Expert: Jamie Novak - 1/20/2011

Question
We recently bought an older house for our retirement years. . . with one bedroom . . . and it only has 1 (one) closet in the entire house. It is a rather oddly shaped closet too. It has sliding glass 48" mirror doors. When you enter, to the left is a longish space - 22 inches wide by 35 deep and the sliding glass door allows you into the closet with only the 22 inch width access to this portion. Basically 35" inches is recessed and out of reach. I'm thinking some sort of drawers might work there- anything that pulls out for access. The rest of the closet (when entering the sliding glass mirror doors) is 55" deep on the right side, 47" across the back and 33" deep on the left -from beyond the 22 inch opening already mentioned to the back wall. There are no bars for hanging clothes - no drawers - just open space. The previous owners must have just stored boxes in here- there is nothing but blank walls- not even nail marks. We are at a complete loss as to how to maximize storage for this space. The rest of the house is lovely and we somehow missed that storgae was going to be premium.(we are a married couple in our late 50's- our kids are grown, married and on their own - so the space is strictly for the two of us). ANY help would be GREATLY appreciated.

Answer
Hello Lin,

That sure is an ODD shaped closet :)

I have some ideas...

1. Not sure where you live but you can head to ContainerStore.com and with your dimensiones you can work with a closet person to design/maximize the space. You can then choose to purchase the Elfa Closet system from them (or not) no obligation, but they can help you plan it out.

2. I wonder if a rolling closet system might work. I've done this will clients where we get a rolling Something like this

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?rlz=1T4ADBF_enUS265US265&q=rolling+clothi...

A rolling garment rack that you can roll out to grab what you want and roll back in.

3. I think you are onto something with the drawers. Also consider thinking of the closet in depth not width. So you can install a bar front to back instead of side to side.

4. Also do you have to keep the doors? If it makes it easier to access can you go with a new style door? OR even easier can you hand a decorative window or shower curtain from hooks or a bar as the "door."

5. Remember if you have a swing out door you get to also use the back of the door for added storage (hang on over the door pantry meant for the kitchen) it gives you lots of shelves...

I hope some of these ideas as helpful. Some of this might be trial and error. I see you already do this but measure first and carry a tape measure and the measurements with you- you never know when you'll see something that might work.

If you have not already I invite you to pop by JamieNovak.com we're always talking about closets and much more! -Jamie