Ballpark Estimate: $100 to $600 for a DIY organizer; $2,500 to $5,000 for a custom installation
If you have more clothing, shoes and accessories than you have space to store them, it is likely that your closets will be quite disordered. But you don’t have to waste any more time fumbling through piles of clothes in the hunt to locate your favorite pair of jeans or to dig out the mate to your best pair of shoes. Today’s custom closets feature high-end designs specially created to match your needs and your lifestyle. This can help make getting dressed something to enjoy, rather than something that makes you feel depressed.
When Space Is Limited
Whether you live in a very old house or a very new one, and whether the design is a sprawling mansion or a cozy little space or whether it falls somewhere between these extremes, chances are you probably just don’t have enough closet space. Most people today have more items than ever before and it makes it difficult to be able to put everything neatly away in a designated place. As a result, chaos reigns.
Part of the problem is that most older homes were designed for a time when people had much smaller wardrobes and much fewer possessions, and even newer homes with their larger scale rooms can be focused on getting in as much living area as possible, often at the expense of allowing adequate storage space. Yet despite these challenges, with the hectic pace of life today, being organized is more important than ever before. So what’s a person to do, then, you may wonder. The answer may be to hire a professional closet designer to assess your situation and reconfigure your closets so they will work with you in the most effective way. This can make getting dressed in the morning much easier and can also take much of your stress away.
The Choices That Exist
If you want to get custom built closets but aren’t quite sure how to accomplish this goal, the easiest way may be to hire a respected company that specializes in closet design and installation. There are likely to be at least a few companies in your local area that specialize in closet design and organization. In fact, one of the best known closet vendors is California Closets, which has franchises throughout the country. Many people who have used this service like the concept, which pairs homeowners with a designer that can help them to envision the most functional use of their closet space and turn it into a reality. Better yet, the options are endless, from basic storage components out of inexpensive material to more complicated fittings made from the highest-end imported woods. Regardless of what you select from this or other similar closet installation companies, the final results can be easily changed or expanded as your needs shift over the years.
Or if you prefer, you can also hire an independent contractor to build up your closet to better accommodate your wardrobe and other items you need to store efficiently. A builder may be less skilled at envisioning the best storage options, but can certainly follow blueprints or photos of examples you like.
In either scenario, just keep in mind that ordering a built-in closet organizer can be an investment, but in return, you will get lots of benefits. For instance, you will finally have a closet that is tailored specifically for your unique needs and your clothing, and this can save you frustration and time in the morning, while also helping to preserve your clothing and accessories. Further, the experts say that a high-end custom closet can add value to your home should you ever decide to sell in the future. While these are certainly worthwhile goals, though, most people with custom closets admit that more importantly, they just truly enjoy the neat and orderly storage of their clothes.
Find a Pro
To find a professional company or individual who can handle this project and give you expert results, you can do a search online, look in your local yellow pages or check for ads in your community newspaper from custom closet design companies. Most people will be willing to schedule a free consultation to learn more about your needs, see your existing closet space and your wardrobe and come up with a proposal and price estimate for you to consider.
It is also worth noting that before you meet with anyone, though, you may want to weed out anything you don’t wear or use anymore, so the closet designer doesn’t waste your time or money planning organizing tools for things you don’t even need to store.
Details to Consider
When meeting with a closet design company or contractor, you will want to find out how much experience they have in designing closets of the caliber you desire. You will also need to know how long they have been in business, if they offer a warranty on the final results and what it covers and who will be doing the work and installation.
It can also be helpful to determine the quality of the materials the closet will contain so you will know exactly what you are paying for. For instance, you can ask what type of wood or laminate will be used, what the finish will look like, if you can get metal hardware (not plastic) to ensure it wears well, what the closet rods are made from (chrome or metal are usually stronger than wood), and details about the quality and construction of the drawers. Finally, make sure to find out if all labor, installation and material are included in any price you get. You don’t want to get any unexpected surprises at the end.
Do It Yourself
If you consider yourself skilled at DIY projects and want to avoid hiring someone, you can also consider buying modular closet organizer pieces and installing them yourself in order to create a final result with all of the features and storage you desire. You can shop at places like Target, Ikea, Lowes, and Home Depot to see the range of pre-made options that are sold. Or, you can search for easy-to-install closet accessories and organizers online. Easy Closets offers a wide variety of styles and options to help meet your design needs and they even include a step-by-step installation video. While most of these products won’t be of the upscale caliber you would get from a specialized closet design store, for a very low price they can still be very effective in increasing your storage space and streamlining your life anyway.
What It Costs
What you can expect to spend on your custom closet really depends on what you want and how you decide to get it. For the best results, if you can swing it, you may want to splurge on a high-end custom closet design done by a professional.
Custom Installation Cost
Most decent-sized custom closets can cost about $2,500 to $5,000 and go on up from there, once you add in all of the nicer finishes and accessories to make them completely efficient.
Further, if money is no object and you have the space for a huge closet, you can branch out and also add in the most upscale features. In fact, some of the fanciest room-sized closets can cost as high as $30,000 from start to finish.
So you can assume you will spend up to $5,000 for a basic custom closet or even much more for one with extravagant details.
DIY Cost
If you simply don’t have the budget to have a built-in custom closet installed, you can also customize your closet yourself by adding your own modular pieces. Both Rubbermaid and Closetmaid offer a variety of organizer pieces you can incorporate into your existing closet to give it an inexpensive makeover. You can expect the price to start at about $100 for a basic wire system for a small closet and to go up to about $500 when you add in all of the accessories. Or, you can upgrade to a laminate closet system, with shelving, cubbies and other storage solutions that you will need to cut and install yourself to fit your closet’s specific dimensions. This can cost between $300 and $600 for the basic pieces and can go on up from there as you incorporate more accessories.
So you can spend between $100 and $600 and up for a DIY closet organizer system.
The Sky Is the Limit
When it comes to crafting a custom closet, there is no end to the features you can find to incorporate into your design. In fact, the custom closet business is a booming field these days, creating closets that offer storage racks for hanging dressy clothes, shelves for sweaters and jeans and racks to hold shoes, belts and hats and even baskets or cubbies perfect for purses, scarves, belts, sporting equipment and other small items that need a place to keep them safe.
Just keep in mind that today, it is not only functionality that comes into play, though. You can also create a closet that is as pleasing to look at as it is to use. To this end, some of the upscale closet design companies offer many upscale wood finishes, as well as extras like carved molding, raised panel designs, stained glass accents and ornate lighting fixtures. Other special features to consider include a valet rod, an ironing board, built in-hamper and jewelry drawer. By incorporating all of these special details, you can create a closet that will continue to provide the perfect space for your favorite possessions for many years to come.