (which you can pick up at lots of big retailers these days). Then tailor the unit to your space by having a cabinet built around it, with doors you can shut to hide the entire stash.
From here on it gets easier. You will fill all available remaining space with adjustable shelving to accommodate your folded gear and shoes, all positioned ideally from waist to eye height. Adjustable shelves will allow you to pack the shelves really tight for those flats that only need 80 millimetres height, affording you so much more storage. If at a later time you are desperate for storage, you can store your shoes in the garage and adjust the shoe shelves for clothes. With removable hanging rods, you can also convert the space to hanging. TIP: I strongly recommend shelving depth of 360 to 400 millimetres, at an average of 250 millimetres apart for folded items. This will keep you organised, with items sitting at the front of the shelf and nowhere to migrate to the back to get lost and reshuffled.
Now that you know you can fit in all the hanging space, decide where it should go. Start by allocating all the lowest sections to hanging first. By dropping the hanging into the lowest part of the wardrobe, you will never have to bend over. I never plan to use the floor for storage for this reason – it is better to convert that space to shelving, but above the hanging at easy see-and-reach height.
Clever Closet Company Save Email Hanging space is top priority so allocate this next. Sometimes you don’t have a full-height ceiling to work with in every spot, due to ductwork or ceiling variances, so make sure to put double hanging in the sections that offer the 2,100 millimetre-high opportunity, then use the lower sections for full length or shorter garments. TIP: When assessing reaching heights for hanging space, you don’t have to be able to reach the rod; it’s the coat hanger that needs to reach the rod. So hold a hanger up as high as you can and see what height that is, and that is your maximum reach height. EXTRA TIP: Base reach hanging heights on the shortest person using the robe because, although the taller person can reach his/her items themselves, the shorter person might need to be able to reach the rod to put things away after laundering, for example. Bear in mind home help height if you have someone doing this on your behalf.
Save Email 9. Design with diligence If you are putting drawers into the wardrobe, they need to be allocated early in the design to ensure they will clear door hinges or any other obstacles. If they are positioned against a wall, a filler is required to pack them out so they don’t hit the door frame and hinges (usually 70 millimetres). Or, depending on the door opening, you might position them in the centre of the doorway to avoid using the filler. TIP: If you can keep to only one set of drawers in a small wardrobe, it is best because they restrict the layout quite a lot. The maximum height to reach into a drawer is 1,200 millimetres high. So sometimes you might do a tall bank of five drawers for two people to share in the centre of the wardrobe.
8. Take a reality check How are you tracking? Now that you have marked out the available space for hanging and you have measured your total required lineal hanging, will it fit? If you have a 3,000 millimetre-long wardrobe space allocated, and you require 7,000 millimetres of lineal hanging space, you’re going to need a bigger boat! Unless you have enough ceiling height to go to triple hanging with pull-down rods, that is. If you calculate that you need 4,500 millimetres total lineal hanging space, in a wardrobe 3,000 millimetres long, you will get all the hanging in, assuming a fair bit of it is half length and you will have some space left over for shelving or drawers. Now check back in with your priorities if you need to reduce something. TIP: Remember that if you have 2,100-millimetre height as a minimum, you can use double hanging, so you only need half the lineal measurement for all the half-length garments.
7. Learn from past experiences Think about wardrobes you’ve had and battled with. Think carefully about what it was about that wardrobe you disliked and mark down never to repeat that again! Some people hate things that flap about when they open doors such as belt racks; others like them because it makes efficient use of the space. Many people hate sliding doors after living with them.
Dan Kitchens Australia Save Email 6. Narrow down your personal priorities Put the following list of priorities in the order that makes sense to you when making hard decisions on layout compromises: Amount of stuff Space maximisation Organisation Budget Ergonomics/ease of use Flexibility Aesthetics Resale The fact is, most people have to compromise on one or some of these. By getting your priorities in order, you will get through the process faster. Sometimes we incorporate space-maximising contraptions, for example, but if your priority is budget, this would be the wrong choice.
