If you're like many homeowners, your closets are less than attractive. It's only natural; closets are for storage, and the disarray inside can be hidden from view by simply closing the door! It's no wonder that they gather clutter so quickly. Thankfully, the latest in closet design and organizing can change all that. If you haven't looked into closet designs lately, you're in for a big surprise...and so is your clutter!
In this article, we'll review several elements of closet design. We'll touch on the design itself, as well as organizing a closet whether it's been re-designed or not. In addition, we'll review the enlargement of closets, as well as when and how to find the best professional for your particular closet-improvement project.
Creating Space or Working with What You Have
If you're sick of dealing with tiny, cramped closets which can't accommodate all your belongings, it may be time to enlarge. Depending on the layout of your home, you may be pleasantly surprised to see just how much unused space you already have. Enlarging your closet into a luxurious walk-in or even a dressing room may be as simple as knocking down a wall!
If you're planning such a project, you'll need to decide whether or not you can tackle it yourself. Even though it sounds rather involved, taking out a wall isn't as difficult as you may think. It's essential to know what exactly is behind the wall in question, however. You don't want to take out a shared wall and create a gaping hole in your hallway.
You can easily determine this by taking a look at your home's blueprints or building designs. If you don't' have these on hand, they can usually be found by contacting your local city hall. Another option is to contact the original builder of the home, or a previous owner. It's important to take not only the original building plans into account, but any modifications, additions or changes that have taken place over the years.
If you do decide that it's too much for you to handle on your own, hiring a professional makes good sense. You can find somebody experienced in this type of project by checking websites which connect professional workers with prospective clients. These websites allow you to read client reviews, as well as ensure that a professional's credentials are up to date.
Working with what you have is, of course, a less expensive option. If you're lucky enough to have rather spacious closets to begin with, you're ahead of the game. If you have a small room which could be converted into a walk-in closet or dressing room, you're especially lucky. Even if the smaller room does not open directly onto your bedroom, it's still a viable choice for a dressing area if it's close enough to be convenient.
These same principles apply to linen closets, bathroom storage and pantry space in addition to bedroom closets. Location and size are always concerns, but with a little know-how, amazing things can be done with proper organization.
Bedroom Closets and Dressing Areas
In today's economy, smart homeowners have begun looking to what they already have, instead of building new homes. This has led to a resurgence in luxury home improvements. While they come at a price, that price is certainly much smaller than purchasing or building a new house. These improvements also add a great deal to a home's resale value.
One of the hottest trends in closets today is the creation of an old-fashioned dressing area. Think of it as a walk-in closet gone glamorous. These dressing areas often feature specifically designed shelving and storage, such as dedicated areas for shoes, accessories and ties. A vanity table is often included, or a long dressing mirror.
A popular addition to a dressing area is the dressing island. We're all familiar with kitchen islands, and we all know how useful and convenient they are. Why not bring that same convenience into a dressing area? Islands are situated in the center of a dressing area, and are usually made up of additional storage in the form of shelving or drawers. In addition to serving as useful places to set garments, accessories or jewelry while dressing, they provide excellent space to store small items such as lingerie or socks. A savvy bargain-hunter can easily find a suitable island by scouring estate sales for a tall chest or dresser.
If your home doesn't have the space required for a full dressing area, there's still much that can be done. Professional closet organizers can work wonders with even the smallest storage areas, installing custom shelving and maximizing every inch of space.
Kitchen and Bathroom Storage
Whether they're called closets or pantries, any storage area can benefit from a skilled design plan. The best closet designs and organizations maximize all available space while keeping items within convenience reach. A professional organizer will likely ask you about how your household uses certain items within a closet, so they can design an organization which will benefit your individual needs. You can do this yourself as well, simply by paying attention to which items you use frequently and which ones you take out a few times a year.
While kitchen storage has always been an issue, a more recent trend is the use (or creation) of bathroom storage space. Many homes have literally no storage in the bathroom, aside from a dingy space beneath the sink. People have lived with this arrangement for so long that many never think to add real, usable storage in the bath, even though the benefits are impressive.
If you're lucky enough to have enough space to create storage in the bath, you'll be amazed at how convenient it is to have frequently-used items close at hand. After living with a well-organized bathroom closet for a while, you'll wonder why you ever put up with things like running down the hall to the linen closet for a towel, or storing bath products elsewhere in the home. Having everything stored in the room in which it's used is not only convenient, but it streamlines a home, keeping things clutter-free.
When to Hire a Professional
Hiring a pro to help you out with a closet improvement may seem like a waste of money. Many homeowners feel, initially, that a closet is such a small project that they can easily handle it themselves. However, while this is true in the case of a skilled home handyman, it's often a costly mistake.
Unless you're skilled in every area required to complete your project, you're setting yourself up for costly failure. In addition, many people who have the home-improvement skills necessary do not have the organizational skills needed to truly maximize a storage space.
Hiring a professional makes good sense for several reasons. Storage is a very attractive element for home buyers, and so professionally designed closets can be a selling point if you plan to move in the future. Well-designed and organized closets also improve a homeowner's enjoyment a great deal. Think about it - would you rather continue living with cluttered, messy stacks of clothing, bath products or canned goods? Or would you rather enjoy streamlined storage which allows you to forget about your closets instead of becoming aggravated by them all the time? Ask somebody who's had their storage space professionally redone. Chances are good that they'll report a very unexpected level of enjoyment.
While there are companies which dedicate themselves solely to closet design and organization, you can also find very skilled professionals by searching a home-improvement website. This can save you money, especially if you can find a worker who's skilled in both the creation (taking out walls, carpentry), the design and the organization of storage space. Hiring one person or team for the project, instead of three separate people, saves a great deal of time and money.
Home-improvement websites allow consumers to find skilled handymen and contractors in their local area. The workers' credentials, such as licenses and insurance coverage, allow you to choose somebody who's properly certified. Many workers also advertise every area of their expertise. For example, a carpenter by trade may be skilled in many other areas. These websites allow that carpenter to advertise all of his skills, thereby drawing more customers, and allowing you to find a professional with the perfect skill set for your unique project.
When making your hiring decision, it's a good idea to read the customer reviews these websites offer. They allow you to take an inside look at a particular contractor's work ethic, their reputation, and even, in some cases, examples of their work.
It's always a good idea to talk through your entire project with any professional you hire. This can help you avoid costly differences of opinion once the project has started. In the midst of a larger project, it's easy to forget to discuss smaller details, such as the dimension of shelves or the finish of a cabinet. Ensuring that you and your contractor are in agreement on every detail will help the entire project to progress as it should.
Posted by: DianeSuggested Reading For You
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