Creating the Ultimate Man Closet

A closet is often a second thought for men. It is just a place to store garments, belts, ties, shoes, and maybe a skeleton or two. However, there is a very good reason to become persnickety when it comes to your wardrobe and storage ideas. A well organized closet saves time. It allows you to find things quick, look your best, and keep your clothes looking new. It also allows you to keep all your accessories in front of you, so that you can have a fresh look everyday… instead of wearing the same old ties, belts, and wingtips that are easiest to find.

If you’re ready to knock down that sorry excuse for a closet; we’ll help you design a custom closet solution that is, well… basically, as awesome as a closet gets.

First Step- Get Rid of What You Don’t Wear
Guys are notorious for the thinking, Well, I might wear it… someday. Yeah, you might wear that hula shirt if you’re ever invited to a luau. However, are you willing to leave that terrible shirt in your closet, taking up space, and collecting dust? Get rid of the stuff you never wear, or shouldn’t wear (i.e. anything with heavy wear or holes), as minimizing the clutter in any closet will automatically give it a more organized appearance.

Next Step- Build on the Space You Have Available
The majority of closets are rather small, unless you happen to have a built-in, bad-ass walk in closet. Which if that is true, congratulations; you can proceed to the next step. Closets have always been kept behind closed doors. However, if you incorporate a little design, there is no reason why you can’t turn any wall or space into an awesome man’s wardrobe. There are a number of do-it-yourself kits, that will enable you to customize whatever space you have. The idea here is, just because your closet is small, does not mean you have to suffer with it. Look around your room, and you might be surprised where an organizer might fit, and look damn good in the process.

Final Step- Organize Your Space
A proper luxury closet will be a combination of rods, shelves, and drawers. As a man, you won’t have a lot of long garments, so most closets will benefit from a double-rod, meaning that you will have two rows dedicated to all your shorts, suit jackets, slacks, etc. You don’t want all your clothes packed like sardines, so don’t be stingy with the rods. Another option is multi-tiered hangers, although I’d avoid these unless you are really cramped for space.

Shelves are awesome. They are a great place to store your sweaters, cashmere, etc., that would otherwise stretch on a hanger. You can also place baskets on these, and store all your accessories, so they are within eyesight and easy to reach. Shelves can also work for your shoes (or a show rack may be utilized effectively). Drawers are a great place to store and organize your ties, belts, and cufflinks. This makes them easy to sort through, and also keeps them safe from dirt and dust.

A Few Additional Tips
In addition, don’t use the bottom of your closet as a junk zone. This looks terrible, and is a great way to ruin your stuff, as 50 percent of the time, it will end up either forgotten or trampled on. Button your shirts up to the collar before hanging to help keep their shape; and don’t yank them off the hanger (you know you do that sometimes). Instead, pull the hanger off, remove the garment, and then place the empty hanger in a designated area where it will not be lost or forgotten.

Some experts may say to store your clothes based on the season, as this will help maximize your available space. However, there are a few things you should consider first. Storing your garments takes time to do right. It also causes wrinkles, creases, misshapen collars, etc. They will probably need some care when you get them out each season (i.e. washing, ironing, dry-cleaning, etc.). In my opinion, it is better to allow for extra space, so you don’t have to store anything in between seasons. However, this will be up to the amount of space you are willing to designate for your wardrobe.

For inspiration, here is a gallery of what we’d consider to be several of the most amazing man closets we’ve ever seen: