Make limited space work harder

Why a standard rod and shelf wastes space

Most reach-in closets come with one rod and one shelf. That leaves the lower half of the closet empty under short clothes, the top shelf too deep to see what is at the back, and the corners behind the door frame hard to reach. A custom system fixes each of these: a second rod below short-hang clothing, shelves sized to what they hold, and corner areas used for items you need less often.

What fits in a reach-in closet

With careful planning, even a compact closet can hold:

• double-hang sections for shirts, blouses and trousers;
• a long-hang section for dresses and coats;
• a drawer stack for folded items and accessories — when the door opening and depth allow;
• shoe shelves;
• upper storage for seasonal items and bags.

Doors: keep, replace or remove

The door changes how usable the closet is. Bifold and sliding doors only open part of the width at a time, so we plan the interior around the real opening. In some homes, new sliding doors — or removing the doors and treating the closet as an open, finished niche — gives easier access and a cleaner look. We discuss the options during the consultation.

Built for everyday use

Reach-in closets get used every day, so we usually recommend durable melamine for the interior and soft-close hardware for drawers. Wood-veneer fronts with a factory lacquer finish are available when the closet is open to the room.