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It is good to get ideas from books and magazines but ultimately the closet has to reflect you and your needs. So, that being said here are some questions you should answer before starting your closet by design:
Closet by Design Questions
- What is the main purpose of the closet?
- What things besides clothes would you like to keep there?
- Is this closet being shared with anyone else in the family?
- How tall are you?
- How high can you reach with and without a hanger?
- Do you tend to fold or hang things?
- Do you have a routine you follow everyday?
- Do you travel frequently and like to have your luggage nearby?
- What accessories must you keep in your closet?
- What is your career - casual or formal?
- What hobbies do you have and do they impact any special clothes you buy?
These are just a few questions to start you on your way. Take them seriously and think about the answers. The time you spend could save you time and money and result in a better closet.
Now on to some numbers. A closet by design must adapt not only to your lifestyle but also to your belongings. Knowing what you have and how much space you need help you in your design.
Start by knowing what you have. In order to make this process easy for you I have created an inventory list. Go through your closet and fill in the blanks. Once you know what you have we will move on to how to alot space in your design.
You can print out this page and use it to help you do your own closet inventory. The inventory is divided up into men's and women's.
Quick Tip: These lists are designed to be filled in after you are done cleaning out your closet. Also when measuring an item measure from the top of the hanger to the bottom of the garment. In each colum it is best to write the LARGEST measurement obtained from all of the items in that category. This can be the tedious part of planning a closet by design but the outcome will be well worth it.
Planning a closet by design is sometimes difficult because you can't figure out what type of shelves, poles, drawers etc. that you will need. The best way to accomplish this is to complete an inventory list. Then you know what type of clothes you have and how many. Only then can you plan your space. So, check out the inventory list below to help you in this process.
Women's Inventory List
Hanging Items
| ITEM | LENGTH OF ITEM | TOTAL # OF ITEMS |
|---|---|---|
| Suites | ||
| With Pants | ||
| With Skirts | ||
| Dress Skirts | ||
| Long | ||
| Short | ||
| Casual Skirts | ||
| Long | ||
| Short | ||
| Dress Pants | ||
| Casual Pants | ||
| Jeans | ||
| Shorts | ||
| Dress Shirts | ||
| Long | ||
| Short | ||
| Casual Shirts | ||
| Long | ||
| Short | Formal Dresses | |
| Long | ||
| Short | ||
| Casual Dresses | ||
| Long | ||
| Short | ||
| Formal Coats | ||
| Casual coats | ||
| Exercise Clothes | Robes | |
| Nightgowns | ||
| Other | ||
| Other |
Folded Items
| ITEM | FOLDED SIZE | TOTAL # OF ITEMS |
|---|---|---|
| Sweatshirts | ||
| Sweatpants | ||
| Sweaters | ||
| T-Shirts | ||
| Shorts | ||
| Knit Dresses | ||
| Knit Skirts | ||
| Swimsuits | ||
| Pajamas | ||
| Nightgowns | ||
| Sleeping Lingerie | ||
| Slips | ||
| Long | ||
| Short | ||
| Bras | ||
| Underwear | ||
| Pantyhose | ||
| Socks | ||
| Dress | ||
| Casual |
Accessories
| ITEM | SIZE L×W×H |
TOTAL # OF ITEMS |
|---|---|---|
| Luggage | ||
| Large | ||
| Small | ||
| Briefcases | ||
| Shoes | ||
| High Heels | ||
| Casual | ||
| Slippers | ||
| Sports | Boots | |
| Belts | ||
| Scarves | ||
| Shawls | ||
| Hats | ||
| Gloves | ||
| Handbags | ||
| Everyday | ||
| Evening | ||
| Large Totes | ||
| Jewelry | ||
| Watches | ||
| Necklaces | ||
| Bracelets | ||
| Rings | ||
| Earrings | ||
| Other | ||
| Other |
Men's Inventory List
Hanging Items
| ITEM | VERTICAL SPACE | TOTAL # OF ITEMS |
|---|---|---|
| Suits | ||
| Tuxedos | ||
| Dress Shirts | ||
| Casual Shirts | ||
| Dress Pants/Slacks | ||
| Casual Pants | ||
| Casual Tops | ||
| Jeans | ||
| Shorts | ||
| Formal Coats | ||
| Casual Jackets | ||
| Exercise Clothes | ||
| Other |
Folded Items
| ITEM | FOLDED SIZE L×W×H |
TOTAL # OF ITEMS |
|---|---|---|
| Sweatshirts | ||
| Sweatpants | ||
| T-Shirts | ||
| Shorts | ||
| Pajamas | ||
| Sweaters | ||
| Underwear | ||
| Socks | ||
| Swimtrunks | ||
| Other | ||
| Other |
Accessories
| ITEM | SIZE L×W×H |
TOTAL # OF ITEMS |
|---|---|---|
| Luggage | ||
| Large | ||
| Small | ||
| Briefcases | ||
| Ties | ||
| Shoes | ||
| Casual | ||
| Formal | ||
| Exercise | ||
| Boots | ||
| Belts | ||
| Scarves | ||
| Hats | ||
| Gloves | ||
| Jewelry | ||
| Watches | ||
| Cuff Links | ||
| Other | ||
| Other | ||
| Other |
So, whether you are organizing your closet by yourself or using a professional organizer or space planner this is must have information in order to build your best closet by design.
If you want the best results you must take the time to ask yourself the questions, do the inventory and plan the space. In the end you can really get an organized, functional closet space that you can enjoy for years. So, put the effort in the beginning and enjoy the best closet by design in the end.
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