Does Your Walk-In Closet Have Room for an Island?
An island turns a walk-in closet into a dressing room, but only if the room can take it. Here is how we decide.
A closet island is the piece most people picture when they imagine a dressing room: a central block of drawers with a top for folding clothes, laying out an outfit or putting down a bag. It adds a lot of storage and makes the room feel finished. It can also make a walk-in feel cramped if the room is not big enough. Here is how we decide.
Start with the aisle, not the island
The island has to leave room to move. As a working rule, we want about three feet of clear floor between the island and the storage on each side, so you can stand, open drawers and walk around without turning sideways. Hanging clothes take about two feet of depth, shelves for folded clothes less.
So the question is simple: after the storage on each wall and a comfortable aisle all around, is there still room for an island of useful size? If yes, it is worth considering. If the aisle gets squeezed, more storage on the walls is the better choice.
What goes in a closet island
- Drawers for folded clothes, underwear, socks and accessories. This is the island's main job.
- A top for folding laundry and laying out clothes. A glass top with display drawers below works well for watches and jewelry.
- Open shelves at the ends for bags or shoes you want to see.
On Ethel Ave. in North Hollywood, the walk-in uses white melamine cabinetry on several walls, with open shelving, built-in drawers and hanging sections, and a central island with additional drawer storage. The island adds capacity without pushing more cabinets onto the walls.
When to skip the island
- A narrow room. If the room is long and narrow, storage on both long walls is more useful than an island in the middle.
- A door in the middle of a wall. The island has to line up with the door and the aisles; a door in an awkward place can make that impossible.
- You want more hanging. An island holds folded items. If your wardrobe is mostly hanging, the walls should get priority.
In many of our walk-ins, a drawer tower against a wall does the job of an island in less floor space, as on Peach Ave. in Lake Balboa.
Details that make an island work
- Same finish as the walls, so the room reads as one design.
- Soft-close drawers of different heights: shallow at the top for small items, deeper below.
- Lighting above or inside the island so you can see what you are choosing. See closet lighting.
See more on our dressing rooms and walk-in closets pages.
Frequently asked questions
How big does a walk-in closet need to be for an island?
It depends on what goes on the walls. We start with the storage depth on each side and about three feet of clear aisle around the island; if a useful island still fits, it is worth considering.
Can a closet island have a seat?
Yes. An end of the island can be left open for a bench or stool, which is handy for putting on shoes.
Can you add an island to an existing closet?
Often, yes, if the room has the clearance. We measure and show you the layout with and without the island before you decide.
