Building a Home Remodeling Design Dilemma

How many storage closets do I need in my house?

6 years ago

We are doing a major remodel and I've read several times how important it is to have enough storage in a home. All of the bedrooms will have decent size closets, but how many "other" closets or storage areas do I need in a home? Our new garage is actually smaller than our existing garage, so we won't have the same attic space for all of those random items that don't have a home. Yes, I'll be getting rid of things before moving, but am wondering if there is a rule of thumb about how much storage space a home should have outside of bedroom closets. Thanks so much!

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Mark Bischak, Architect

6 years ago

Take all the stuff you have in your house, subtract the stuff you don't want, then subtract the stuff you don't need, then subtract the stuff you really don't need, then subtract the stuff your spouse says you don't need. You need enough closets to store what's left, and remember if you build it you will fill it.

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Comments (14)

AnnKH
6 years ago
How much stuff do you have?

We have harsh winters, so need room for out of season clothing and footwear. Sporting equipment - skis and boots, camping gear, golf clubs. Holiday decorations. Extra blankets, sheets, pillows, towels. Power tools and hand tools. Leftover paint. Bulk purchases (toilet paper and paper towels). Suitcases and duffle bags. Canning jars.

Then there is miscellaneous stuff - I have a whole shelf in a closet that contains computer parts. An old aquarium (that DH wants to set up again, but hasn't gotten to it). Toys that we want to save for our grandkids (that we may or may not have).

We have a lot of storage in the garage; I have storage in the laundry/utility room; we have a storage space under the stairs; I use space in my sons' closets for sporting gear and seasonal items. I also get rid of things regularly.

The point is, everyone's storage needs are different. You need to figure out what you have, and where you want to keep it. Where will you put the vacuum cleaner and broom? Is there room in the kitchen for seldom used appliances or Grandma's punch bowl?
PRO
Virgil Carter Fine Art
6 years ago
The best way to answer your question is for you to take some time, sit down, and make a list of current and desired storage needs, room by room, plus storage for things not kept in any "room". There's no rule of thumb, except...there's never enough storage! Good luck! :-)
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User
6 years ago
We built a split entry, 3Bd, 2 car garage, finished basement(family room w/half bath/laundry). We designed in two hall closets, extra big bedroom closets, end of hall closet, hall bath closet, kitchen pantry, and under stair closet.

Was not long before we ran out of storage space(4 people). And, since neither of our vehicles fit in the garage(too low), we filled one bay.

Moral---put in at least twice what you think you need.
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Anglophilia
6 years ago
You don't mention if you have an attic or a basement for storage. That makes a BIG difference in how much you need in the living areas of your house. And how much "stuff" you have....
mrspete
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I read somewhere that 10% of your house should be storage. I have no idea whether that's realistic or not ... but I know I don't have enough in my current house, and I'm definitely fixing that in my new house!

Storage I'm planning in my new house -- and, honestly, I have less stuff than most people:

- Good closets in all bedrooms

- Very large pantry in the kitchen (our kitchen will be minimal)

- Small linen closet in both bathrooms

- A small coat closet

- A cleaning closet (under the stairs) for the vacuum, paper products, cleaning products, and more

- Space for "waiting loads" by the washer/dryer

- Hobby storage in the small office

- Built-in bookcases in the hallway and entryway

- Built-ins for movies and board games in the living room

- Storage for tools and yard stuff in the garage ... we will not use the garage for general storage

- Walk in attic upstairs ... which will be for seasonal items and a few sentimental items

