guide to closet design basics - washington state closets · guide to closet design basics. ......

Plus Closets Closet Design Guide 1

www.plusclosets.com

PARTNER WITH QUALITY

GUIDE TO CLOSET DESIGN BASICS

Plus Closets Closet Design Guide2

Product Information.......................................................................................................................................................................................................3

Types of Systems ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................4

Building Blocks

Double Hang .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6

Long Hang ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 6

Half & Half ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 7

Shelving ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 7

Measuring Guidelines

Tools / Definitions ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 8

Tips .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9

Rules of Design

Rule of the Corner ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 10

Rule of the Short Wall .................................................................................................................................................................................. 10

Rule of Shelving ...........................................................................................................................................................................................11

About Walk-In Closets.................................................................................................................................................................................................12

About Reach-In Closets..............................................................................................................................................................................................15

Introduction to Closet Design At Plus Closets, we are passionate about closets and as a part of that, we take pride in ensuring that you are equipped with the

proper information to transform any client’s space into a functional and practical custom closet.The following guide has been designed by Plus Closets as an introduction to basic closet design. The information provided exists to function as an educational

tool to the introduction of closet design for professional partners in the industry.


Why Custom Closets?While there can be many reasons to prompt a client to order custom closets, there are three main reasons that are most commonly cited.

1. The first reason a person might want to install custom closets is to increase usable space in a closet. When designed properly, a custom closet system can increase storage capacity up to and sometimes beyond 50%.

2. The second reason someone might seek the installation of a custom closet system is for ease of accessibility. While creating more usable space is important, it is equally important to be able to access what is stored in that space.

3. The third and final reason why any given person may seek out custom closets is the simple aesthetic pleasure that comes with a custom closet design. This is important as your customer will most likely begin and end her day in the closet.

Surface Material:

Vinyl, Foil — These surfaces are typically found on materials sold through home improvement stores. They are glued rather than thermally fused to particle board, so they tend to easily separate or peel from the core.True Melamine — We use thermally fused melamine, which is heat fused to the actual core materials, making separation virtually impossible.

Shelving:

All shelving has a purpose. For example 2 sweaters can fit side by side on a 30” wide shelf. This shelf can also hold 4 pairs of women’s shoes, or 3 pairs of men’s shoes. Design 18”/24”/30” widths so drawers and baskets can be added as storage needs change.

Design Suggestions:

Double Hang & Half and Half — Design these sections no wider than 42”. Designing wider sections than 42” could jeopardize the structural integrity of the system.

Long/Medium Hang — Design these sections no wider than 36” for the same reason stated above.Base and Upper Drawer Cabinet — Finish the section above the top drawer with melamine counter-top or a surface provided by you.

Bridge Shelves:

These are used to bring two adjacent walls together. The bridge shelf allows you a continual shelf out of each corner in a closet. If specified, an oversized shelf with cams on one side will be provided to you. An “H Channel” is used to attach the bridge shelf to the adjoining shelf.

Plus Closets’ systems use 3/4” furniture grade melamine with a thermofused surface guaranteed never to peel. Panels contain a 32mm line boring pattern. This enables the client to adjust the heights of shelves and rods as storage needs change throughout the years. Exposed end-panels are half bored and half routed to give a clean look to that otherwise unsightly exposed end.

Product Information


Suspended and Floor-Based OverviewDeciding whether to design a closet around a suspended, floor-based, or a mixture of both, can not only have a large impact on the overall look of the system, but also on the price.

Suspended System:

A standard suspended system height hangs from a rail at 84” off the ground. This option is more economical than the floor-based system, and installation of the system is typically more efficient.

Floor-Based System:

A standard floor based system height is usually 90”. Floor-based systems tend to be a little more expensive due to the additional materials used. These are commonly used when the client wants to achieve more of a furniture look by adding crown and base.

Mixed System:

A mixed system consists of both floor based and suspended applications. In most cases, the hanging is suspended and the shelving is floor based, so the height should be 84” to allow enough vertical space for double hang. For the most functional and economical mixed system closet, the hanging sections should be suspended.