• hanging) • Dresses • Trousers • Suits • Long skirts/long jackets • Other: surfboards/ironing board, etc. • Drawers • Shelves for folded gear • Shelves for bags • Pairs of shoes – group in heights (10 pairs of high heels at 150 millimetres high, 10 pairs of flats at 60 millimetres high, three pairs of long boots at 500 millimetres high, etc.) Note alongside the categories how much is currently used and how much you would ideally like. That way, when you have done your design, you can see how realistic your plan is. It might be wonderful to triple your hanging space, but if you don’t have any space for folded gear, you will have to cut back. TIP: When measuring men’s double-cuff shirts (for cuff links), the longest part of the shirt is actually the sleeve, so allow for that. 5. Factor in site limitations/obstructions If your wardrobe space is not a regular flat, clean space, identify niche storage areas. For areas not deep enough for hanging (580 millimetres internally), consider what the space could be used for. For example, in this walk-in, the side opposite the hanging is only 270 millimetres deep – too shallow for folded clothes but perfect for shoes. Using this space takes th...
Dan Kitchens Australia Save Email 4. Decide what needs to be stored Group items together according to how you want them categorised in the new layout. So, if it is a his/hers arrangement, do a list for him and one for her, noting the categories and the length required for each category. This varies from person to person. It is easiest to do this with the clothes hanging on the hangers you intend to use – and measure from the rod, to the lowest part of the clothing, then add 120 millimetres for the space above the rod and clearance from the floor. If space maximisation is top priority, it will be along the lines of: Half-length hanging (anything that is less than 1-metre high that can be used for double layer hanging)
2. Do some self-analysis Yes, this stuff is deep! Who is using this space? Do they have any physical limitations (is bending over difficult, is arthritis an issue, or is it for a child?) What is the reach height of the shortest person using the wardrobe? Do you/will you: Like everything to look really ordered and lined up? Compromise to get more storage? (This comes into play when designing the layout of drawers and width of shelves in relation to door crossovers.) Hang as much as possible? Hang your trousers long or over the hanger? Group clothes in a particular way (all work clothes together or all winter things together, for example)? Need drawers in the wardrobe? Prefer sliding or hinged doors?
FormFunctionNT Save Email Don’t forget to make use of the rest of the house! Your bedroom wardrobe doesn’t have to bear the brunt of your whole home’s clutter. Store as much as possible in the utility areas of your home to save on the cost of built-in wardrobes. A shelving system such as this stores just as much as a standard built-in wardrobe, and for just a fraction of the price. I installed something similar to this in my laundry, instead of putting a built-in wardrobe into a temporary bedroom for my daughter. Now that my daughter has left home, I have excellent versatile storage in the laundry. A wardrobe in an empty room would have been redundant. This system is easily adjustable, so I can use it for anything and add shelves if needed. Expect to pay $600-$1000 for a set-up like this.
Go for flexibility The great thing about this wardrobe is that the hanging rods insert into the same holes as the shelf supports, so you can switch them around as needed. In summer, you could use rods to hang blouses and in winter, pop the shelves in instead to hold jumpers. Store the off-season gear out of the way on the top shelf.
Clever Closet Company Save Email Don’t waste your money on ‘clever’ accessory storage Storage devices for accessories can be useful, but be selective – if a gadget involves more than one action to perform its role, you’ll likely get sick of it. I find most wardrobe accessories are a waste of money and space in a small wardrobe. What does work well are racks for belts, ties and scarves, which slide in and out. Or if you don’t mind things flapping on the back of a hinged door, you can also install racks there.
Get smart with your shoes If space is tight, storing all your shoes in the wardrobe may not be possible. If you can fit them in, however, aim to stash them on shelves at mid-height so you can see them. Whether you choose regular shelves, slide-out shelves or drawers, there’s no need to give shoes too much room to move – they’re usually only 300mm deep and will slot into some pretty tight places. This drawer method allows you to use the full depth of the wardrobe, and makes shoes easy to see and access.
