When you are considering taking on a closet organization project, one of the key things you need to make sure you consider is the cost. But, how do you know?

Here’s how the editors at www.closetguru.com answers this question:

Let’s compare pricing for a 5×7 walk-in, floor-based closet with hanging options and shelves (no drawers) made from white melamine components:

• If you send this design to a professional company based in the Midwest or the Southeast, the price ranges from $1,186 to $1,500.
• If you order this design from a DIY company, you’ll pay $900 to $1,200. While online companies ship to any address and big box retailers allow you to transport the materials yourself, you’re on your own time while unloading, interpreting instructions, installing and cleaning up.

Just as closet storage can be a vexing organizational dilemma, kitchen’s also produce an appalling amount of clutter. So let’s compare pricing for a 3×5 pantry with adjustable white melamine shelving.

• For this design, you’ll pay a professional company anywhere from $800 to $1,200.
• For the DIY system, you’ll dole out $600 to $900.

So far, we’ve only discussed projects that involve prefabricated materials, but how much should you budget for, say, wood cabinetry, instead of melamine components?

• If you’ve decided that melamine/thermofoil products are good enough for you, then you’ll pay roughly $500 per square foot.

Now, these numbers will vary by project, but they are certainly within range. You can trust them as a working budget for you closet project.

Closets are important areas in your house. In addition to storing and organizing your clothes, toys, and food, your closet contributes significantly to your room’s ambience and design.

Before your purchase a closet upgrade, here are some things that you need to consider.
* Size
The size of the closet system is determined by the physical space of the closet space itself. Remember, there really isn’t such a thing as a closet stretcher. You can only work within the confines of the physical space available.

After considering the amount of space, also think about the amount of items that you will be placing inside the closet. First, go through your stuff and weed out anything you haven’t worn or used within the last year. If you need some good ideas on how to do this check out this article. Now, take and inventory. How much space do you need to allocate for long hang, double hang, flat storage, etc. Once you determine these measurements, you are able to allocate the space in the closet to accomodate each kind of storage.

* Material

While there are several choices of closet systems material, the most important thing that you need to consider is the sturdiness of the materials used. Closets are almost permanent fixtures in the house. These cannot be easily replaced without going to a lot of trouble with the construction. So make sure that the materials used can stand thru time until you decide to have the house renovated.

Also, make sure that the materials are suitable for what you intend to store in the closet. Some closets may not be good for storing food, so ask first before buying a closet or ordering one.

You can also purchase a closet in three ways. You can buy stock closets, which are ready-made that you can take it home on the same day. This is cheaper, however this provides you with little options.

You can order semi-custom closets. This would mean that the maker can give you samples of designs, parts and accessories, and you can select your own combinations.

Custom closets are the most expensive. If you choose a custom closet, you can specify the size and shape (for irregularly-shaped spaces) and design of your closet that you would like to order.

Also consider the drawer slides. These are rated according to load capacity as light, medium or heavy. It is better to choose slides that have full extension capability so can access the full depth of the drawers.

* Design

If you will be placing an order for a customized closet, you can choose exactly what you would like it to look like. Here are some things to consider:

Finish - Apart from considering the latest trend, ask what will look good with your home. For a traditional style, brushed finishes, polished nickel, pewter or brass will look great in your home’s interiors. For contemporary style, enameled and gloss-metal shine will match your home’s style.

Knobs and pulls - Knobs and pulls are mounted on drawers and doors to facilitate opening. Knobs are attached with a single bolt and screw and require less space than pulls, which are attached by two screws. Both can be combined with a backplate or can be used alone.

These are available in a variety of designs, colors and finish including sterling, antique or polished brass, aged bronze, iron, nickel, polished chrome, ceramics and antique copper.

Backplates - Backplates are placed on the knob or pull and the drawer or door surface. These are used to cover existing holes on the surface (usually when changing knobs or pulls), to protect the surface (during construction or when the knob is pulled) and to improve the design of the hardware.

* Budget

Ready-made closet are always the cheapest but make sure that these will fit your allotted space in your room. If you will be able to stretch your budget, it is still best to get a semi-custom or customized closet so you can specify the size and the design.

You can always check online for different offers on stock, semi-custom and custom closets. Surely, you can get one that will match your storage and decorating needs.

