How to Maximize Bedroom Closet Space
The basic bedroom closet is typically less than ideal for storing clothes and accessories. Learn how to maximize closet space in this House & Home video:
The average bedroom closet has 8-ft ceilings and is about 8-10 ft wide with a single hanging rod. Most of your wardrobe, however, probably does not consist of full-length ball gowns, so that space is not being used effectively. If you don’t want to invest too much money, leave a little bit of long hanging, then bring in a dresser or a cubby for shoes and install a tension rod between there and the far wall. That way, you’ll get double hanging for most of the space. You can use the dresser for ordinary items like underwear and socks or for out-of-season clothing.
If you have a little bit more money to spend, put in a closet system or a panel. Or you can let the upper rod continue and tie in a lower rod as well. The upper rod should have a little more space than the lower rod. You can also add in some shelves for shoes below the lower rod or shelves for infrequently used items and guest linens above the upper rod as well.
The average hanger is about 18 inches side to side. You’ll want to allow for enough space for bulky clothing, so hang your rod a minimum of 10 inches from the back of the closet. That means that 20 inches is the absolute minimum interior size for a bedroom closet.
An average recommendation for a taller rod would be 72 inches off the ground. For your upper rod, if you’re hanging double, you’ll want to leave 42 inches for shorter dresses, men’s sports coats, and long dress shirts. The recommended height for a lower hanging rod is 26-30 inches to allow for pants folded over hangers or longer skirts. If you’re planning on having shoe shelves, you’ll need to allow 6-9 inches clearance per shelf.
A nice finishing touch is a valet rod which mounts pointing outward and allows you to display one chosen outfit that you can inspect, steam or accessorize for the next day.
If you need more storage space, get a bed with built-in storage or trundle Rubbermaids that slide underneath the bed frame, or go with a small dresser rather than a nightstand. A custom closet system can also help optimize your storage.