Building Blocks continued

In the art of closet design, there are 4 basic building blocks that are essential for a closet to be built. These building blocks make up the “skeleton” of every closet. Each of the building blocks can be floor-based, or suspended on the wall and come in a variety of depths and colors. These all have specific design guidelines that need to be adhered to for maximum storage, accessibility, and functionality.

Suspended Systems:

Double-Hang Long-Hang Shelving Half & Half

Floor Based Systems:

Double-Hang Long-Hang Shelving Half & Half


Building Blocks continued Double Hang: Commonly 42”+ 42” (42/84)

• Suits, shirts, blouses, folded slacks, skirts, jackets, tops, vests.• Hanging space can be increased by hanging short items above

short items.• Twice the number of garments can be stored in the same

amount of space.• The shortest items (i.e. folded slacks, shorts, vests, mini-skirts)

should be placed on the top rod.• Narrower clothing such as folded pants, skirts and vests should

go in the top section so the bottom section is not shaded.• In general, garments with shoulders should go on the bottom

rod because they hang out farther.

Long Hang: Commonly 62” - 65”

• Dresses, gowns, robes, coats, jumpsuits.• Long items should be considered first.• Always allow enough room for long hang. Shorter items can be hung in a long hang section but

the reverse is not true.• If long items are used less frequently, they can be hung in a

corner, behind a door or other less accessible place.• If the closet is shared, one long hang section may work for

both people.• If there are only a few long items, you may combine them with

medium hang in one section.


Building Blocks continued

Half & Half: Typically 3 shelves over a short-hang section

• Folded garments, hats, purses, pants, shirts, jackets, tops, vests.• Combines short hang and shelving.• When shelves and hanging are in the same section, the shelves

always go on top.• Items that aren’t used as frequently should be placed on higher

shelving.• Doors can be added to cover shelves for a cleaner look.

Shelving: Typically 7-10 shelves, with the option to add drawers and/or baskets

• Shoes, folded garments, hats, purses.• Shelves must have a purpose. Use standard sizes whenever

possible.• Items stored on shelves are easily visible and accessible.• Shelves are less expensive than drawers and baskets and provide

many of the same functions.• Doors can be added to cover open shelves for a neater look.


Measuring Guidelines Tools you will need:

• Tape measure: A 25’ flat tape measure is recommended.• 2 Acrylic square finders: These will help determine whether the corners in a closet are square in order to make adjustments.

Using both squares will help you find the point where two systems need to join in a corner.• Electronic measuring tool: This will help you measure longer walls more easily.• Angle finder: This will help you determine the angle of a dormered roofline.• Digital camera: This tool will help to communicate odd closets and obstacles to your engineer.• Sketch pad: Make sure to properly transcribe all numbers and drawing to your sketchpad.

NOTE: While measuring, limit conversation so you won’t transpose any of the numbers.

Important Definitions:

• Hard Measurement: This is a measurement that is taken for a system that will be installed wall to wall. This measurement needs to be precise. Always note 1/4”-1/2” less than the exact measurement. This “wiggle room” is essential to ensure the system will fit this wall-to-wall section.

• Soft Measurement: This measurement is for a system that either floats on the wall or is only installed against one sidewall. This most often occurs in a walk-in closet where the system comes out of a corner. This measurement should never include fractions of an inch.


Measuring Guidelines continued

Tips for Measuring:

Take multiple measurements. For hard measurements, make sure to measure the closet high, middle and low, and take the smaller of these measurements and round down to the nearest 1/4” NOTE: Be sure to use acrylic square finder to make sure all corners are square.

• Watch and be aware of ALL OBSTACLES. These include but are not limited to: electric panels, access panels, outlets, light switches, trim, vents, light fixtures, pocket doors, laundry chutes, and windows. Make yourself aware of all such obstacles and note them in your sketch.

• If you are designing off of a blueprint, it is imperative that you take final measurements on site once the drywall has been installed. This will help avoid any unplanned changes.

• Note the baseboard measurements and whether or not quarter round is included. The custom closet design can accommodate baseboards. Drawers may also need to be raised if the baseboard is oversized.

