We just put a few sets of closet organizers in the boys' closets, and they seem to work pretty well, but they barely hold any clothes. Any opinions on using some of these in a master closet? We have a HUGE walk in closet that I would like to add shelving to, but I need something at least quasi-modular so I can move it around for stuff that we put in there.

Anyone have experience with the rubbermaid or other brand stuff?

I've done this before.
It can be complicated for having too many choices to pick from. This is where some experience can help.
Some closets seem bright, but get very dark with the dark-finished organizers. Some get too white-on-white; some really are better off with the wire shelving--many need a mix of answers.

One of the best things you can do, before all this starts, is to find a place, and lay out all of a given person's clothes. Organized them by season, buy use, and by how low they hang from a rod (those that go on hangers).

If you already have a dresser, condier what is in that dresser, and what will stay there, before committing to a bunch of shelf units in the closet. Also, behind a closet door, open shelves are actually better than drawers--you get more storage,and you can see your stuff.

That will let you get sorted out before looking at systems. If you have only 2 or 3 long coats, you only need 6" of full-height rod space. Most systems let you "stack" rods, giving a low rod around 42" high, and an upper rod about 84" high. If you have 4 lineal feet of things that will fit that spacing, then, you only need 24" of space to get all that in.

Depending on the height of the closet user, current seasonal things can be hung on an upper or on a lower rod.

Getting every thing out also lets a person spot things like tall boots, which need more space than shoes (and never fit 'standard' shoe racks, either). Hats, scarfs, similar accessories are less-easy to miss this way, too.

I think it's jetescamilla's wife.

Have you tried any online tools? I want to do Container Store elfa one day.

capn, that is excellent advice! I am pretty sure that all of mrs. terk's dresses are going to need the space that they have, but we have room to go up another 60-70" above the top shelf in the walk in, so I am considering installing another set of racks on the top level for storage/opening some space up in the lower sections. I'm just curious if there is a better solution out there considering what I am planning to do. I know that at least 5 or 6 companies have to make this stuff... is there a better deal to be had with some brands, vs some to avoid totally

there are also these neat rods that move down to your eye level but raise up to store at the top of the closet

go to container store w/ measurements and the elfa shelving experts will design the closet for you. Very easy! Not to mention there are a lot of Aggies that work at container store including my sister '94 that works at corporate

I second the Container Store online deal and they have their anual or semi-anual Elfa sale if you can hold out until the next one.

I decided I didn't need anything fancy for ours and just ripped our old shelving out, lined the walls with cedar, added in 2 rows of some quality white shelves/rods on each side and used a white Ikea malm dresser along the back wall for a built-in cabinet look for my wife's clothes.

We've been using Elfa. We normally redo one closet a year, because it's pricey... but it's been well worth it. Elfa sale begins Dec 24 (30% off).

quote:

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Elfa sale begins Dec 24 (30% off).

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CJS, I owe you a beer or beverage of your choice! I was going to buy up what I need and install week after X-mas, now I will wait till day after and scoop it up at 30% off!!

So ELFA seems to be the consensus winner of the recommendations. Is it a "perceived quality because it's container store: thing, or is it really that much better?

Also, will the design help cost me? I wanted to put in drawers and liners for the wife's jewelry, but I am at my limit cost wise (the poor man labor is always free!)

its just better quality than the other shelving systems you can get at home depot or lowes. You can tell when you hold a elfa shelf or track vs a lowes/home depot shelf or track. http://www.containerstore.com/elfa/whatiselfa/index.html

Design is free! We did our master closet and garage in the platinum and they look great and hold everything perfectly and out of the way.

ftwag, did you install yourself or have them do it?

installed it myself

Yeah, Elfa is good stuff.
It's not in everyone's budget, but, it's also not the pricey Italian stuff. either.

Install is not bad.

If you live in the same town as a Container Store, you can generally get parts in the various colors and see which ones work best in the closet; and return the others to swap for the correct color. (This is less-easy if you live in BCS, or Bellville, or the like, where it's a longer drive to TCS.)

For "misters" who work in the big city, it's good to remember that suits are longer than other items. So, if you make a space for boots, you can park some shelves or a drawer unit over those, then have a rod above that for the suits.

Do not forget to think about where the dirty clothes hamper goes (if it's for the closet). Planning for hats will pay off, too (especially for those of us with both summer straw and winter felt).

Lastly, consider some items that might not be in the closet right now--raingear, heavy winter dress, etc. If the closet gets better design, sometimes those things can move in and be organized--a good thing.

We used the stuff from Ikea and love it. Just a thought.