Avoid These Six Closet Design Mistakes

Whether you are a true fashion guru with numerous outfits or a minimalist with just a few basics, a well-designed closet is always a good investment. Your closet design can be customizable to fit your needs, but knowing that you have options can often be the reason people get stuck. Before you finalize your closet plans, here are six common mistakes to avoid:

1. Don’t feel like you have to go for all wood. A solid wood closet is certainly beautiful, and maybe that’s your dream (which is totally fine!). But don’t feel like that’s the only way to get a gold-standard closet. You can bring in some glass doors or basketry options. And sometimes, a laminate or faux wood product can even be more durable and easier to take care of than a solid wood system.
2. Don’t commit to a custom closet without seeing a 3D model. When you see a closest design drawn out, you may think it’ll look great. But if you’re investing in a high-end closet design, it’s important the company shows you a 3D, true to scale, sketch. The more realistic you can see the concept design, the more you’ll understand the expectations. That way, when it’s completed, you won’t be shocked with it looking much differently than in your head.
3. Don’t assume you need to have floor-to-ceiling cabinetry. Although this does create a high-end look, sometimes it’s not always practical to have cabinets, drawers, and shelving taking up all the floor space and up to the ceiling. Consider leaving some floor space open for baskets or temporary items, and you may enjoy some open top shelf space to store items like books, laundry tools (like irons or steamers) that you can easily move around.
4. Don’t get a closet system that won’t adjust. Beautiful custom closets should still leave room for adjustments. You’ll want to be able to move shelves up and down and rods that you can shift around a little. You may get a few months or years into the closet and realize you want to shift how you organize your closet. Build in some flexibility to shift your clothes, shoes, or bedding around.
5. Don’t buy DIY modular closet systems without measuring it. Modular systems in “standard” sizes often leave funky spaces that are unusable. You probably need to use every inch of your closet and if that modular system leaves out a few inches here and there, it will add up. Even if it’s the more economical option, your frustration with the poor usage of space will override the enjoyment of saving a few dollars.
6. Don’t prioritize looks over function. Believe it or not, you can get a fully functional closet that also looks beautiful. But first and foremost, you must be honest with what you want to store in the closet. If you choose a design that is gorgeous but don’t consider your needs in that design, you will end up hating it. Function first, beauty second.

At Swirl Woodcraft, we’ve been customizing storage solutions for years. We are masters at combining function and beauty. For your dream closet, contact us today.