• If there are drawers against the wall, watch for door and window trim. This may interfere with the opening of the drawer. A spacer may be required to move the section away from the wall in order for drawers to fully open.

• It is also important to check the corners to make sure they are at least 90 degrees.

• If the sidewalls angle in, the back wall measurement should be reduced.

• If the sidewalls angle out, no extra deduction is needed but there will be a gap between the system and the sidewalls.

• Acrylic square finders can be used to determine the amount to deduct from the back wall measurement.


Rules of Design In custom closet design, there are three rules that should be followed in order to maximize both accessibility of closet items, as well as storage capacity of the closet itself. If the following rules are properly adhered to, the closet will not only be fully

functional with maximum storage space, but will be aesthetically pleasing as well.

1. The Rule of the Corner• Double hang or long hang should go into corners. Shelves, drawers,

and half and half come out of corners. Shelving should never be positioned all the way in a corner.

• Out of the corner: In this case we have a 30” wide and 24” wide section on the soft wall. Always use shelving, drawers or half and half when designing out of the corner. In this case we have shelving designed. All shelving widths should be designed to the nearest inch. The odd dimension can be applied in the 26” to 30” width bridge shelf out of the corner.

• Into the corner: Hanging in the corner should always be utilized when designing a closet. It is always easier to reach for a hanger than access something on a shelf. Also, drawers in a corner aren’t suggested because fully extending the drawer box to access the items in the drawers would be very difficult.

• Note: The bridge shelf will be cut on site to make up for the odd dimension. Always allow 26”-30” coming out of each corner. We suggest this so you are able to access clothing items that are hanging in the corner (where wall 1 meets wall 2).

2. The Rule of the Short Wall• The shortest wall in a walk-in closet should always be designed for long hang and double hang systems that go wall to

wall.• Because most walk-in closets have one wall that is shorter than the rest (and is usually positioned in the back of the

closet), this wall should be reserved for wall-to-wall hanging.• By following this rule, more shelving and drawer space will be created on the sides of the closet, as opposed to the

back wall. This will allow the closet to feel more open and less like a tunnel.• The short wall measurement is always the easiest to obtain, and it must be precise.

Bridge Shelves

Hard Wall Measurement: 2 & 4Soft Wall Measurement: 3

1

2

3

4

5


Rules of Design continued

3. The Rule of Shelving• Shelving has purpose. Because of this, shelving should always be designed for specific items. Because the average

person’s basic closet inventory is the same across the board, this task should be able to be mostly finished without meeting the person the closet is intended for.

• Sweaters and shirts are around 12”-15” in width, and drawers and baskets are designed to fit these measurements. Standard drawer widths are 18”, 24”, and 30”.

• Whether or not the system you are designing has drawers or baskets, you should always keep shelving measurements to standard widths and avoid fractions of inches, unless it is a hard measurement.

• By following these measurement guidelines, the shelves will be adjustable and interchangeable throughout the system. This will allow a customer to grow with their closet.

TIP: When designing a half and half section with shelving, hanging should always be placed below shelving units so as not to impede lighting (see figures below). Clothes on hangers also stick out further than shelves, making it difficult to reach items on shelves and items that are hanging at the same time.

With hanging on top, the clothes filter out the light making it hard to see the items on the bottom shelves

With hanging on bottom, the clothes on the bottom are completely visible: the shelves do not block any of the light from getting through


WA

LK-IN

CLO

SETS

All About Walk-In Closets

Closet Design Basics

The system will utilize each available wall to its greatest extent and provide the best possible solution for hard to reach corners.

Have-To’s

There are several guidelines to consider when designing a walk-in known as “Have-To’s”. Usually the most important element to consider in a walk-in arethe corners. The number one “Have-To” is that double hang or long hang should go into corners. Shelves, drawers, and half and half come out of corners. Corners are generally the most difficult spot to reach in a walk-in.Hanging items are easier to retrieve from corners than items on shelves. Hanging has proven to be the best

option for corners. Drawers, baskets and shelves should not be planned for corners. The section on the adjacent wall next to a corner should be shelves, drawers, baskets or half and half for better access to the corner. It should never be double hang.

