When my parents found out that each room that they wanted to have classified as a bedroom had to have a closet, they were a little perplexed. Sure, they had essentially built their dream home from scratch, but they had done so mostly by using clever expansion techniques. But the trick had then become about dividing up existing space without suffocating or shrinking the bedrooms themselves.

So, if you ever find yourself in this predicament, it will be helpful to know good techniques for reorganization and how to best utilize the storage space–that which you are creating and that which you already have.

The first step would be to do some good old-fashioned spring cleaning (no matter what the season!). It may seem to be a daunting task if you haven’t done it in awhile, but you are bound to find clothes and accessories that have become outdated, outgrown (or, if you are lucky enough, have become too large), or simply out of your own taste.

Once you have sorted through any pieces that just need to be thrown away (clothing that is stained or full of holes; accessories that are broken), be sure to donate the rest to charity for a quick pick-me-up. Not only have you freed up valuable space, but you have helped the needy. Pat yourself on the back and then get back to work!

Next, it may help you to take measurements of the potential closet space and then draw out a diagram of how you plan to use it. Will you install shelving units? How much space will be left beneath them, or even above them? This will help you decide what can be stored where.

You should also take time to decide what exactly will be stored inside this closet. This will particularly help you in the planning stages because you can decide if it is more important to have hanging space for clothing or if there should be extensive shelving for the family’s stash of board games.

Creating cubby holes for shoes can be a smart move so that they don’t end up in a smelly pile on the floor of the closet. However, if you know you don’t intend to store shoes within, do not waste the time or materials in building a special unit for them.

While planning out how to best utilize your closet space, consider its depth. If you need hanging space but lack the closet length you might hope for, consider designing it so that it is slightly deeper. This way, you can strategically place two parallel hanging bars within the closet in order to accommodate extra clothing that needs to be hung up inside.

What is most fortunate about trying to work a closet into an existing room is that you don’t have to do it alone! There are tons of professional designers out there that can help you so that you can maximize the space you have. So, if you find yourself stuck, or just want someone to make the whole process easier, do a little research and find someone to step in to help!

Capitol Closet Design (http://www.capitolclosets.com) is your source for high quality
Washington, DC closet design at affordable prices. Art Gib is a freelance writer.

[tags]Washington DC Closet Design, Washington DC Closet Organizers, Washington DC Custom Closets[/tags]