closet seating

One of the most important questions we ask clients during our closet design discussions is whether they’re in their forever home or their for-now home. You might be thinking, “Why does that matter? A closet’s a closet.” But we feel strongly that if you’re going to spend the money on a custom closet, it should be an investment that stands the test of time. Enter our top five tips for designing a closet that will age with you!

1. Make sure all of your clothes and accessories fit into the space.

While you may not mind transitioning out your wardrobe seasonally right now, as you get older, you’re going to want to simplify things. So it’s important to design a space that can store all of your clothes and accessories for all seasons. You may still want to move your winter clothes to the back of the closet when spring comes, but at least you won’t have to move them to a completely different space.

2. Incorporate pull-down closet rods.

Regardless of your age, we think pull-down closet rods are an upgrade everyone should add to their closet design. Why not make your clothes easier to reach? But if you’re designing an age in place closet, pull-down closet rods are an absolutely necessity to ensure you can safely reach your clothes as you get older. Issues with balance or the addition of a walker or wheelchair to your everyday routine can greatly affect how high you’re able to reach down the road.

3. Opt for more open shelving versus doors and drawers.

Keeping your belongings in view means you don’t have to fumble through drawers and cabinets to find what you’re looking for—helping you to expedite your getting ready process. It also alleviates a lot of unnecessary stress associated with time spent looking for an item that you “know you put right here.” We’ve all been there, regardless of our age! If you prefer to keep more of your belongings behind closed doors for aesthetic purposes, think about adding pull-out drawers instead. They’ll solve the problem just as easily!

4. Make sure you have sufficient lighting.

If you have the ability to add a window into your closet design, we highly recommend it. Natural lighting trumps artificial lighting every time! Not only does it give you a more authentic view of your wardrobe colors but it makes the space so much more cheery. Regardless of whether you’re able to add a window or not, you do not want to skimp on the lighting when designing an age in place closet. Skip the decorative lighting and instead opt for recessed lighting in the ceiling, ribbon lighting above closet rods, and recessed puck lighting so you can actually see what’s on your shelves and in your cabinets.

5. Don’t forget to add seating.

Again, a no-brainer for any closet, but one that’s instrumental if you’re designing an age in place closet. Benches, ottomans, and small upholstered chairs are all great options to give you a comfortable place to sit when putting on your socks, shoes, and accessories.

Learn more about our custom closet design process on our Services page.