28” Rule

In order to provide enoughaccess to the corner, we use the 28” Rule. Clothes hang approximately 24”from the wall. This allows enough room for the clothes to hang plus a few extra

inches of access space to get them in and out. 28” is a guideline and can be adjusted up or down by a couple of inches. The 28” dimension is considered a “soft” measurement and doesn’t have to be exactly 28”. Starting a section less than 26” from the corner would be considered tight access and should only be used if space is a premium.



Designing Walk-Ins

The easiest way to begin a walkin closet is to put hanging (double or long hang) on the shortest wall. This is called hanging into the corner. Since walk-ins come in many shapes and sizes, the shorter wall may be the back or side walls of the closet. A wall-to-wall system on the shorter wall will require a “hard” or exact measurement.

When you hang into the corner, the first section on the adjacent wall should be shelves, drawers, baskets, or half and half. This will allow better access to the clothes hanging in the corner.

Most walk-ins have systems installed on three walls; left, right and back. If it is a large closet there may be room for systems on the front returns as well. In a walk-in

where an end panel is visible from the side, the section should be floor-based. The end panel should be half-bored so the exposed side has a finished appearance. These sections are generally right inside a door and should not be designed for hanging unless necessary. The section should be planned for shelves, baskets or drawers.

Sizes & Shapes

Walk-ins can be long andnarrow, wide and shallow or square. Walk-ins come in many sizes.

The most important consideration is width. The open area or aisle should not feel too crowded. 24” is the minimum width for a center aisle in a walk-in.

Islands & PeninsulasFree standing system in the middle of the closet. Size and number of sections will vary depending on the available space in the closet.

Most islands are used for drawers and are usually counter height. The standard counter height is 36” high. The top is used for folding clothes and packing. 36” high is comfortable height for those tasks.

It is possible to include shelves with or without doors in an island but they will be harder to access and require stooping or bending down. For this reason, drawers are most often suggested. Islands can be the depth of one set of drawers (14” or 16”) or two sets of drawers can be placed back to back for a deeper surface. Toe kicks are always required in islands.

The minimum space requirement to include an island in the closet is 10’ wide. The top of the island is generally done in a high-pressure laminate that can be 3/4” or 1” thick.

Peninsulas have many of the same characteristics as islands except that one end is attached to the wall. A peninsula may work in a closet that is not large enough for an island. The same amount of aisle space is required for access to each section as islands. The most common design for a peninsula is to have a hanging section next to the wall and drop down to a drawer unit as an end cap. It is preferable to have hanging be the first section instead of drawers. A peninsula can also include hanging only. It is possible to have different heights in each section or step down designs with peninsulas.

Double HangPeninsula with different heights

Example of an island


Additional HeightConsiderations:

Most ceilings are 96” high. The standard installation height is 84”. If the customer is over 6’ tall, it may be necessary to raise the system to 90” high. However, there will only be about 6” of space between the shelf and ceiling.

If the ceiling height is 108”, the system can be raised to 90” tall. This will leave approximately 18” between the top shelf and the ceiling.

Our longest panel is 96” tall. 96” is the tallest height we recommend installing a system.

It is possible to stack one system on top of another to create a system taller than 96” high. This is a rare situation that shouldn’t be encouraged.

The system will be floor based and a tall ladder will be required to reach the upper shelves. There is a danger involved in accessing shelves above 96” high, which should be pointed out to the customer.

The upper shelves should either be fixed or child-safe shelves to prevent them from tipping or falling.

It is possible to have triple hang for short garments if the ceiling is at least 120” high.

SPECIAL FEATURE:Benches

Benches can be built out of our laminate materials as part of the closet system. A common application for benches includes end caps of islands or peninsulas. A bench can be built below a window or right inside the door and connected to the rest of the system.

The standard height of a bench is 18”. The depth can be 14” or 16” and the width can be 18” or wider.Shelves or drawer can be incorporated under a bench for additional storage.

The bench is constructed of standard materials but the top can be high-pressuredlaminate to match the top of the island.

