We have stocked them with clothes and they are working really well. I didn't get the wooden doors all painted before it got cold, so I haven't installed them yet. I did install the mirror doors in the middle units. I am really happy with them. I'm using them in different ways than I expected. For instance, we put in 2 wide, wooden drawers above the wire shoe drawer in my closet. I had been using them both for jeans and t-shirts. When the weather got cold I put the t shirts in a storage box that fits into the shelves at the top of the unit, and left 1 drawer for jeans. The other drawer is now holding my boots. They lay flat, which is great! I fit 2 pr of long boots in there and 2 pr of calf- height boots as well. I wouldn't have expected to use that drawer for boots but it works well and I wear them more because I can see them better (they aren't at the bottom of a dark closet. The only thing I don't like is that my fav pants hangers are thick at the top. They clamp the bottom cuff of pants and are over 1" wide. Those take up a lot of space and when I have too many extras in there it feels crowded. Otherwise, it's working well for both DH and I.

We just ordered elfa for the Master and Guest closets. We finished our whole house remodel in Aug, but didn't do closet interiors (I replaced the closet doors, tracks, baseboard, and trim). In the process of turning our compartmentalized 1960 ranch into "open concept," adding essential space in both bathrooms, and adding a wet bar we actually eliminated 6 closets in our remodel. Whereas before it didn't matter that we only had poles and a shelf in these closets (we could just pile in our junk) now the closets need to work a lot smarter. Like many people I suppose, I always viewed Container Store's elfa system as overpriced (which is my view of this store in general)--"the same can be bought at Home Depot for 1/3 the price you know..." Well anyway, I've changed my tune. Did some measurements at home yesterday (after I noticed TCS had a sale that was ending today) and went over there last night. A wonderful woman spent at least 2 hours with me designing the closets, explaining options, working around my architectural issues and running different pricing based on different finishes. I left the store with a folder full of all the information I needed, renderings of the closets and pricing and info to show the DS. We went back this morning and got another hour or more of a very helpful guy's time making some tweaks and last minute items. Both closets will be delivered and installed in less than two weeks. The entire experience was pleasant, easy, and satisfying. This weekend I also installed ClosetMaid shelving that I bought from Home Depot in my hall closet for shoes. What a difference. The ClosetMaid stuff may look like elfa, but it's not. Spend any time with the two products and you see everything from the BigBox line is inferior quality-wise. It doesn't fit as well, it's not as sturdy, it's flimsy, etc. elfa is coated in a nice enamel. ClosetMaid is coated is some kind of sticky epoxy. elfa can be specified with well fitting acrylic mats that set on top of ventilated shelves to provide an even surface that's easy to dust. elfa has covers for unsightly and sharp edges. elfa has endless options, including a 22" chest of drawers that are interchangable--exactly the size I needed and couldn't find a similar item at Depot, Lowes, or IKEA. It's just a different product; elfa is made in Sweden, ClosetMaid is made in China. It shows. Additionally, I needed to cut down some shelves from the size sold at the Depot to fit my closet. Depot told me to buy $50 bolt cutters and cut the shelves myself. A lot of sweating later (it's more work than it looks) these shelves are installed and are a very functional shoe rack, though I suspect the sitcky epoxy coverings will eventually get quite dirty. I believe TCS will cut elfa for you if needed without charge (you should confirm). But I can't imagine having to do this kind of work on my own for the much more complex bedroom closets. The Depot staff are clueless, the store is a mess, and it's very hard to find any information about how everything is supposed to work or find the parts you need. I think the Rubbermaid isn't much better. Certainly not very nice when compared to elfa--I've had some of these shelves before and actually used their parts for the track that holds the ClosetMaid shelves as it looked slightly sturdier. I do think their system works better than ClosetMaid and have read about people who have succesfully used (abused) the free TCS design service and recreated an elfa solution with Rubbermaid products so that may be an option for some. The only budget DIY system I looked at that I care for for use in my bedroom closet is Space-Pro Flex sold at Lowes. The problem here is that there are extremely limited components available so I would have been required to cut the shelves down, live with dinky little drawers, and waste at least 2 feet of my small Master Closet because no options were available for certain spaces. And it was only a few hundred $ less than elfa. Plus with elfa I get cool extras like Valet Rods and Glide Out Tie/Belt Racks. You get what you pay for. Part of what you pay for at TCS is the great knowledge from the closet designers and their valuable time. I got this whole closet thing sorted in 1 day without pouring over catalogs and making inventory lists. And the installation is several hundred $ but it's quite reasonable considering they remove the old closet stuff and patch and paint your drywall (and it's optional). Our last home had California Closets installed by previous owner and they were wonderful. elfa is not quite that wonderful (no good laundry hamper like the last house), but it's mid-grade, not high-end as far as pricing goes. Overall, I'm generally thrilled to have this over with and have completely wonderful, functional closets showing up shortly that I'm confident will last. No Bolt Cutters required. Another nice thing, since elfa is terribly customizable I'm not stuck with the layout in the Guest room if that ends up turning into a nursery in the future. I think that the cheaper big box stuff is fine if you just want some wire shelves to hold paper towels and supplies. But when you want to combine storage with clothes, really use your space and need a lot of choices to do that properly, want flexibility to make changes in the future easily, and just want a nicer looking sturdier product, elfa is worth the extra cost. Good luck to all in their search! PS -- we bought during the elfa shelving sale which is 25% off except the drawers (I know, weird). The better sale starts Christmas Eve through Jan-Feb and it's 30% off everything. We could have saved several hundred, but I didn't want to wait until after the holidays. For those that missed this one, get designing now so you can put your order in right away. I understand the 30% sale is a lot like the IKEA kitchen sales (i.e. bedlum). This post was edited by ChrisInSD on Mon, Oct 20, 14 at 12:53

Closet Maid is manufactured here in Ocala Fl where I live. In the last 2-3 years CM did some serious lowering the quality of products. My home has several closets made before the lowering quality standards. When I wanted to add a couple shelves they are now so flimsy I would not by them. If you choose/need to use CM inspect the weight load carefully- as someone else pointed out, quality of items are not what they once were.

I have considered it! What I run into is-his room has one wall w/the living room, two outside walls, and the fourth wall is the closet butted up to son's bedroom closet in son's room. So just the one wall w/a regularly used room. Son's has the bathroom. Daughter's has the bathroom, living room and kitchen. The living room at least is a "quieter" room to be next to-there's no cabinets or pots and pans, shower, flushing, water running etc. If he was in the kids' rooms and had been off work only a couple hours and the three of us were using the bathroom trying to get ready for school, or in daughters room and we were in the kitchen getting lunches/breakfasts..ugh. We don't tiptoe around, nor is there excessive craziness in the morning but still, it's loud. He would balk at moving. His room *is* a skosh bigger, however! (enough that all of her clothes and all of mine would fit in it, and I wouldn't have to store them in the hall closet and our son's room, *and* she could still have a small vanity) Personally, it makes sense to me for all of us to round robin it-he go to son's room, son's to daughter's room, and daughter and I go to his room. He could put the bed against the exterior wall that faces the neighbor, under the window, which would put it as far away from the bathroom as possible, or under the other window, which goes to our backyard, tho it would be a bit closer to the bathroom. Round robin makes the most sense. Positive it would be a no-go. Not that I won't try tho!