Shelfanator

DESIGN BASICS

Getting started. Before you begin designing your new closet, ask yourself a few questions:

• What percentage of my wardrobe is long-hang? Short-hang?
• How much of the closet do you want to devote to folded items, shoes, belts, ties, boxes, or luggage?
• What percentage of my wardrobe do I wear a lot?
• Take these percentages into account as you plan your space.

Use the 50/25/25 rule-of-thumb for any closet — 50% double hang, 25% single hang, 25% shelving. Closets with more double hang maximize space. Of course, in today’s lifestyle, many people are using less formal wear and even dresses. If that’s the case, you might wish to reallocate these percentages. We find that many master closets are only using 3 feet or less of long hang.

Think wall-to-wall and floor to ceiling. We find is best to double hang the longest wall in a closet. And. if ceiling height allows it, to put a shelf above the double hang shelf. This gives you a great deal of storage for items that you do not use very often. A small step stool allows you access.

Triple Hang for children. Triple hang is the perfect solution for a child’s closet. Mount shelves at 28″, 56″, and 84″ from the floor. Components can be easily adjusted as your child grows. For example, a pre-teen may use shelving at 32″, 64″, and a storage shelf at 84″ from the floor providing two short hanging areas and added storage above. Children’s closets should include a large percentage of shelving for folded clothes, games, toys, and books.

One of the great benefits of remodeling your closets is that you get an opportunity to do a bit of housekeeping. It’s the perfect opportunity to go through all of the stuff you currently have in those closets and do some weeding out.

Here’s a method posted on the Rubbermaid blog

Dated, out-of-size, or out-of-season clothing wastes valuable closet space. Here’s a 3-D method to get it out of the way for good.

STEP 1:
Designate. Get three large storage bins. Label them “Out of Season,” “To Donate” and “To Repair.” Also bring in one garbage bag.

STEP 2:
Decide. Go through your wardrobe, starting with drawers and moving to hangers. Place clothes into one of the three bins, or return an item to the closet if you will be wearing it through the current season. Be merciless: If you didn’t wear an item (no matter how cute) this year, you probably won’t next year, so just donate it. TIP: badly damaged clothes should be thrown in the garbage or used as household rags, not donated.

STEP 3:
Dispatch. Move the Out Of Season bin to your attic or the back of your closet. Bag and deliver the Donation contents. Take items needing repairs to the drycleaners or tailor shop. Repeat this process in fall and spring.

Now, that’s only one approach, but it works. From time to time I’ll share other tips and tricks to getting your closets organized. If you have some ideas that worked for you leave them in the comments section or email them to me at larry@upgradeyourclosets.com

Until then,

Larry
Your Closet Guy

It’s a nationwide trend. Homeowners desire better closets in their dream homes.

A national survey by the Roper Reports show that home buyers of all ages now say that bigger and more organized closets is the #2 most desired attribute sought in buying new homes. Better closet storage was a close second to the #1 desired feature, a state-of-the-art kitchen.

I bet you agree with that survey. Most likely, the biggest problem area in your home today is the lack of organized storage. After all, chances are good that when your house was built, your builder only installed a minimal amount of closet storage. And, I bet, it’s that old yuckky wire shelving. (I know these things because I install a lot of wire shelving for new home builders.)

The good news is that you can do something about this problem. Closet renovations is now a multi-billion dollar industry. There are thousands of companies throughout the United States making lots of money ripping out that wire shelving builders install and replacing it with well-made custom closets. There are hundreds of organizational products - some good; some not so good - on the market today.

You can make your closets better.

And, that’s why this blog exists. We are going to be your guide through this process.

Of course, we sell stuff. Let’s be open and honest about that. I hope you will look through all the information you find here on this blog and then when you find the perfect solution, you will buy it from me. But, if you purchase elsewhere, that’s okay. I believe if I do my job in sharing information and evaluations of products and services, you will get to know me and trust me. And, as that relationship matures, you will do business with me.

So, check in often. We will regularly post information about closet organization and reviews about products your might be interested in. I believe your time spend on this site will be worth your investment.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact me directly larry@upgradeyourclosets.com.

Until next time,

Larry

Larry Speir
www.upgradeyourclosets.com
912-631-211