Recommendations from 42” to 144” Walk-ins

Empty closets look and feel large. When clothes are added, it may seem much smaller. The closet may not be wide enough to have hanging on bothsidewalls. Below are some recommendations for walk-ins from 42” to 144” wide:

42” to 48” wide: L-shaped design only. Hanging should go on the back wall and one sidewall should be used for shelves or drawers. Use the side with the deepest front return for the system. The other wall can be used for hooks.

54” to 60 wide: Hanging should go on the back wall. Hanging can go on one sidewall. The other wall should be used for hooks. 12” deep shelves can be used in 60” wide only.

60” to 72” wide: Hanging should go on the back wall. Hanging can go on one sidewall. Use the other sidewall for shelves, baskets or drawers.

72” wide: Hanging should go on the back wall. Both sidewalls can be used for hanging but the aisle will be 24” wide, the minimum.

84” to 120” wide: Possibilities are endless.

120” (10’) wide: The minimum width to include a one sided or narrow island or peninsula.

144” (12’) or more wide: The ideal size for a two sided island or peninsula.

Bird’s eye view ofa walk-in closet


All About Reach-In Closets


Doors

Door placement and type are the most important consideration for reach-in closets. They affect both thenumber of sections required and where they are placed.

Door Styles

The three most common door styles for reach-ins are: bi-fold, sliding or bi-pass, and swing. Sliding doors are the most limiting becauseyou only see one half of the closet at a time. However, they don’t take up any space in the room.

Both bi-folds and swing doors allow maximum access to the

closet but they open into the room, which can be a problem in tight spaces.

When designing reach in closets be sure to place the drawers orbasket units so that they clear the door opening. This allows for the drawers and baskets to be fully opened and removed if necessary.

It is sometimes necessary to have a small unit of hanging or shelving on either side of a drawer unit in order to clear bifold doors in the open position or the swing doors molding and trim.

Door Heights

Door height also affects thedesign. The standard door height is 80” high, but some doors may be 84” or 96” high. Taller heights allow for better

access to the top shelf.If designing depth of a closetused for shelving is less than 20”, the top shelf should be 72” high. This allows access to the shelf with an 80” high door.

The system will generally go wall to wall in a reach-in and require a hard or exact measurement.

REA

CH

-IN

C

LOSE

TS

Y-cut the top shelfof all units 14” or 16” deep when the door height is 84” high or less.


Return Walls

Doors come in standard widths that determine the size of the front returns. Many times the closet will be larger than the door opening unless the doors are custom made. These returns will affect the accessibility of the ends of the closet.

Standard bi-fold doors are 24”, 30” and 36” for a single door. 48”, 60” and 72” is standard for a double set of doors. Openings larger than 72” require more than one set of doors. There is usually a small center divider or wall between the sets of doors.

Standard sliding door openings are minimum 47” up to 95” for two doors. Openings that are wider than 95” will require at least 3 doors. Sliding doors are more “forgiving” than bi-folds because they can overlap.

When designing reach inclosets with return walls be sure to center the drawers or basket units so that they will clear the door opening.

This allows for the drawers and baskets to be fully opened and removed if necessary.

It is sometimes necessary to have a small unit of hanging or shelving on either side of a drawer unit in order to return walls and doors.There will be times it may make sense to turn the system sideways when the return walls are between18” and 28” deep.

Obstacles

The size of the front returns is an important consideration when designing reach-ins. They can vary from none to 24” or more. The larger the return, the less accessiblethe end of the closet will be.Other obstacles such as access panels, attic access, fuse boxes and alarm systems should be noted anddesigned around.

Note: In high-rises, the fuse box will generally be in the entry closet. Always ask where the fuse box is if not readily visible.

If drawers or baskets are to be included, they must be considered first. They need to be placed so that they can be opened into the doorway. It may not be possible to include drawers or baskets in a closet with sliding doors if the opening is too small. If drawers or baskets are going to be included, subtract the measurement (18”, 24” or 30”) from the back wall dimension. Then determine how many additional sections will be needed. Use standard sizes whenever possible for the other sections.

