RenovationsPlans for My Master Closet February 26, 2016One of the things I’ve been most excited about is my master closet. Since we moved in back in September, we’ve been without closets. My stuff is just scattered all over the guest room and it’s time, y’all. I need an organized home for my clothes. This has gotten a little stressful having stuff just crammed and never being able to find anything. Plus 75% of my clothes are packed up because we thought we’d be doing our closets really quickly, so I’m tired of wearing the same four outfits on rotation…you think I’m kidding! Small problems, I know, but we’re excited for these closets to be finished. Since we decided to wait and finish the bathroom, that meant waiting on the closets. We did His and Hers closets in the last house and we both loved it. Thankfully, that worked out again in this house. While my master closet is off of our bath that we added on, the closet is technically in part of the original house. The original house is highlighted in pink in this floor plan and you can see my closet there in the front. It’s amazing how much this house has changed! I really need to re-visit the befores soon. This little corner where my closet is was the kitchen before. You can see the plans here and before pictures here. I was initially so excited about this closet because it’s a great size. My last closet was 4×6, which was still a great size. But once you added in hanging rods and built-ins, it filled up quick. I was so excited to have so much more space in this one! But once it was done and I got in there and tried to start planning out the layout, I realized it wasn’t as much space as I thought. I feel so ungrateful saying that. It’s an amazing size! But it all has to do with the layout of the room. This closet really got what was left of all the surrounding areas. In the existing house, it backs up to the laundry and entry. We planned those rooms first, gave them ample space, and then my closet got what was left. The door got placed according to where it fit best in the bathroom, as it should have, but it does make placing things in the closet a little harder. Some of you suggested using a curtain with a tie back here instead of a door for space and clearance and that’s an amazing idea! I definitely think I’m going to go with that. The door being placed right up against the right wall of the closet really keeps from putting any hanging rods on that wall. They would stick out almost as far as the doorway, so you’d have to weave around them. And then there’s the window on the other side that keeps you from doing a long wall of hanging there. I love that the closet has a window. It provides amazing light, but it’s so close to the back wall that if I hang clothes there, they’ll hang out in front of it. The window was placed here before we renovated and it wasn’t worth it to move it, plus it really is in the right place for the exterior curb appeal. I’ve gone through so many different layout options and so few have worked. I finally came up with one that isn’t ideal, but I really think it’s the best option for this space. I’m going to do a full-length hanging rod all the way across the back. It’ll be 5′ across with shelves on top and bottom. Then, I’ll do 2.5′ feet of double hanging rods to the left of the door. It actually tucks in perfectly between the door and the window. This gives me the exact same amount of hanging space as the last house, except for one key difference. In the last closet, I did double hanging along the longer wall and a small wall of full-length. Chris thought I was crazy for not doing that here! But I have my reasons. While that would maximize storage, for me, it actually wouldn’t. I have way more items that need full-length than double. My wardrobe consists mainly of long sweaters, long tunics, maxi length skirts and dresses. I love wearing leggings or jeans with a longer sweater and/or top. So, in the last closet, my full-length section was overflowing and I had almost an entire double rod sitting empty. The clothes hanging along the back wall will overlap the window slightly, but it’s really the only option I can see. Plus, it’s a closet. I do want to make it feel more like a room, but function is the priority. I’ll be doing a narrow bookcase as shelf storage along the right wall, just like I did in the last house. You can read about that here. I actually loved that! It’s not as deep as traditional closet shelves, but it was perfect for my needs. Plus in this closet layout, I like that it won’t stick out as far in the doorway. I think this layout is maximizing storage, while considering all of the room’s existing difficulties I mentioned. But if any of you have suggestions, I am all ears! I’ve spent so much time trying to figure this thing out and am for sure