Closet dilemma

10 years ago

We are struggling to come up with a way t organize our closet. The side walls are only 5'2" high. It is standard 8' at the ceiling with 27" of full isle height before ceiling tapers.
Depth is 15' and width is 7'. There is a door at one of the long ends and a window at the other end. What the heck should I do with this sad little space? The lack of height means my wife can't hang any of her long dresses at all without them dragging on the floor. I thought about a built in chest of drawers at the end under the window with cascading dress hangers on each side of the window but that's about the only idea I have. Help! Sorry for the messy picture - the existing shelving gave way when we were moving in.

Featured Answer

apple_pie_order

10 years ago

Take a full length dress on a hanger and hold it up next to the window to see how far up the hanger needs to go., with some clearance for vacuuming beneath it. Run some blue tape at that height across both sides of the window to represent a new rod. Your new closet shelves on each long wall need to end at least four feet away from the window wall to allow enough space to stand there and put hangers in and out. Elfa makes good systems.

Here's the general idea, replacing shelves on window wall with a rod.

Cambridge Closets · More Info

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

acm
10 years ago
A closet designer should be able to work wonders in here -- shelves for sweaters under the window, lots of hanging rods. This is a really big space, but you may have to narrow it a bit by hanging things higher up the slope to get more height for double rods and full-length hangers. They'll have ideas for what's possible.

(As a last resort, you could close up the window, which would allow you to turn the corner with high rods...)
auntthelma
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
For dresses, put a hanging pole across the end at the height of the top of the window. Then visit a closet organizer store and purchase modular pieces. A corner piece on each side of the window will give you ample shelf storage. You can get smaller shelves to act as base for more hanging poles. You can also find matching drawers and show or jewelry storage.

You may need a consultation. they are expensive, but a well organized closet is the ultimate luxury.
Related Professionals
Decatur Interior Designers & Decorators · El Dorado Interior Designers & Decorators · Sarasota Interior Designers & Decorators · Laconia Interior Designers & Decorators · Grand Junction Interior Designers & Decorators · Lagrange Interior Designers & Decorators · McAlester Architects & Building Designers · Longview Architects & Building Designers · Potsdam Architects & Building Designers · Kahului Architects & Building Designers · Belleville Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Texarkana Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Marquette Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Duluth Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Rutland Kitchen & Bathroom Designers
PRO
User
10 years ago
Maybe try something like this from one of our designs? Hang clothes on one side and do storage shelves on the other.
Transitional Closet · More Info

Condo Renovation - Waterfront. · More Info
User
10 years ago
User
10 years ago
User
10 years ago
for attaching to sloping ceilings
PRO
User
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Pretty common problem. Quick sketch shows enough height to fit long hang rod at about 70" high behind door. One section done like that, and rest of closet with sections of short hanging rods low with shelf or two above, and shelf stacks as needed.
PRO
Artisan Custom Closets
10 years ago
A custom closet company could easily make great use of your space. The closet is plenty long enough to utilize the wall with the window for long hang with drawers under the window as you mentioned. We would add two sections of hang at each side of the window (one shorter section at the lower roof line on each side and the second stepped up higher closer to the top of the window to allow the needed height for dresses). Most people don't need a huge amount of long hang. Also, we'd suggest lowering the rods down the sides and adding shelves above. Since you really only need 42-48" for single hang in a typical closet, there's space to add a shelf or two for sweaters, etc over the hanging clothes. You could add shoe shelves by the door to prevent having to put shoes on the floor under the clothes. Hope that helps! Good Luck!