There will most likely be an odd sized section and it should be used for double hang or be the section with the fewest shelves. Sliding doors may require an extra section if drawers or baskets are included in order to open them into the doorway. Drawer placement with bi-fold doors can be in the middle or off to the side, as long as they clear the door.

Drawers & Baskets

Closet Doors

Closet Doors Drawers and Baskets


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Dividing The Closet Into Sections

The next consideration is how many sections to divide the closet into. This will be determined by the size of the closet and the door type. Make sections the same size whenever possible for system flexibility. It is easier for the shop to cut the same size instead of resetting the saw to cut different widths for each section. A general guideline for number of sections is:

3 feet = 1-2 7 feet = 3-4

4 feet = 2 8 feet = 3-4

5 feet = 2-3 9 feet = 4

6 feet = 3 10 feet = 4-5 Generally, the larger the closet is the wider the sections will be. It is usually a more functional design if it is not divided into many small sections.

Front To Back Arrangement

To increase access to the deep return, the system can be turned sideways on the end. This is called a front-to-back arrangement. The section is installed perpendicular to the system on the back wall. The over all storage capacitymay be less, but the access will be greatly improved. This is also a more expensive option because it requires an additional panel. The best option for a front to back section should be hanging, not shelves.

Standard Depth of 24”If the depth of the closet is 24”, the adjacent section on the back wall should be a 12” or 14” deep shelving or drawer section, or a half and half section. Long hang or double hang will block the access to the front to back section and should not be used. The end panel on the back wall should start a minimum of 28” from the corner.

Depth of Less than 24” It may be necessary to allow even more space if the closet is shallow (less than 24”) or if the return wall is deeper than 24”.

Depth of 30” or moreAnother option for extra deep returns is to specify 16” deep panels with the rods placed close to the front edge. This will project the clothing closer to the edge of the return for easier access.

The system in a standard reach-in closet should generally be installed at 84” high. It will be very difficult if not impossible to reach hanging or shelves much above 84” if there is a soffit above the door. Reach-in closets that are less than 20” deep should be installed below the height of the door. These closets are usually linen closets or pantries. The standard system height is 72”. You don’t want to reach around hanging systems to get to shelves. Generally hanging sections should go in harder to reach places.

Panels deeper than 12” in a standard reach-in closet will need to be notched back to 12” deep at the top. This is called a “yes” or Y Cut. This allows for better access to the top shelf when there is a standard height door (80”).

This should be noted on the design for reach-in closets 26” deep or less. It is not necessary to notch the panels when the door height is taller than 84” or in walk-in closets.

Wide reach-in closets with two sets of doors should be divided in the middle and treated as two separate closets.

Try to use one or two depths of sections in a closet. Use 12” and 16” or 12” and 14”. Using 12”, 14” and 16” deep sections in the same closet is too choppy and is usually unnecessary. Reach-in closets usually require a “hard” or exact measurement. If you are using the back-to-front option described on the right, the end dimension must be exact but the back wall measurement can be “soft”.

Expanded View of a Reach-In Closet with 3 Sections


953 North Larch Avenue, Elmhurst, IL 60126Phone: 866-826-7587 Fax: 630-832-6878

© 2017 All Rights Reserved

Wholesale Manager: Ralph OrlowskiDirect: 630-592-8034Mobile: [email protected]

Account Representative: Ted FeifarDirect: 630-592-8033Mobile: [email protected]

Account Representative: Lee GregoryDirect: 630-592-8040Mobile: [email protected]

Administrative Assistant: Julie WallaceDirect: [email protected]

Drawing Requests: Email to [email protected] or fax to 630-832-6878

Design Assistance: Mary LiegelDirect: 608-588-4499Email to [email protected]

Customer Service: Direct: [email protected]

Shipping & Receiving: Direct: 630-592-4532Email to [email protected]

Place an Order: Email to [email protected] or fax to 630-832-6878

Service Issue: Email to [email protected] or fax to 630-832-6878

guide to closet design basics - washington state closets · guide to closet design basics. ......

Documents