9 Cool Closet Systems That Will Up the Storage Game of Your Houses

By Nigel F Maynard

California Closets

The average new home is outfitted with wire-rack-and-pole closet systems that are short on features and looks, but there are much better ways to give your clients decent storage.

“Closets—every home has them and homebuyers everywhere wish they could be better,” says closet and storage brand Organized Living. “Whether it’s storing more clothes or doing duble-duty as a dressing room, homebuyers want and expect more from their space.”

Walk-in closet systems range from lower-end coated wire systems that are easy on the budget to fully custom built-ins that are wildly expensive (though they maximize every square inch of a space). Other options include design-it-yourself manufactured systems incorporating solid wood, wood veneers, high-density particleboard, melamine, aluminum, and glass. Pieces can be freestanding or built-in, and feature a wide variety of options and accessories.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Closet System

When it comes time to specify these systems in your homes, there are things to keep in mind. Organized Living advises that builders and designers think about adjustability (homebuyers want to be able to move their closet around to fit their needs), the company says.

You should also consider his and hers closets, and ditch the dresser. “Say goodbye to wasted space and hello to a minimalistic bedroom,” Organized Living says. “Homebuyers everywhere are looking for ways to nix their dressers, and want drawers and open shelving in the closet to store their entire wardrobe.”

Companies such as ClosetMaid have been working hard to offer more products and services to the trade community. At the 2017 International Builders' Show, the company announced ExpressShelf, a new pre-finished shelf and rod system that is designed as an alternative to traditional, painted-MDF plank and pole systems. The company says it installs in less than half the time of traditional painted-MDF shelving, doubling productivity for installers.

“ExpressShelf is a game-changer in the production home closet storage category,” Lou Cuomo, the company’s vice president of sales for its building division.

Here are some other closet systems and brands that are sure to spark inspiration for your homes.