When Melanie and Javier Bermudez bought a home in Point Breeze in 2021, they weren't happy with the closet in their shared master bedroom, but other expenses were more pressing. Since we only had one shelf, we stored many of our clothes in storage bins and hid other items in rooms around the house.
In December of this year, I finally upgraded my closet.
“It's a beautiful system that allows us to organize our clothes and shoes more,” Melanie said of the new setup in her 5-foot-by-7-foot closet. “There's space to hang long dresses and suits, drawers for things you don't want on display, and tons of shelving that takes advantage of all the previously wasted space.”
The couple worked with Closet Factory and spent about $3,000 on a white wood system with matte black handles. Keep everything organized with rods, drawers, shelves and bins.
According to a 2021 survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of mDesign, 72% of Americans who have reorganized or redecorated two or more rooms in their home since the pandemic began include Bamdees, Since then, the couple has also reorganized the first floor. Home organization company.
Storage is important to all homeowners, but city dwellers tend to face the greatest challenges. Rowhouses and trinities typically have less square footage than suburban single-family homes and may not have a garage, attic, or basement.
“In 1880s homes, many closets are 12 to 14 inches deep,” says Kenny Grono, president of Buckminster Green, a Kensington home remodeling company. “It's a closet that doesn't have coat hangers.”
Reclaim space
If the closet is too small or too small, homeowners can find creative alternatives. Areas such as the vestibule just inside the front door or the storage space under the stairs can be used to store shoes, seasonal items, coats, and sports equipment.
If you don't have enough space for a closet, try installing a bench in your front room as a place to sit to take off your shoes. Drawers and cabinets under the bench can store shoes, and hooks above the bench can store coats and scarves. For one customer, Grono installed a pole in the front room to hang two bicycles.
Although they are small and oddly shaped, the space under the stairs is often wasted. Grono has created a storage area under the stairs that can be accessed through bookshelves and a hidden wall.
Lack of storage in the bedroom is another frustrating reality for many city dwellers, as experienced by Bermudians. In a small closet, careful organization frees up space and makes items easier to find.
Maximize your closet space by adding shelves, accessories like ties, belts, and hat racks, separate drawers for sweaters, and sections to separate clothing types.
Live in that universe long enough to understand what your needs are before jumping in, Grono said. If you have children, think about what will happen in the future. Will leaving strollers at the front door be the end of the world in a few years? Will your child's needs change from dolls and blocks to bats and balls?
Also consider seasonal changes. You may not have enough space to quickly access four seasons' worth of clothing and gear, but you can store out-of-season items in an inconvenient location and rotate them accordingly.
“It's a good time to go through your belongings and get rid of things you don't need,” said Brittany Palko-Harris, director of corporate development at Closet Factory in Mount Laurel. “From there, we will organize our important belongings.”
Costs vary widely depending on the solution. Prices for Closet Factory's custom units start at $1,500 and for larger jobs he can reach $70,000. DIY organization products can range from a few dollars for storage bins to thousands of dollars for a walk-in closet unit.
creative solutions
Kitchens in older city homes were not designed with modern conveniences in mind. If you don't have a pantry or closet and limited cabinet space, it can be difficult to find a place to store even the essentials.
“It's more than just organizing, tidying up, and putting things away,” says Jeppe Christensen, CEO and founder of Reform, a Danish design company specializing in kitchens and wardrobes with a store in Fishtown. says Mr. “It's about seamlessly integrating storage into the overall design aesthetic. In a small kitchen, every square inch counts.”
The company specializes in modular cabinet systems with drawers to accommodate all your cooking utensils, condiments, and cleaning supplies. Plan ahead, says Christensen. He thinks thoroughly about the best use of space, what goes into each cabinet, and how you want your storage space to function.
“Take a close look at your current kitchen/work space, what you use every day, what's forgotten about, and what's not prioritized,” he said. “This way, you can free up space for the most important things in your kitchen routine and focus on making them fit perfectly into your future kitchen design.”
The laundry and mudroom are great for additional storage space. The cabinet on wheels can be installed in front of the water heater or his HVAC unit and easily rolled when you need to access the equipment.
Remedies for renters
Storage can be especially difficult for renters who don't want to make a big financial investment or cut holes in their walls. Storage bins and bags under your bed or in the laundry room can store seasonal items or items you don't use often, such as wrapping paper.
Organizational accessories that hold shoes, belts, and stacked hangers are available on hooks that slide over the closet door. Also, the stacked shelves fit above the toilet and can hold bathroom items. In addition to stickable hooks and shelves, magnetic shelves can also be stuck to refrigerators and washing machines.
Furniture such as cupboards and bookshelves also solve storage problems and can move with you.
Finally having the closet of their dreams made a big difference for Melanie and Javier Bermudez.
“It's easier to find things and I can store things that were on another floor of the house,” Melanie said. “Everything applies.”