Small Closet, Big Impact: Making the Most of Your Space with a Custom Reach-In Closet

There’s no reason to feel discouraged if you don’t have a walk-in closet! Reach-in closets might be small but they can still make a big impact when they’re designed custom. And a custom reach-in closet might just be something that’s easier to achieve than you ever thought before. 

There are plenty of different design considerations to be made when creating a custom reach-in closet, not to mention some fantastic organization tips that will help you to get the most out of it. The good news? We’re here today to cover each of those topics so you can get a true understanding of what we mean when we say “small closet, big impact.”

Design Considerations for Custom Reach-In Closets

First things first when it comes to designing a custom reach-in closet is what types of features you might include to get the best closet possible. Here are some of the things you may want to take into consideration.

The space in the home

The first consideration to make in terms of custom reach-in closet design is what space the closet will be in. Your closet should be tailored based on where it will be and what it will be used for.

For example, in a kid’s bedrooms, you might need extra space for books and toys or even smaller clothing and shoes. An adult’s bedroom on the other hand may need storage for longer formal wear or things like jewellery and ties.

Drawers for optimized storage

One thing regular reach-in closets are often missing is drawers. However, drawers can make for dresser-like functionality in your closet which comes with tons of impressive benefits!

You won’t need to get a separate dresser and your clothes will all stay in one area. Your items are also kept out of sight which means a clutter free space. You can also store your smaller items like socks and underwear in your drawers and save a ton of space while you’re at it.

Closet accessory installation

Pullouts are awesome for keeping your clothing and accessories organized in a reach-in closet. Even if you can’t see everything at first glance in your reach-in closet, you’ll be able to pull out certain sections in order to see your things up close and personal.

Pullouts come in all different shapes and sizes. They can be used for shoes, pants, scarves, belts, and more. A valet rod is also another convenient feature to consider. It allows you to hang items quickly for when you’re doing things like packing or want to see what a particular outfit looks like hung up.

Extra shelving

More shelving is always better, right? And it’s something that’s totally possible when it comes to designing a custom reach-in closet.

Shelves can be added below your hanging rods, horizontally, or even in the vertical space up above your hanging rods. And shelves are especially great because they’re so versatile. You can store your shoes and bags or even your folded items like pants and t-shirts.

Lighting considerations

Lighting is definitely something you want to take into consideration when it comes to designing a custom reach-in closet. If you can’t see what’s in your closet then it likely isn’t going to be functional. Think about what natural lighting you have to work with and whether or not additional lighting is needed.

LED lights are fantastic for helping to brighten up the inside of your closet. They also add a luxurious touch to the space.

Built-in functionality

Another thing you might consider adding to your custom reach-in closet is built-in functionality. That could be a laundry basket where you can conveniently throw all of your dirty clothes. This will help your closet to remain aesthetic while also staying functional.

You might also go for a built-in ironing board you can quickly pull out. This is handy for when you have minor touch ups to do or don’t feel like venturing all the way to your laundry room to get your ironing done.

Hanging sections

Having separate hanging sections is a great way to organize your clothing. Having one hanging rod above another is also an effective way to make the most of your space. You can hang all of your shirts up top and all of your pants on the bottom rack.

You’ll double your storage with this design option.

Separate shoe storage

Shoes can be difficult to store in a reach-in closet. But it’s something totally possible. Get separate shoe storage so you have a place that’s dedicated solely to your shoes.

You might add shoe shelves to the bottom of your reach-in closet, or use the space up above the hanging rod in your closet. No matter where you might choose to store your shoes, having a dedicated spot will help you to make the most of your reach-in closet.

Vertical storage

You want to use every inch of space in your reach-in closet. That means taking advantage of vertical space.

Ensure your top shelf is as high up as possible so you don’t end up wasting any precious space above it. You can stack piles of clothes there or add bins to help keep your things organized.

Organization Tips for Custom Reach-In Closets

Once you have a custom reach-in closet complete with all your favorite design features, you’ll want to ensure you keep it organized. However, sometimes that’s a bit easier said than done! Here are some of our best organization tips specifically for custom reach-in closets.

1. Stack some boxes

Boxes are the perfect way to separate out your items. You can even label them so you know exactly what’s being stored and where.

Keep stacked boxes to a maximum of two so you don’t need to put too much effort in if you need the bottom box. You don’t want to have to move a bunch of items in order to get whatever it is you need.

2. Utilize hanging baskets

Another good idea is to add hanging baskets to your reach-in closet. Hanging baskets are especially ideal for those who have a large accessory or shoe collection as the smaller compartments will help you to stay organized more easily.

They’re also super easy to modify if you want to make some changes to your organization system later on.

3. Add hooks to your door

Hooks are another handy addition to your reach-in closet sure to help you keep things tidy. They can be added to the back or front of your closet doors depending on the style of them. Add more clothing, belts, scarves, or even bags to the hooks and save yourself a ton of space in the process.

4. Pack away seasonal attire

While building a custom reach-in closet will allow for a lot more storage space, you might still consider storing away your seasonal attire. That means putting your summer clothes into storage during the winter and your winter clothes into storage during the summer. 

While it might not always be ideal to not have everything in your closet, having less to sort through will make organization a lot easier.

5. Get rid of unworn clothing

It might seem like a no-brainer, but clearing out the items you don’t wear is going to be a huge help when it comes to organization. 

Take the time to consider what you do and don’t wear and what types of things you can do without. Unworn clothing can always be passed along to a family member or friend or donated. Someone else is sure to love having something that might just be taking up space in your closet otherwise.

6. Hang outfits together

If you’re limited on hanging space you might consider hanging your outfits on one single hanger. This can help reduce the amount of space you take up on a rod. Not to mention can save you a ton of time when it comes to choosing your outfits.

What could be better than grabbing a single hanger in order to get dressed in the morning? Save yourself some space and time.

The Benefits of Hiring a Professional

At the end of the day, the best thing you can do when creating a custom reach-in closet is to hire a professional! When you hire Coastal Closets and Showers for the job, you’ll get a free consultation where you can meet with our designer to view your space. We’ll get an understanding of how we can meet your needs and bring your vision to life.

From there, our design team will work to create a 3D rendering of your new space and will start constructing and manufacturing each of the necessary parts upon your approval. We then go through the installation process and provide you with some outstanding results.

You truly can’t go wrong when it comes to hiring a professional for all of your custom closet needs. Ready to get started? Contact us today!