Getting Along With Your Not-So-Nice Small Closet.

Love your closet now.

Getting Along With Your Not-So-Nice Small Closet.

By Alfonsina Romero

Most of us are victims of overly dysfunctional closets, particularly if you are a city dweller and your apartment is, well, small. Not only are the closets typically undersized, but they are also claustrophobic, awkwardly shaped, dark, and scary. The good news is you are not alone, and after applying a few of the tips below, you and your small closet will have smooth sailing without the need for further therapy. The first step is acceptance.

1. Acceptance: Take a look at your desperate closet.  Love it and accept it for what it is, for its size and dysfunctional ways. In terms of focusing your attention on the space, closets may not seem as significant as the rest of the rooms in the house, but they are important and you need to come to terms with that. In fact they are the most neglected space in a residence. They need dedication, investment and thought.  Once you cater to your “closet’s needs”, your needs will surely be met as well.
2. Closets are rooms too: As small as they are. We are going to put an end to those days when all the mess in the room gets tossed in the closet “really quick.” Don’t do that. Your new awareness will now result in the following quote not applying to you: “A clean room is a sign of a cluttered closet”, but rather “A clean closet is a sign of my perfectly organized mind.”
3. Depth:   Moving forward with the hands-on part of this program, we will create an illusion in your closet with color and contrast. If the shelves and paneling you are using are typically white, or any light color, consider splashing some darker hues on the walls, like a gray or dark blue. The contrast allows the white to pop out, creating an illusion of depth.  You may do the opposite with light paint if you closet furniture is black or a dark oak color. Seeing a darker color in the background does not reveal clutter as intensly as the  light/ white backgrounds. This is  a proven fact and the same thing applies to bookshelves. One of my other favorite topics.                                                                
4. All that empty ceiling space: It is imperative not to allow an inch of space go to waste because of bad space planning. If you have the opportunity, definitely ask a professional interior designer for advice regarding space planning, to achieve ideal results and avoid costly mistakes. Build higher, and leave about 12-16” of space from the top of the closet to the ceiling. It will save space, keeps items from getting cramped and tossed around, helping you stay more organized. Think vertically; the ceiling is part of this too.
5. Elements: A typical, pedestrian closet consists of a long rod and long shelf over it- and then a closet with so much potential get lost in the abyss of the “typical”. It goes to waste. Think about dividing your closet in sections. Instead of having a selfish rod run all the way through,split it in half, placing one over the other and creating a double hang. The good news is that it holds as much as the long selfish rod would! On another section, consider shelving, drawers or baskets, depending on your storage needs. Some closet systems offer versatile design solutions, with adjustability,  giving you the green light to change your mind, without driving yourself crazy.  Be in control of your closet and don’t forget that you can also add organizational accessories to facilitate your access to things. One of my favorite accessories is the 'valet rod'. It’s one of those “ooooh and ahhhhh, where did you get that?” pieces because the valet rod stores inside the unit when not in use and slides out. It’s useful to hang your dry-cleaning, a shirt you would like to steam, tomorrow’s outfit, or simply a handbag.  The Valet rod is useful, respectful, non invasive and keeps things off the floor. There are also sliding racks, that slide from the panneling as well, holding items like belts, scarves and ties. These storage tools are ideal and vital in a small closet (which you love very much) as they keep things in place and organized.  While you search for useful accessories in your closet, I recommend having a tray or a small drawer fixed in the unit where you can place items you always carry with you in a handbag, so you have everything there for the bag you are going to use tomorrow. (This is if you are like me, I like to give all 37 of my handbags an equal opportunity to go out). This practical tip ensures that you won’t end up explaining to the doorman at the bar that you left your ID in your “other bag.” Steel baskets which slide out like drawers have graceful features that drawers don’t. They are see-through and come in different sizes. Typically fixed at the bottom of a closet unit, they come in handy to store flip flops, causal handbags, maybe sneakers, socks, and if you get a larger basket, you can use it for your dirty laundry. Small baskets can even be placed in a coat closet to hold scarves, hats, the collection of gloves, single or in pairs, and other winter items.
6. Lights: We often underestimate the importance of lighting in a closet. Consider simple track lights or flushed lights. Lighting can also be added within the unit. A good idea is to install an LED lighting beneath the system (as long as its wall-hung) so it glows! Get creative with the lighting, think outside the lightbulb. Think outside the shoe strings that hangs from the light bulb to turn the light on and off, until it breaks, and then you have no light. Track  lights fixed over the unit shining down or individual ones inside one of the top shelves can create a look that your firends with a single light bulb will envy.

Your closet will get well soon!

Consult with a professional to get the closet of your dreams! Big, small, awkward- you should always love your closet, maintain it, and treat it like a room of the household.