Let’s face it—closets are often utilized as spaces to store anything and everything: from winter coats to schemes that you will wear again one day. But what if your closet was more than a storage space? What if it was a personal haven of organization?
In this article, we will discuss the many closet dimensions, how closet dimensions affect the overall design of your home, and most importantly, how to make every closet type functional and stylish to fit into your daily routine.
Why Closet Dimensions Matter More Than You Think
Closets are not just a stew to push things out of sight; they immensely contribute to the cleanliness, efficiency, and beauty of your home.
Here are the reasons why size is so important:
- A closet that fits well allows you to create spaces for shelves, hanging clothes, and accessories—and you won’t feel cramped.
- Having the right sized closet enables better flow and a better look and feel!
- Making the size of your closet fit your storage needs makes it easier to stay organized.
- Average closet sizes can change with your needs—so you aren’t stuck with that setup forever.
Whether you’re doing a complete overhaul or simply arranging your space, getting these measurements right will pay off big time.
Types of Closets: Which one is best for you?
All closets are not created equal—and that is a good thing. Different types of closets fulfill different purposes. Here’s everything you should know about the most common types:
1. Walk-In Closets — The Ultimate Setup Who doesn't love a walk-in closet?
Minimum Depth: 36 inches (this gives you enough space to walk around comfortably)
Average Size: Approximately 6.5 feet x 10 feet
Ideal For: Master bedrooms, dressing rooms, and anyone who loves extra space.
What are the benefits of a walk-in closet? Beyond the feel of your own little boutique, they are also extremely functional. Think of:
- Adjustable shelves and hanging rods
- Open shoe shelving and bag display
- A center island for accessories
- A seated bench or full-length mirror
- Stunning lighting to make an outfit feel like an occasion.
2. Reach-In Closets — Small but Mighty
Reach-ins are the most common type of closet — and they can still be quite impactful if thoughtfully designed.
Typical Depth: 24 inches
Width Range: 36-96 inches
Best For: Guest rooms, kids’ rooms, apartments
Sure, a basic reach-in may only have a rod and shelf, but it can be more than that! You can also consider:
Double hang rods
Custom shelves with adjustability
Slide-out drawers for smaller items
Sliding or bifold doors for space savings
While these closets may be shallow, they can be very mighty.
3. Wardrobe Closets — The Nomads of Closets.
Not every room includes a built-in closet, and that presents an opportunity for wardrobe closets. Unlike closets wrangled into walls, wardrobes are moveable—and sometimes fashionable!
Typical measurements:
- Depth: 24 inches
- Width: 30–60 inches
- Height: Roughly 72 inches
Reasons to love wardrobes:
- You can take them when you move
- Many wardrobes come with drawers, shelves and hanging rods already
- It can be easy to reconfigure the interior space to match your storage style
- If you enjoy versatile options, you may have found a new best friend: wardrobes.
Closet Measurements: Get It Right
Now lets get to the good part—what the depth, width and height of your closet should be if you want it to function properly.
Depth of Closet
- Standard depth: 24″ for most clothing
- Large clothing (like winter coats): go with 28–30″
- Minimum: 22″ (only do this if you absolutely have to).
Shallow closets crush your clothing and deep closets take up valuable space if not planned correctly. Your intent should always to give your clothing the space to breathe.
Closet Depth 12-24 inches, most closets are around 24 inches sliding double rod. It is typical for closets to have 84 inches of height from a finished floor. Utilize every inch! There is ample room for organized versatility – jackets to purses to snow boots, think vertical! p.s. utilize expandable rods to create a cloak/shower curtain effect.
Closet Planning Tips: Layouts, clearances, etc.Leave Space for Maneuverability.Your closet will not operate properly if doors and drawers cannot fully open.For sliding doors, plan for at least 24 inches of clearance.For swing-out doors, plan for 36 inches of clearance.Accessibility is vital, especially for children or physically limited people. Consider using a variety of shelf heights or pull-down rods to accommodate various users.
Layout Ideas You’ll Absolutely Adore
- L-Shaped: Perfect for limited corners, highly usable
- U-Shaped: Making use of all three walls, perfect for walk-ins.
Straight Wall: Perfect for reach-in closets and minimalist looks.Configure your arrangement based on your wardrobe: Is your wardrobe full of long dresses? You will require more vertical hanging. Too many shoes? Add extra hanging racks or any kind of floor shelves.
Style & Storage: Finding a Happy Medium
Storage is great—but what about the look and how it functions?
Are you modern? Go with clean, simplistic lines.
Do you love vintage? Decorate with classic cabinet doors and fancy drawer pulls.
Custom Shelving Built Right
Do not adapt your stuff to the shelves, make the shelves adapt to your stuff:
Tall boxes for boots
Thin boxes for ties and belts
Sturdy drywall anchors will make sure the shelves are stable and secure.
Furniture in Closets: Yes or No?
Sometimes adding furniture to your closet will really make the space different. Other times it is better to keep it simple.
When to Add Furniture
Walk-In Closets – A vanity, bench, or even a dresser is nice to look at.
Dressing Rooms – A flower mirror, chandeliers, or a lounge chair will add a great deal of character.
When Not to Use It:
Small Closets:
Don’t clutter your closet with excessively large furniture—it will take up valuable space.
Bonus: Consider utilizing ottomans or benches that also contain extra hidden storage to maximize storage capacity and minimize clutter.
Do you need assistance designing your closet? Hanse Group has you covered.
Whether you’ve envisioned a boutique-style walk-in, or are attempting to maximize space in a tiny reach-in closet, you have the ability to pick what works best for your style and space with George Group’s custom options.
Not sure what size closet you need? Let our experts help you create one and just send us your layout and goals for storage, and we’ll do the rest.
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