It’s every girl’s fantasy—a walk-in closet that looks so organized and stylish it could be mistaken for the inside of a designer boutique. Unfortunately, that ideal is far from reality when it comes to the overstuffed sliding door closets most people put up with.
For those willing to put forth the effort, however, a dream closet may not be entirely out of reach. With the help of a general contractor, remodeling an existing closet can be done in as little as a weekend. And thanks to the rapidly expanding market of readymade closet organization systems, turning a fantasy closet into reality has never been easier or more cost effective.
Before moving ahead with any closet remodeling project, however, consider a few factors.
Pick a Style
Working with a general contractor gives homeowners the chance to make their wildest closet fantasies come true. From specialty made dressers to glass-top jewelry cases, no dream is out of reach when a professional contractor is involved.
Before a homeowner can get to this step, however, he has to know what their overall aesthetic is, and what the desired look of the closet should be. For some people, this inspiration doesn’t come intrinsically, which is why spending time researching available options by looking at remodeling books and trade publications—Closets magazine is an especially well regarded choice—is often the best place to start.
Assess the Situation
To get the clearest picture of what should happen in your closet remodel, the Association of Closet and Storage Professionals advises first taking everything out of your closet. Once the things that don’t belong there—such as torn clothing or sports equipment—have been taken away, you may find that more space is available than you thought.
Whatever the assessment may be, it is best to figure out just how much your closet needs to hold before moving forward in the process, since that will determine the types of shelving, hanger rods, and storage containers that will need to be purchased for the space.
Consider Size
One of the biggest factors in determining how much can be done with a closet is the space’s size. Few homeowners are willing to break down walls into spare bedrooms to make room for a bigger closet, which is why it is generally preferable to work within the area that is already there. In fact, by maximizing space with a new closet storage system, homeowners can get the feel of a much larger room without adding any additional square footage.
Knowing the exact size of the closet will also be an important tool when consulting general contractor and shelving makers, since they will both need to know the dimensions of the space before making or ordering any custom products.
Get the Right Products
When it comes to remodeling a closet, not just any storage product will do. For the best outcome—especially when working within a tight space—check out multipurpose storage solutions that can double as—for example—winter clothing storage and extra seating.
Lighting is another element to consider since the lightness or darkness of a closet can greatly impact the overall feel of spaciousness. Although everyone has different tastes, it is generally advised that homeowners go with brighter lighting in the closet than they would in other areas of the house, since it can be difficult to see everything with only a few dim sconces.
Hire a Pro
Not all general contractors know what they are doing when it comes to remodeling a closet. While bathrooms and kitchens are heavily remodeled, it is rare that a contractor gets a closet remodeling job. Because of this, many contractors may have little or no experience working in such tight spaces.
For the best chances of success, the Association of Closet and Storage Professionals recommends only hiring a contractor who is licensed and insured. Although it is not absolutely necessary that the contractor be familiar with closet installation techniques, it is preferable. However, contractors with experience installing cabinetry generally have enough skills to take on a closet remodel in the majority of cases.
Another way of saving costs without sacrificing the integrity of the closet is by selecting and purchasing a closet system on your own and hiring a general contractor to handle the installation only. For this to work, homeowners need to know the exact dimensions of the closet space, in addition to which products they’ll need to buy for the project.
Not only does hiring a contractor to handle the installation save money on construction costs, but it can also save you money on the closet storage system itself since it is almost always possibly to buy cabinetry at a discount from big box retailers or through outlets online.
