Austin-Morgan Closets Blog
Turning a Spare Room Into a Dream Walk-In Closet
If you’ve ever feuded with a spouse over hanger space or drawers, or turned your house upside down trying to find the summer clothes you stashed last fall, you might be a prime candidate for a closet conversion.
Turning a spare room into a walk-in closet is not a huge task, and it can reap instant rewards.
Project: Turning a spare room into a dream walk-in closet.
Why: If your current closet is too small or poorly organized, or your clothes are distributed all around the house, a closet conversion could be just the ticket.
Things to consider: Almost any space can be turned into a closet, although the task will be easier if the room is a standard rectangle or square.
While windows can provide welcome illumination and ventilation, too much sun can fade clothes, and too many windows can reduce the amount of wall space available.
Closet systems fall into two basic types: wall mounted and floor mounted. Wall-mounted closets are affixed directly to the wall or hung from a rail mounted onto the wall.
Floor-mounted closets are attached to the wall as well, but get most of their support from the floor. For that reason they tend to look more like built-in cabinetry.
Which closet system you choose will depend largely on two factors: looks and budget.
Wall-mounted closet systems are usually less costly, combining coated-wire baskets and racks with hanging wood shelves for a look that tends to be more contemporary and utilitarian. Floor-mounted closet systems are usually more expensive, and are typically made from particleboard panels covered with melamine. Depending on the design, finish and trim, floor-mounted closets can be adapted to nearly any style of decor, and tend to look more integrated into the architecture of the home. There’s no inherent difference in quality or durability between wall- and floor-mounted systems.
A basic closet system features rods for short, long and medium-length hung items; shallow drawers for underwear, socks and belts; deeper drawers for sweaters and T-shirts; and open shelves for shoes and sweats. Few customers stop there, however. One pole and one shelf doesn’t work for most people. Customers often opt for jewelry racks, belt and tie storage, charging stations, safes and, increasingly, twin hampers — one for laundry, another for dry cleaning.
Valet rods are a very popular feature right now; these hooks extend out to hold dry cleaning, clothes for packing or the next day’s wardrobe. People don’t just want closets anymore, they want dressing rooms.
Closet lighting has also evolved in recent years, with LED strip lighting augmenting or replacing recessed cans or track lighting. LEDs use less electricity, produce less heat and can be surface mounted and plugged in, so they don’t require ceiling access.
Who to hire: If you’re concerned about maximizing space or making the results look good, consider hiring an expert to make your dream walk-in closet come to life. An experienced closet designer knows how to get the most out of a space. If you’re uncertain about what you need and how much it might cost, schedule a free consultation from a company like Austin-Morgan Closets in Phoenix, AZ.