And pointing out the obvious: Much of the stuff we store could actually be thrown away /donated.
Cali Homeowner
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
We live in a 1940 home, which was built in the day when they had finish carpenters. If there was a small space, they'd build a cabinet or shelves. As a result, it had lots of storage, which we used (and cleaned out over a 3 year period of hauling stuff to the thrift stores). Recently, we worked with an architect on the remodel of the home, which is going on at present. Our requirement was that whatever storage we took out as a result of moving walls, we had to put back in the form of a cabinet, a bookcase. We ended up with an open floor plan with lots of floor to ceiling cabinets (custom). We don't regret it. Do this on the front end as your planning, because the last thing you want is to fill a room with a bunch of IKEA cabinets later.
Pinebaron
6 years ago
A bench in the park with a washroom/toilet closeby might have done me fine; it's the stuff "I think I need" that will take up space "I don't really need".
User
6 years ago
We live in a 1904 house. We have one small closet in each of the bedrooms (I mean small: 3'x5' and 4'x4'. We have a closet under the stairs (about 3'x5') and we have a generous pantry (about 4'x6').They all have "room to spare" for other stuff, because we live a minimalist lifestyle. If we wanted, we could fill them with seasonal decorations and camping equipment, but those items are in the basement. We have a detached two-car garage that has - surprise!!! - two cars in it. It's not used for storage (other than for car stuff). We don't have an outdoor utility/storage room.

We are getting ready to move into an apartment with a walk-in closet, a reach-in closet, a coat closet, a linen closet (no - we don't have either a coat or linen closet right now), and an outdoor storage room off the deck. We won't fill any of those to capacity.
zippity1
6 years ago
make sure the storage you're planning is set up to store things in an organized way space and organized space are two different things...
nycefarm
6 years ago
One more than you actually build!
Najeebah
6 years ago
Things that don't have a home don't have a home for a reason. Things that have homes, well, those homes are all the storage you need. (that's where the list and living habits come in)
greenacresmama
6 years ago
This is hard one. New home build has.. (small farmhouse)

We have a pantry and a tall pantry cabinet too.. pantry has vaccum & brushes.

We have a small hallway between rooms that has space for officey stuff, charging, counter for snacks for party.. but mostly printer and laptop support stuff.. upper cabinets.

We have a dresser in the small main floor bath instead of closet.

We have a shoe closet because we like Japan style. We have a large nice coat closet plus a simple mud room with hooks at another entrance and farm boots.

we have a homeschool supply cabinet/a matching one for coat closet

we have a linen closet/built in in the hallway upstairs that is actually a basecabinet with wood counter and a upper wall cabinet built in (like office hallway) we have a full linen closet outside of bathroom door on this level too sharing the upstairs vac/broom and cleaning supplies

we have a shallow shelf with sliding doors in upstairs bath for small items but not a fan of cloth hanging out in the bathroom.. in hallway.

interestingly we don't have closets for the kids yet. We want an easy layout with what we have with windows and doors.. vents.. going modern and growing with them style..

we have are farmers but we have a 4' wide door in BR with another 4' wide open curtain place for me.. I like tall dressers and need more places for folding, jeweler and underwear.. have nice pieces that do best folded.. hate closet systems, want light and pretty space instead. Velvet curtains ;)

basment is full! We have a plan for dedicated and double checked (insects and others) but want true dressers indtead of tubs and wall stuff. Want to sew and love basement.. don't want walls covered.. want art and more fancy room stuff in basement. Going for dressers for Christmas, sweaters.. and sometimes buffet peices.. do not want a Rubbermaid look! I want to do something amazing with my basement too.. not sure exactly but more living room, play room, art studio with storage much lower than normal storage rooms. Also having a vac & broom in the have closet.
sprink1es
6 years ago
Depends if you have basement and/or usable attic. Then depends on cabinets.
Besides the obvious bedroom closets and guest/coat closet, break down your rooms. Example:
Kitchen - large enough pantry? seasonal dishes? small appliances?
Family - blankets/pillows/games?
Dining/Living - linens, seasonal sets, entertaining
Laundry - depends on cabinets too... but liquids, iron, steamer, baskets...
Cleaning - vacuum, mops, buckets... one on each floor
Misc - winter jackets, hats/gloves... Even if you have basement space, I like to use 2-3 jackets in the winter

You'll always fill whatever you have, and inversely you can downsize to fit what you have. It's more of a "what would be nice" question

How many storage closets do I need in my house?

Mark Bischak, Architect

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AnnKH

Virgil Carter Fine Art

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