We're buying new closets for 2 kids rooms. I'm not sure whether to have them custom made or to buy ready-made from a furniture (or big box) store.
Of course, custom made is more expensive, but there are a number of advantages:
1.maximizes space, both vertically and horizontally, since it's made exactly according to the wall size.
2.We can pick out the Formica, knobs, wood, pattern, etc. to suit our (my wife's) taste.
But... is it worth it?
Does anyone have advice for us? We'd like to make an educated decision.
In the custom word you also have to factor in lead time etc. ...»
this pic is the lower unit of a custom build I bid a few years back...it is a mix of shelves, drawers and pull out cubbies.
For a kids room, I would suggest a free standing type of closet. As they get older they will begin to grow out of what ever it is your storing in them and the needs will change. If the rooms are smaller and in the future you do decide to move by taking those out the rooms will look larger ...»
Remember you can also purchase all sorts of storage options such as under bed types.
If you do decide to go with the custom build in types. Build if possible in front of the older closet if there is one in the room. And do not take apart the old door frame on the wall. Use the existing door and construct a new frame in which to hold the door so it looks as though it was always done that way. In addition, not only does this save space as you can make the closet a bit shallower as some depth comes from the older one. But gives you more space as it does not have to be as deep to hang clothes in.
The only last thing I would suggest is that you do not cut out the older floor base trim or any ceiling moldings so if you decide to remove this addition to the room the walls will look exactly as they did before you put it up.
1. The shelf can be moved as the children grow. This will save you from reinvesting in a new closet every few years as the child grows taller. The shelves can just be moved or rearranged and ...»
2. Things on the back of the top shelf can be seen on wire selves. You never loose things that slip down behind something else as it can always be seen from below through the wire.
3. And as the children grow and get into sports and smelly guy clothes, it is much easier to air out the closet when you use wire shelving. Things do not seam to mold or trap the must and smells as quickly because air can always circulate within the closet.
@Warren, I like your idea of wire-shelf closets - very practical. But when I mentioned it to my wife I got that 'Don't even think about it!' look.
So I guess that means it's a no.
It looks like we're going to go with prefabs in the 2 girls' rooms and a built-in for the ...»
I'll see if I can get photos up here once they're in.
Thanks again for your input.
We put them in our master closet when we first moved in just to have something to hang our clothing on until I had time to design a permanent layout. One day while putting laundry away I hung ...»
That being said, if anyone still likes these systems I'd highly recommend cutting off the back "anchor" of the hooks for the shelves and screw these hooks into studs.
Below you'll see a couple pictures of the closet I designed and hubby built using 3/4" MDF "stained" with gel stain to give the illusion of woodgrain.
I hope to post pics of the closets we bought soon.
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