Give drawers a miss Drawers add significantly to the price of a built-in wardrobe, restrict the layout, and waste space. Be resourceful with your space instead – if you already have a chest of drawers or bedside tables in the room, perhaps that’s all you need for underwear and socks. Jumpers and t-shirts are best placed on open shelves where you can see them easily.
Clever Closet Company Save Email Focus on ergonomics Nobody wants to crawl on the floor to find their summer shorts, and who can be bothered bending low to put bags or scarves on a shelf at knee height? Design your space more ergonomically and you’ll notice things are far easier to find. And it will be much easier to keep your wardrobe tidy too. Positioning shelves above the hanging space is a smart move ergonomically, and making your shelves only 360mm deep ensures you won’t lose things at the back. Space the shelves only 250mm apart and things won’t migrate to the never never; you can stack right to the top of the shelf because there’s no need to reach to the back. Do it this way and you’ll hardly ever need to reorganise your wardrobe – things have nowhere to go. TIP: Shelf widths at 300mm increments are best because folded clothes average 300mm across and 360mm deep.
Clever Closet Company Save Email By being that specific, in this wardrobe I have managed to squeeze in an extra drawer between the double hanging sections, as well as some handy shelves. TIP: Hang the top rod high enough so you have enough space between the bottom of the hanging clothes and the second rod underneath.
6. Go for a combo of hangers, shelves, boxes and bins Doubling up on hanging rods carves out extra space in a small wardrobe for other storage options, like pull-out bins and shelves. Move less-used items onto a high shelf, and use open-top bins and shelves for easy storage of jumpers and delicate items. Shoeboxes or photo boxes can be repurposed to store small accessories; label the boxes and store them on a high shelf.
2. Move off-season and less frequently worn items to another place The idea is to reserve the prime wardrobe space for the items you love and wear regularly in the current season. Everything else (including special occasion pieces) ideally would find a home in an out-of-the-way spot. Bins that can slide beneath your bed are great for this purpose. Or fill old-fashioned hard-sided suitcases elsewhere in the house with off-season wardrobe items. If you really need to save space, get some vacuum storage bags – these are especially handy for reducing bulky winter items for summer storage.
Philharmonic AV Save Email Do stash away your out-of-season clothes Yes, every clutter expert and wardrobe mistress on the planet advises it. And for a reason: if your shoe, shirt and dress collection is larger than your closet space, then packaging up summer or winter clothes is really the only solution that makes sense. There’s no point hogging precious shelf space with flimsy vest tops in June, in the same way a drawerful of thick jumpers is redundant in January. Vacuum-packed storage bags banished to the loft or stashed under the bed make brilliant sense. If you don’t trust our (admittedly unpredictable) weather, then keep a few trans-seasonal pieces back to cover you for those emergencies.
A window with a view won’t go wasted If you’re not really a morning person, this wardrobe may just be the cure you’ve been looking for when Monday-itis strikes. Depending on the positioning of your wardrobe and its outlook, you may opt to add a window into your design. If the view is particularly stunning, a floor-to-ceiling window like the one in this retreat will make your wardrobe more than just a storage space – it will become a destination. Or if you don’t have the million dollar view but wish to filter some natural light into your space, a smaller window with a built-in window seat is another option. However, as lovely as this idea is, Hart cautions that it can mean a little extra maintenance for your clothing, or will at least require you to be extra-smart about your design in order to protect your garments. “Natural light can fade clothes if exposed to sunlight for extended periods of time, so you may need to rotate your items to avoid this effect damaging your clothing,” she says.
