Getting Organized: Storage Solutions & Ideas

By Christine Cooney, The House Designers Staff Writer

If you've chosen a plan but think you'd like to have more storage space in your new home, you can have your designer or builder modify your existing floor plan to accommodate this need before construction begins. Closets can easily be modified to increase and improve your storage needs and help keep you organized in your new home. With the demand for additional storage space by consumers, you'll find most new home designs feature large, walk-in closets and additional storage spaces.

There are two basic types of closet designs, a walk-in and reach-in. A walk-in closet is exactly what the name would imply, a closet that's large enough for you to step into. Walk-in closets can be just a few square feet or as large as an entire bedroom. With either type, you'll find many of the same design opportunities and challenges.

Since walk-ins are larger, they allow for more storage, but require careful planning to maximize storage ease and efficiency.

Reach-in closets are popular in guest bedrooms, hallways and entryways or anywhere that space may be limited. They may require more creative planning, but by adding multiple levels of storage and incorporating shelves and drawers, you can turn any limited space into a surprisingly ample storage area.

The principle of increasing closet storage space is to level, layer and stack. By creating a layer of shelves one on top of another or by stacking different levels one on top of the other, you can easily double the storage space in closets. Vertical stacking tends to work best in most cases, but for smaller closets the use of hinged and pullout drawers will also work well.

A key place to assess your storage needs is your bedroom closet. For maximum efficiency, your closet organizer system can be customized to meet the needs of the specific types of clothing and accessories you own.

A more affordable alternative is to use wire closet organizers that offer nearly the same level of organization but may not be as attractive or durable. You may also consider designing a closet that incorporates both wire and furniture organizers. Some of the organizer units you might consider: Shoe cubes to keep all of your shoes available at a glance, shelves for folded jeans and sweaters, tie racks, stacked rods, slide out bins for laundry and seasonal clothing and smaller drawers for personal items.

Once your closet is organized, you'll spend less time searching, and more on enjoying your new home!