Closet System Buying Guide

   Every closet needs a closet system. But don't panic. That doesn't mean you need to run out and buy an elaborate assortment of shelves and drawers. A closet system is simply anything in a closet that is attached to the closet walls and used store items. So a simple shelf would be considered a closet system.
    Unfortunately, a simple shelf normally doesn't get the job done. Typically, we need more than just a shelf to effectively use every inch of our closet, which is why I visited California Closets to pick up some tips on how to buy a closet system.


What to Think About Before You Buy

Quality

    The quality of your closet system will greatly affect how well it performs and lasts. A bad quality closet system may be flimsy and make it very hard to organize your items. To find a well-made closet system look into the company's reputation.
Jean Chené, the VP of  Franchise Operations at California Closets, suggests:

• Conduct an Internet search to see if anyone has filed a complaint against the company. If many complaints have been filed, you probably should look into another company.
• If you plan to have the company install your closet system for you, make sure the company hires employees - not subcontractors - to do the work.

Dimensions

    In order to effectively use your space and make organization easy, closet systems must be sized to hold what you're storing. If they're made too big, then you'll waste space. If they're made too small you won't be able to fit anything in.
For clothing storage, Chené said the proper closet system dimensions are:

• Hanging Bar Depth: 24 inches
• Shelf Depth: 14 inches
• Shelf Width: multiples of 11 to 12 inches (so 22 to 24 inches, 33 to 36 inches, etc.)
• Shelf Height: 8 to 10 inches

    Those dimensions were based off of the size of a hanging shirt and a folded sweater. A hanging shirt is a little less than 24 inches wide from elbow to elbow. Having 24 inches of hanging space allows the shirt to hang nicely without hitting the wall. A folded sweater is a little less than 14 inches deep, 11 to 12 inches wide and when you stack three on top of each other, a little less than 8 to 10 inches high. As I learned from Chené, it's best to have stacks of only three (maybe four or five) items high, because it makes it easier to pull an item from the stack without having an avalanche.
    Before purchasing a closet system, make sure they have those dimensions. Otherwise, your shirts may be crammed against the wall and you may only be able to fit 1 and a half sweaters on a shelf, which doesn't really work well.


Material

    Closet systems typically are offered in three materials, wire, faux wood and wood. Wire closet systems often are the least expensive option. They can be harder to keep clean and leave ridges in folded clothing. Plus, if you're looking to store high heels, a wire closet system may not be your best option. The heel might fall right through.
    Faux wood closet systems often are the mid-range option. They are easy to clean, allow folded clothes to lie flat and store high heels easily.
    Wood closet systems often are the most expensive option. Typically, wood closets are made custom. Just as with faux wood closets, wood closets are easy to clean, allow folded clothes to lie flat and store high heels easily.


Storage Needs

    When selecting a closet system, it's best to determine your storage needs before shopping. Take everything out of your closet and sort it into piles. Count how many items you have in each pile and write it down.
    Then ask yourself some tough questions. For each pile, determine how you would prefer to have it stored. Do you like your t-shirts folded or hanging? Do you prefer to keep your shoes in boxes or have them out on shelves? Once you've found exactly how you want all of your items stored, you'll be able to select the type of storage you need.


Design

    Before buying all the separate storage components for your closet system, you must make sure they work together. Some closet companies will design your closet system for you, so you won't have to worry about putting it together. But if you don't go with one of those companies, you'll need to design the closet yourself.
    To start, think about what you use most. Those items should be the easiest to reach items in your closet. The things you use least should be the hardest to reach.
    After that, make sure your closet visually balances. When you look at your closet, one side shouldn't appear heavier than the other. For example, if one side of the closet is filled with tons of shelving and the other two thirds are filled with only hanging bars, you may want to switch the storage around a bit. Try moving the shelves to the middle of the closet or putting shelves at both ends of the closet with hanging storage above.


Before You Shop for Closet Systems

Measurethe width, height and depth of your closet. Also measure the height and width of your closet door. Knowing the dimensions will make it much easier to decide what storage will work in your closet.

Determine the type of storage you need. As said above, knowing what type of storage you need and how much of that storage is needed will make buying your closet system much easier.