Perfection Custom Closets Save Email Another wonderful contraption worth considering is an in-built laundry hamper system, particularly if your robe is in close proximity to the ensuite. This mod con means you can leave your dirty laundry stored away out of sight, and when the hamper is full, simply unclip the basket and take it to the laundry. You can also use these little treasures to bring folded clothes from the laundry back to your wardrobe. How’s that for convenient?
Adding mod cons makes the space multi-functional Some of the best wardrobes are ones that are cleverly designed with modern convenience in mind. More specifically, why leave the very place your garments are hanging to iron a crumple or a crease out of your clothing when you can design your wardrobe to include a built-in ironing station? Think of the time that will be saved on those hectic mornings when you are running late and your blouse needs to be pressed quickly. Or if you like to be efficient and do your ironing and folding at the same time, with this genius contraption, you can do it all while you hang and neatly pack away the garments.
Clever storage solutions bring the wow factor It’s one thing to have drawer space for your smaller garments, but having fully compartmentalised drawers made to measure is a little luxury worth having in your life. Laying your items out for a closer audit to determine exactly what you have and how you will group your belongings together will make the design process a lot simpler.
Carpet looks and feels plush in a walk-in There’s no better feeling than stepping barefoot onto a thick pile carpet for that added element of luxury and a walk-in robe is no exception – especially if your robe is a thoroughfare to your ensuite.
Marco Joe Fazio, LBIPP Save Email Lighting can lift your wardrobe game Just as kitchens require different lighting for different functions, so does your wardrobe. Hart reveals there are three main types of lighting that will bring your robe to life. “The first is display lighting to showcase your clothing. Usually the best option would be recessed downlights, but it really depends on the style of your robe. A more modern wardrobe might be better to use modern LED strips in the kickboards,” says Hart. The second type of light is task lighting. In this image, task lighting is used in the form of bulbs around the mirror, to help with getting ready. “Make-up lighting needs to be cast from the sides to get a better view of your face,” says Hart. Finally, a touch of mood lighting will set the scene. “Depending on the style of your wardrobe, you could choose to have a chandelier, or a modern pendant, but the key is to pick a light that captures the ambience of the space,” says Hart.
Astleford Interiors, Inc. Save Email An outfit ‘viewing area’ can simplify your choices This designer wardrobe inclusion is an understated stroke of genius. Why have a gorgeous wardrobe and stylish clothes if you don’t have an area to prepare your outfits and style your look for the moment? It could be as simple as a valet hook on a wall or cupboard in which to hang your clothing, so you can accessorise and match the right shoes, jewellery, bag and jacket, as seen in this image. What I particularly love about this design is that it includes a seating area to sit back and view the options, giving you that added perspective.
Carved out A similar space saver, this built-in cabinet is carved into the wall with a door that has a mirror on both sides, so when closed, the stash inside goes unnoticed. Discreet, nifty and convenient. This idea works well in awkward spaces where walls may be narrow and confined. It could be a great addition to a small bathroom, for instance.
Lisa Adams, LA Closet Design Save Email A great use of space, the end of this built-in wardrobe features a discreet compartment just for jewellery. The closet door manages to confine the chaos and takes up no room at all. Aside from that, there really is no better place for a jewellery collection – so you can look at your jewellery like you would your clothes, instead of a last-minute addition.
Built-in cabinetry While built-in cabinetry may not be an option for everyone, there’s one feature in this luxe walk-in wardrobe I think deserves a special mention: the jewellery glass display case. It’s a practical, safe and stylish way to display your ready-to-wear valuables.
Slidable panels A slidable panel inside a wardrobe, lined with some simple hooks, will keep jewellery confined and accessible all at the same time. Something to consider when designing your next built-in, or try it elsewhere around the house, such as inside a cabinet.
the jewellery pouch your valuables came in. Eclectic by Engineer Your Space Engineer Your Space Save Email ‘Secret’ spot Perhaps a lock and key just isn’t enough. This homeowner has incorporated hidden jewellery storage into a gallery wall – yes, something that is looked at regularly by guests. It’s always what you’d least suspect … right? An average picture frame can double as a hanging jewellery box with just a little creative DIY. Try making your own. This one was made using simple tools and materials such as wood, cork and foamboard.
