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Design Dilemma Bedroom Storage & Closet

Small Closet Dillema

4 years ago

I have a small, squarish closet. It’s about 39” long and 44” wide, 8 foot ceilings with a door in the middle

Currently, it has 3 bars running from front to back for clothes - two on one side and one on the other. Because the door is in the middle of the closet, there isn’t a lot of room between the clothes bar and the wall and clothes hang sort of diagonally or get wrinkled. Plus, it’s nearly impossible to see what hanging in the back.

The closet is too small for a store bought closet organizer but it’s just not functional right now. My clothes are generally divided into three categories - suits/work clothes, gym shirts, and regular shirts.

I’ve thought about two bars going side to side with a shelf in between and using metal shelf dividers to fold shirts and the like but not sure if that’s the best option. Expanding the closet isn’t possible.

Any suggestions on making this thing more functional?

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Comments (4)

partim
4 years ago
Hanging clothes require 24" to hang straight (not at a diagonal). So your 44" width is too narrow for 2 rows of clothes since you would need 48" plus room to stand between the clothes to see them. I would put 2 full clothes rods going side to side since you seem to have mostly shirts. Get narrow hangers so you can hang almost everything. Add cubbies to the side for folded clothes.
WestCoast Hopeful
4 years ago
I would hire a closet company to come in and make a plan for you based specifically on your needs. They are not as expensive as many think they are and are wonderful at their jobs.
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@mxk3 z5b_MI: Regarding compact Mieles, I would want to know if the OP's budget will cover these pricey units--I'm seeing W/D combos running from around $3K up to $10K or more. Ventless dryers are also pricey--starting at around $1K up to more than double that. And we can argue all the pros and cons of ventless, but for me, with multiple loads of laundry on the floor, a 2 hour dry cycle would drive me nuts. As for the stacking vs side by side configuration--it is true that SxS will allow a full width countertop. But remember that this counter will be a full 30" deep, making it impossible to reach any storage above the counter without using a stepladder (I can vouch for that from personal expernience). In contrast, stacking the units will allow you to install a narrower counter, but at a standard 24" counter depth, with easily accessed storage below the counter, and much more easily accessed upper cabs or shelves. To me that's the more useful option.
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partim
4 years ago
I'd use those hanging fabric storage shelves where I show the gray area. They might stick over the door opening a big since they're usually 12" deep and your wall space there is only 12", but it will probably be OK functionally. Attach them to the ceiling since you have no clothes bar there.

Command hooks on the wall in that space might also be very useful and easy to put up if you don't need shelves on both sides.
apple_pie_order
4 years ago
Either remove the third rod from one side or reconfigure it so that the clothes rods run from side to side. An electrician can add lighting. Out of season clothes can be folded and kept in boxes in the way back if you choose a side-to-side configuration.

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