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You'll want to use the smallest of these measurements when designing your closet, since this is the most restrictive dimension.

2. Make a simple sketch of your closet using a heavy lead pencil or pen and notate the measurements of each wall. You don't necessarily need to make your sketch to scale, but that would help you understand the potential of your closet.

3. Now that you have a sketch of your closet's layout start thinking about a logical floor plan. When designing your floor plan be realistic about the size of your space and any obstacles in your closet. Most people tend to over design a closet space in a effort to maximize storage area. Don't make a plan that blocks a door from swinging completely open or would create a cramped space. Better to move items to another storage area than create a tight and difficult closet. Remember that hanging clothes need at least 24 inches of depth and the minimum shelf depth for folded clothes is 12 inches.

4. When you have your closet floor plan finished begin assessing what type of articles you need to store in your closet and how much space you need for each type. Most people need more space for hanging clothes followed by folded clothes, shoes, purses and dirty laundry respectively. Determine if you want to have drawers in your closet and how many you need. Having drawers in your closet can free-up additional space in your bedroom.

6. You need to design your closet one wall at a time. However, you also need to consider how the designs on each wall will meet at the corners, in walk-in closets. Some online design programs don't connect closets at the corners because of style of the product they offer. It's better to use companies that offer closet systems that utilize all of your closet space including the corners. After you find a program that you like start designing.

7. Some professional designer tips:

Try to create a balanced and visually appealing design. You're investing your time and money, be sure you like the finished product.

Locate drawers at the center of your closet design, directly across from the door so they are the first thing you see when entering the closet. Drawers make a good visual focal point and they typically need the extra clearance provided by the central location.

Use the corners for hanging space not shelves. Corner shelves are sometimes too deep and clothes get lost, but corners work well for hanging clothes.

Don't underestimate how much space you require for hanging clothes, and don't plan too much area for long hanging. With today's fashions most people don't need more than 12 to 24 horizontal inches of long hanging space.

8. Now that you have the perfect closet design let's talk about the products available online.

The Material- Almost all of the online closet companies use particle board with a melamine laminate veneer finish. Particle board is a very versatile and inexpensive material primarily used for the manufacture of low-end furniture. Unfortunately, particle board can also be brittle and vulnerable to moisture. The only company currently offering an alternative material is  Speedy Closets. These components are constructed using MDF (medium density fiberboard) over a real wood frame. This is the same type of system used for the doors in your home. The system is very strong and highly resistant to moisture. All online closet companies use a melamine veneer as the surface material. Keep in mind the quality of melamine varies from the paper thin stuff you see on the cheap furniture from big box retailers, to high impact resistant melamine that looks and feels like real wood.

Closet Systems- Most of the online closet companies offer very similar style closet systems. These systems are usually held together using plastic fasteners and are hung on the wall like a kitchen cabinet without doors and the shelves are typically adjustable. The disadvantage to adjustable shelves are the hundreds of unattractive holes that line the interior of the closet sides. High quality custom closets never have numerous visible holes on the surface. Speedy Closets offers a floor based closet system with no visible holes lining the interior of sides and the highest quality melamine veneer online.

Price- Be sure you are getting an acceptable quality for the price of your closet. Compare the price from at least two online companies for similar closets systems. Be sure that you are also comparing similar quality products. While price is important, make sure the final product will be acceptable to you. Conversely, if you don't plan on staying in your present residence for long, perhaps you don't need to be concerned about the durability of particle board or wall hung closet systems. However, if you are concerned about aesthetics and quality of your closet system, be sure to do your research on the materials and style of closet you want.

Installation- Installing a closet can be a difficult and time consuming task even for someone handy with tools. If you have large closets you could find yourself sorting literally hundred of parts and spending days assembling your system. However, there are several companies that offer pre-assembled closets at no additional cost. With pre-assembled closets you can install your system in a fraction of the time and usually without any power equipment. Regardless of which type of system you order, always secure your closet to the wall using the hardware provided with the kit. With these insider tips you should be better equipped to order your custom closet online.

- Consumer Guide to Ordering Custom Closets Online -

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