What I find works well for a walk-in closet is a seven foot wide space with clothes hanging on either side, as long as you need it. Door at one end leading to the bedroom (NOT bathroom) and a small window at the other end. Do not turn a corner with hanging clothes.

Take a look at The Container Store website at their ELFA closet systems. It might give some ideas for layouts. I used them in my last house and need to plan some for our new house soon.

They have some photos on Houzz too:

Closet · More Info

Modern Closet · More Info

Thank you Chip and Mark.

I just spoke to an Elfa representative and think that may be the way to go.

Hanging clothes take up 22-24" of space perpendicular to the wall, so you need at least 5' of width to have one side of hanging clothes with a comfortable walkway, or 7' of width for clothes hanging on 2 sides. Your Z shaped closet has limited space that's 5'+ wide.

I agree with a closet design company. California Closets, closet factory, etc. are some others.

However I would say that you may want to see what else you can do with your space. As you have it currently, in the first section you have 5' of hanging on one wall, and maybe 4' on the other wall. In the back portion you have 4.5' of hanging only, for a total of 13.5' hanging space. The rest of the space needs to be shallower storage to provide sufficient space to move, but that storage would be limited to maybe the 7' of wall to the window.

The original had 14' of hanging and 14' of shallow storage. So you lose storage with this layout.

Also, consider a pocket door instead of an inswing door.

What did the "architect" have in mind?

Don't just take the single measurements of a wall. A 5' section for hanging is 10' if you do double hanging rods or like the one photo, you can have 5' of hanging above and 5' of drawers below. A friend designed her Elfa closet virtually with an Elfa rep/designer. I had done mine in store 9 years ago and plan to do the same this time, even though the store not that close. Well worth it to be able to see all the floor displays.

Does the door have to be where it is?

Surely there is a better way to make that closet than a Z shape.

Rather than just say "No, this is a bad idea", let's look at the storage you'll get vs. the square footage you'll spend. This Z-shaped space is about 77 square feet. In that space, you can have three storage space:

- One 5' closet rod ... but note that about half this rod will fall "behind" the closet door, meaning you'll have to close the door and turn around to reach this most convenient area.

- One 7' closet rod all the way at the back of the closet.

- You can have a 7 1/2' shelving area for folded items and shoes.

- You'll have about 30-32" of walking space to reach these storage spaces ... 30" is enough-but-minimal.

- You might squeeze in a bit of pegboard or flat-wall storage for things like jewelry, scarves or ties ... but they would cut into your walk spaces.

Personally, I would not want this closet.

Thank you all for your thoughtful comments.

After a quick chat with an Elfa rep - I decided to scrape the idea of the walk in closet in lieu of several reach-in units. The “Z” shape was to meet my stubborn request for a walk-in closet in a space just not suitable. The space is great in all other respects - so out goes the walk-in.

I love my reach-in closets. Lots of well-lit space to try things on, nothing ends up in the middle of the floor because it’s my bedroom. Enjoy!

It is sometimes good to walk into a reach-in closet, close the doors, and pretend the world is not there.