Closets are tricky! Which is why there are so many companies out there that you can hire to customize your closet. They're trained professionals who come out, measure your clothes, take note of the different quantities (short hanging, long hanging, shoes, etc.), and discuss special options. They then go back and draw out the closet to scale, taking into consideration your personal style and how you use the space. NOT an easy job! Closets are personal. It's where your clothes are stored and where you get dressed and undressed every day. They matter! But we get it. Closet designers can also be expensive. They're definitely worth it when it comes to bigger closets, but it's also important for you to understand how to customize a closet on your own. There are a variety of DIY options for closet systems outs there---like IKEA, Martha Stewart, even the generic brands that are carried at Home Depot and Lowes, so it's available for places that might be a secondary closet at a much lower cost IF you can figure out how to plan it! So today we're going to try to give you a little lesson in closet function in the hopes that you can save a few bucks on the next small closet you need customized.

For starters, linear length matters! Not just the height of clothes--like long dresses, pants, jackets, etc. but the actual linear length of the bar space your clothes take up when hung. You don't want to add a custom built-in to your closet only to realize that you don't have enough hanging space for all of your dress shirts.

Decide on shoe storage first. There are a number of different options when it comes to shoe storage in closets. There's shoe cubbies, angled shelves, straight shelves, and drawers. You may be limited to the type of shoe storage you can incorporate based on the size of your closet but it is something that's important to figure out early on. Just like hanging space, you'll need to know how many pairs of shoes you have and decide how you want to store them.

Incorporate a seat. A lot of people think that something like this might be unnecessary but it's very important! Even if you don't have room for a full bench or chair, a little ottoman can make your life 10 times easier when there's space made for it in the closet. Just think how much time you'll save by sitting down to put your shoes on IN the closet instead of having to walk to a different part of the room to find a place to sit. Trust us! This is a must so plan for it!

Leave a space for a full length mirror. It is tempting to fill up every single wall with storage space but if you can spare even one little sliver of wall for a mirror, do it! In the same sense that the seat is necessary in a closet, a mirror is necessary and time-saving as well. Plus, who doesn't want to be able to give themselves a quick once-over before they head out of the house.

Don't forget the small stuff. It's easy to spend so much time worrying about all the linear hanging space and shoe storage that you need that you might forget about the smaller items like purses, belts, and jewelry. These items can take up a lot of space so it's important that they don't get forgotten! Add some hooks and keep some shelves open because those hats and bags have to go somewhere!

Finally, look at other closets! If you just haven't really thought about it before but you know you need to make a move, check out some closet ideas online. There are so many options for closets out there now that you won't come up short in your search!

Interior Function | Closets