A beautifully designed, highly organized closet is no longer a luxury. Now, in the age of Instagram, Pinterest, HGTV and a plethora of other design inspiration resources, a great closet is simply the new normal.
A 2015 study by Avid Ratings Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Home Builders’ Association, found that 68 per cent of respondents said that a walk-in closet was a “must-have” interior feature.
According to California Closets Edmonton and Calgary owner Cameron Johnson, this growing trend is all about peace of mind. “It’s organization of what you have – being able to have a home for your most important items, whether it’s your clothing or your 50 pairs of shoes. Or your 500 pairs of shoes.”
And while more and more new homes are being built with custom closets installed by companies such as California Closets, Johnson say she sees many customers looking to add function to their existing spaces, especially those who are downsizing or adapting to a smaller spaces.”They really have to think about what they own and where they’re going to put it all,” he says.
Bev Krawchuk, a closet designer with Edmonton’s Top Shelf Closets & Glass, says that most storage-space redesigns are unique. She said that nine of out 10 customers require a customized solution that suits their needs.
What’s important is that the space is convertible; that shelves and racks can be adjusted. For example, larger spaces are needed to store winter shoes than summer-flip flops.
No matter what your budget – from quick and inexpensive storage solutions to a professionally planned, walk-in closet of your dreams – function, quality and innovation are in reach.
“We are seeing more modern, more clean looks, and more of our clients are seeing closets as a luxury item.”
California Closets Edmonton and Calgary owner Cameron Johnson shares his tips on how to double – or even triple – the storage space in your standard reach-in close
Maximize the space for full efficiency with the right type of space for the type of clothing and accessories that you have. If you have a large number of accessories, add a velvet-lined jewellery tray. Put in a belt rack, put in a scarf rack, a tie rack.
With the space you save from the double hang, you have the whole rest of the closet to add drawers with shelves, slanted shoe shelves and a laundry insert.
If you have a shelf and a pole that runs across a whole width of your closet, you’re forced to hang everything and then pile things up on top of the shelf. Take out the shelf and rod and add a “double hang.”
This article appears in the May 2017 issue of Avenue Edmonton. Subscribe here.
