A creative closet is where organization and functionality meet style and design. Efficient use of closet space utilizes built-ins, rods, shelving, drawers, and more to create clever storage areas.
When creating a built-in closet, personalization is of utmost importance. Do you have a lot of shoes that need a home? There are solutions for that. Do you iron often? Perhaps a built-in ironing board is a good idea. If you have a lot of jewelry, you may want a few jewelry drawers built into your closet. There are many closet built-in ideas that can accentuate your space and tailor it to your needs. At ShelfGenie®, there is nothing we love more than creative space transformations. Ranging from nifty add-ons to total makeovers, here are our favorite built-in closet ideas.
Built-In Closet Ideas That Create Space
1. Modular Shelves
Design your built-in wardrobe with designated space for your shoes and bags. Modular shelves offer tons of flexibility and allow you to make creative changes without much investment. From wire to wood shelves, they are entirely customizable to fit your storage needs and aesthetic preferences.
2. Adjustable Rods & Shelves
Adjustable rods can be raised or lowered according to your storage needs. This allows you to organize everything from pants and skirts to jackets and sweaters more efficiently. You may also want to add another rod or a few extra shelves to any closet to double your hanging space.
3. Bi-Fold Doors
Bi-fold doors are an alternative to sliding doors that work especially well for smaller built-in closets. These doors have the potential to be a great focal point in the room. Pick from modern raised wood panels, funky accordion, or classic French-style glass bi-fold doors to match your interior.
4. Vertical Layers
Add a layer of additional storage behind your sliding door for items you want to keep hidden away. This handy solution can be applied to any other furniture that allows for the installation of sliding doors.
5. Customize Existing Storage Space
Make room for the items that matter to you by designing your built-in closet to fit into other storage spaces, such as spare cabinets. Any space can function like a closet if it is adapted effectively.
6. Glass-Fronted Drawers
Jewelry and other delicate items are often kept in drawers where they are thought to be safe and secure. But it’s easy for that drawer to turn into chaos. Switch out the solid drawers for ones with a glass front to give yourself a clear view of your valuables.
7. Gliding Shelves
Make your morning rush less stressful by adding gliding shelves to your routine. Custom gliding shelves give you full access to every single cubby in your built-in closet, making things easier to reach and much more efficient.
8. Shoe Rack
Keep your beloved shoe collection neatly organized and protected with a built-in shoe rack. The racks can be designed with slanted shelving or individual cubbies to display shoes. ShelfGenie can make custom shoe fences tailored to store all of your shoes, from tall boots to athletic shoes.
9. Built-In Laundry Hamper
Incorporate a laundry hamper pull-out into your closet that can be divided into sections like lights and darks or laundry and dry cleaning. Tilt-out hampers are cabinets hinged at the bottom that allow you to easily toss in dirty clothes. For limited space, hamper bags attach to hooks or rods and allow you to sort different laundry off the floor.
10. Pull-Out Ironing Board
If ironing is important to you and you have enough closet space, incorporating a pull-out ironing board with your closet is a great idea. These pull-out ironing boards are easily accessible when needed, but they’re hidden away when not in use.
Beautiful Accents for Your Built-In Closet
11. Task Lighting
Quality lighting can change the entire look of your built-in closet. Play around with different lighting elements and wattages to set the mood you desire in your closet. Task lighting focuses light on a specific area of your closet, like the dressing area or jewelry display. LED track lights are popular for illuminating the entire closet, while a softer recessed light can put your favorite bags or shoe collection in the spotlight.
12. Fresh Materials
From fabrics to woods, changing the material of your built-in closet can instantly update the look and feel of the space. When in doubt, go for a timeless material in neutral colors such as gray suede or beech wood.
13. Glass Partitions
A custom built-in closet idea doesn’t have to be separated from the rest of the room. If space is tight, try a glass partition instead of a traditional door. If you can afford it, leave a little extra room to emulate the feel of a mini walk-in closet. With everything in plain sight, you will have added motivation to keep your wardrobe neat and tidy.
14. Corner Closet
Corner closets are ideal for rooms with irregular alcoves and walls without purpose. Why not measure that space and brainstorm a custom built-in closet idea? Making use of odd corners also adds a unique geometrical shape to the closet that will be a style statement in itself.
15. Wrapped Closet
Built-in closets don’t have to fit into a single wall. Customize your closet to wrap around the corner of two walls for a seamless look. Corner shelves are incredibly useful for maximizing space, and they look great, too.
16. Mirror Sliding Doors
Maximize your space with sleek sliding mirror closet doors that provide easy access to your built-in closet. There are many stunning design options when picking a sliding door, but a mirror door can give even the smallest of rooms the illusion of spaciousness.
Get Organized
17. Wicker Baskets
Wicker baskets are “in” for the summer. It should be easy to find one that fits in the top or bottom shelves of your built-in closet, as these chic storage solutions come in all shapes and sizes. They are especially useful for keeping bulky items such as bedding and winter clothing out of sight.
18. Dividers
Putting dividers in drawers is a great way to keep your underwear and socks organized with minimal effort. You’ll be able to quickly find what you’re looking for, and it will be easy to identify when you’re running low and need to do a load of laundry.
Bring Your Built-In Closet Ideas to Life
We hope you found these creative storage ideas helpful. Whether you use some or all of our creative built-in closet ideas, we’re happy to help. Helping you keep your home and personal items organized is what we do. ShelfGenie serves select markets in North America by implementing innovative custom built-in closet ideas and creating storage solutions for an extensive range of household needs. All of our work is backed by the Neighborly Done Right Promise™, which guarantees customer satisfaction. Find your local ShelfGenie and schedule a free consultation with one of our designers to evaluate your home and help you get the most out of your space.