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Organizing the Home

Need Help Maximizing New Coat Closet Space

15 years ago

We just removed walls between our mudroom and kitchen, which opened up the kitchen nicely. However we now have a tiled entryway rather than a mudroom. My husband is in process of framing a new closet, which will be 3 feet wide. I'm trying to plan how to maximize the space inside. Our ceilings are 99" high, so there's a good bit of vertical space in the closet. Can anyone give me ideas or share pictures that might help with how to best use the space inside, or even point me to a web site that might offer ideas? We live in the New England, so there is a need for storing boots, coats, hats, gloves, etc., not only for our family but for guests when they arrive.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Comments (3)

talley_sue_nyc
15 years ago
I have a tall closet, w/ a tall door even, and I find that storing stuff on the topmost shelf is hard because I have to maneuver stuff down in front of everything to get it into the doorway. So I used short "under-bed" boxes up there. The standard "stash a lot of stuff" bins are too big to make the turns.

(and that's w/ a closet door that's as tall as a regular door plus a transom)

These are 9.5-ft ceilings, so note that there's only about 14" of space above the door opening (see the corner w/ the ceiling in it, on the far right?)--and it's still a tight turn.

So, don't let the topmost shelves stick too far out into the space, or you won't be able to get anything in or out.

And of course, pockets on the back of the door would be nice for mittens, gloves, dog leashes.

And as he's framing, remember that having space "around the corner" from the door frame (when the door is 24" wide, but the closet is 36") is really annoying and hard to get to. So try to have your doorway go the full width of the closet.
justgotabme
15 years ago
jwm211, I have a closet very similar to your new one. Recently I brought down the little shelves I bought for our son's closet to add some better storage to our back entry coat closet. As you can see we've not added the door to it yet as we keep changing out mind on what kind of door we want since the door to the basement is directly across from this closet. In fact I stood a few steps down to get all the closet in.
These little shelves and the over the door shoe pocket storage has really made a difference in keeping it neat looking. If we put a standard door in the pocket will go over the door. The space to the right of the shelves is where I normally store my Bissel. I hope this pix helps.
Since you hubby is building the closet he could build these shelves in the width of the closet, which is what I plan to do someday. Just wanted a quick fix since I didn't have the lumber I needed on hand when I got the idea.
Oh, our son no longer lives at home so I didn't take anything he needed.

{{!gwi}}
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73 shirts??!!! WOW! I'm pretty sure my husband and I don't have 73 of anything combined! ;) I do try to purge a minimum of twice a year, and I do rotate hanging clothes into the black hole (well put!) out-of-season. I do like the shelf idea that ShadesOfIdaho posted to my flickr page, though. Maybe I can do shelves on the bottom and hanging clothes over the top? I'm not hanging any ball gowns that require full-height hanging space. It's certainly not the worst house-related problem to have, that's for sure. But it is just odd that they built them this way in every single bedroom. Black Hole or not, the relatively generous closets are the main reason we are still able to live in our small house (no attic, no basement, no garage).
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I would do a switchback staircase with a landing. You could keep it along the outer wall...or move it so it is inline with the hallway. It could open to the living room or the entryway. You would then have room for both a coat closet as well as another room space if you better utilize your entries on the lower left of your plan. (which are also taking up a lot of space! By using a switchback staircase to the basement, you are keeping the staircase space as part of the volume of the entry/living room space, making it feel larger than it really is.
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I am not sure. I have another idea but I don't know if it is any better: What if the only full wall is beside the hallway then have a built-in 3'0" high (just enough to fit your fridge below). I would make that built-in 18" deep and run it all the way on that tv wall. You can put your tv on where you have it now and have storage on the left of it. On the right, it would be your fridge with some storage to the left for glasses etc. I would consider making the top of the built-in all the same material and put a table mat where your fridge is to protect the top. You can have shelves on the wall if you wish but I think I would not. Seeing the wall recessed compared to the bottom where you have your built-in would make the room feel bigger even though you use some floor space for your built-in. I would also make your closet 6'6" wide and deal with the problem of 2 persons being in that room at the same time. I think one can choose their clothes while the other is taking a shower. I think it is worth that compromise to keep your bathroom and office wider.
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There atecrec several great ideas in the thread linked below. There is also a long and detailed one of how I made a very useful closet from an awkward space behind a front door. it included a link to a reply by GW member TalleySue NYC that describes my processed in her charming and witty way: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6284892/configuration-for-utility-cleaning-closet#n=16
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jwm211
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks to you both for the good suggestions. And the pictures really help!

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