Marks & Frantz Interior Design Save Email Drawer inserts If you have items of value, you might feel better about locking them up. A lockable drawer like this will put your mind at ease, and will keep your collection in order. A velvet-lined compartment tray will also help prevent scratching. TIP: For optimum care, you may want to make jewellery bags from tarnish-resistant cloth. This will prevent you from having to polish your jewellery regularly. You can find the soft cotton flannel (which is treated with zinc) from fabric stores. Otherwise, always try to keep the jewellery pouch your valuables came in.
shoes
The lighting you choose for the space can even highlight features that you want to be display. You can make those pieces appear as art within the robe. And, of course, from a function point of view, you want the lighting to run its course and present you with the best outlook possible. If you are using recessed LED strip lighting in the robe, make sure the position of the strip will light up the clothes below. If it’s located too far back into the shelf, it is a waste of good lighting.
Clothing that lifts away Often we are restricted by our body’s height as to what we can hang or place in a wardrobe, and the last thing you want to do is get on a chair to reach those garments on the highest fixed rail. But the design of ‘robe lifts’ allows you to use the full height of the robe (ceiling height) by having a pull down mechanism. You simply pull on the easily reachable handle and the rail moves down to your level. Another simple push of the handle takes the clothes back up to their original position. Modern Closet by Colorado Space Solutions Colorado Space Solutions Save Email There’s no longer any wasted space by having a top shelf that only gathers dust and clutter. Just think of all the extra clothes you can put in your robe now that you can use the space to its full potential. Contemporary Closet by Vincent Glue Design Vincent Glue Design Save Email A house for your shoes Shoes always seem to be found at the bottom of a wardrobe under the forest of hanging clothes above. However, to really create a sense of luxury within a robe, why not install a shoe rack, drawer or compartment? You could even place them on a shelf for display … the choices are endless. Not on...
Design quandary: open or closed storage? If your wardrobe is visible from the master bedroom, consider going with closed storage. An open wardrobe can be less-than-restful to look at when you’re trying to unwind. A few doors with mirrors will save you from needing to hang a full-length mirror elsewhere. If you have a walk-in wardrobe, you may want to leave off the doors. It will cut costs and allow you to see your wardrobe at a glance.
Why: Hide a wall of clothing storage with the sweep of a curtain; a great solution for studio apartments and other small spaces. How: Hang ceiling-mounted curtain tracks along the length of your wardrobe storage wall. Planning tip: Measure carefully before ordering curtains to ensure they are long enough to reach from ceiling to floor – you can always have them hemmed a bit shorter, but if they are too short, there’s not much you can do. Cost: $5 to $50 for a ceiling-mounted curtain track, plus the cost of the curtains.
How: Many cabinets and closet systems can be customised with sliding shelves. If you already have a closet system, purchase components from the same manufacturer to ensure that they fit. If you are creating a wardrobe from scratch, work with a wardrobe designer to get exactly the shoe storage you need. Planning tips: Note the measurements of the shoe shelves you will be purchasing, and tape out the dimensions on your floor. Then fill the space with shoes you want to store. This will allow you to know precisely how many pairs each shelf will fit. Pay attention to the height of the shoes you want to store, too. Flats and sneakers can go on shelves positioned closer together; heels and boots need more space.
Neat Method San Diego Save Email DIY idea: Bookcase as closet storage. Why: A simple bookcase with adjustable shelves is often just the right size for holding shoes, boots, bags and more. Extras: To use your bookcase as storage for jumpers, add shelf dividers to keep piles from toppling over. If you keep your shoes in their boxes, label the outside with a photo of the shoes so you can tell what’s what at a glance. Cost: From about $150 for a simple bookcase. Or repurpose a bookcase from elsewhere in your home for free.
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