open to suggestions. As far as finishing out the closet, I really want to create a sweet little dressing room in here. I’ve always wanted one of those and did what I could in the last one to create that. This one does have a little more space to help with that, though once everything is in here, it won’t be a huge room by any means. {via} I’m so inspired by lovely built-in closets like this one above. And this huge closet from Pink Peonies has long been a favorite of mine. {via} My initial plan for this closet was to do built-in storage like these above. We were either going to build it or buy some IKEA wardrobes that get this look. But now that it’s time to finally finish out this closet, I’m realizing neither of those options is reasonable. Poor hubby is worn out, y’all. He’s worked himself constantly on this bathroom and finishing all of the little nooks and crannies for inspections. He hasn’t stopped really since we bought this house last April. He isn’t up for building custom built-ins right now and I’m not about to ask him to. I looked into the IKEA wardrobes and it would be expensive to finish out this closet with those! Those are funds we definitely don’t have to put toward a closet right now. Finishing out the bathroom and other rooms I’m planning like the office/playroom and our bedroom are so much more important to me than fancy closet built-ins. So, we’ve re-grouped and I’m looking for ways to create a pretty, happy closet without the fancy finishes. {via} I love this little closet makeover Lay Baby Lay did awhile back. She painted the room black and added a fun little pattern on a focal wall. No fancy built-ins, but her closet is fun and an inspiring little room. {via} This last one is listed as a luxury closet on Domaine Home, but the more I looked at it, it’s just shelves and a traditional hanging rod with shelf overhead. It’s the details like the fancy gold mirror and hanging jewelry that make this feel special. I’m using these two as inspiration for creating a pretty closet that feels like a little luxury dressing room for me with minimal money and time invested. Sound impossible? Maybe, but I’m going to give it a shot! Any layout suggestions or inspiring closets you love? I’d love to hear and see for inspiration!
Marty@A Stroll Thru Life says February 26, 2016 at 12:43 pm Love all of your inspiration pics. I did a total redo of my builder basic closet with just some paint and really inespensive storage ideas. You can see everything at http://www.astrollthrulife.net/2015/05/orc-master-closet-makeover-reveal.html By using every square inch I was able to create a really functional closet for both of us in a 7 x 9 space. There are some tricks I used that would work in your closet too. Reply
Elise says February 26, 2016 at 1:51 pm I had a “put on love” sign in my old closet…but that be joyful one is REALLY pulling at my heartstrings these days. LOVE that inspiration! xx Reply
Louise says February 26, 2016 at 6:00 pm Martha Stewart has a closet organizing line that we got in either Lowes or Home Depot. . I have a small closet in my master and was able to triple my space. You can configure it on,one before purchasing the pieces. It wasn’t very expensive or difficult to install. Good luck. Your house is beautiful! Reply
Jessie says February 27, 2016 at 10:50 am Don’t forget that you do have a bit of storage space UNDER the window. In keeping with your desire for a “dressing room” maybe a storage bench of some sort with fabric bins or even just open shelving space would work well. Then you get a nice little place to sit down while you put on your shoes (or contemplate your ootd) but you get a little additional storage below. Just a thought! 🙂 Reply
Lindsay says March 9, 2016 at 12:31 pm Yes! Great idea, jessie! I’m planning a bench there, but i didn’t even think about one with storage! Reply
Haley says February 27, 2016 at 12:44 pm Loving your inspiration and can’t wait to see what you do with it! Have you thought of adding a shelf above the window or door for some additional storage (don’t know how tall you are but could work for out of season stuff or things you don’t use that much if you can’t reach it). Reply
Sandie says February 27, 2016 at 12:50 pm In one of our homes, my husband and I had to share a closet….so every space had to be used. With that in mind, I hung a shade on the closet window and hung a rod over the window. It gave us quite a bit of extra hanging space and with the shade, it still kept the curb appeal nice and didn’t fade our clothes. I know it’s not the best, but when space is limited, it works. Reply
Sara says February 28, 2016 at 11:45 pm Love your ideas. Might want to check out the Instagram feed of Bethany @bma_21. She has a small closet, but did a cute job to make it a small dressing room. Reply