Making Room with a Master Closet

Reach-in closets have long been a bedroom staple, determining layout and how often you have to rotate seasonal attire. But an ongoing evolution in what a closet can be is giving homeowners new ways to stay organized, utilize space, and even change their outlook on life.

Chris Schmidt of DreamHouse DreamKitchens says, “People are looking at master suites as the place where I start and end my day. If you can have a good start and end, if you have a great space to rest your head and keep your things organized and get yourself ready, it is amazing how it changes a day and your outlook on life.”

Though this homeowner’s closet was designed specifically for their needs, the lessons have universal applications that should excite every homeowner. It starts with the versatility of the 32mm system. From shelves to rods to door hinges to drawer slides, everything works off the 32mm system, in which holes are spaced 32mm apart in the closet framing. Everything can be switched out and moved around as needs evolve or if the home changes hands.

Open displays give this homeowner a personal shopping experience every morning, with the benefit of every item being the right size and every accessory fitting their style. It used to be that handbags were kept inside a silk bag hidden away in a drawer so as not to collect dust. With a master closet, these homeowners are not forgetting about favorite items that would otherwise have been stashed in the corner of a reach-in closet amongst shoes and a duffel bag.

“Having things displayed keeps people a little more organized,” says Chris. “When you have a shirt that you are unsure fits anymore or you wore it only once and it is buried at the bottom of a pile, it will sit there for years until that day you get rid of stuff, going through shirt by shirt. If you were to see it every time—hanging up and obvious—you would ask yourself more often, ‘Why do I have this? I don’t need it.’ So you hand it down. People are more organized when things are displayed openly.”

One of the most significant space alterations for this homeowner was removing a wall that split the closet in half, making the two separate closets feel small. After being opened up, the space feels much more inviting. “It creates a great open common space where you can fold laundry, you can lay your bag out and pack your clothes,” says Chris.

The master closet is assuming the role of dressers and hutches in older bedroom layouts. “It seemed to me in the ’80s and ’90s era of homebuilding, you did not see a lot of natural light in bedrooms. Now, rooms are getting a little quainter, but they are making the space feel open and vibrant by bringing in natural light. When you add a window, you eliminate the option to put something there.”

Perhaps most intriguing is that a master closet is not an out-of-reach luxury. Rather, it is a reimagining of how we use space in our homes. Think about the space you have reserved for boxes of clothes. With a master closet, your wardrobe is slimmed down more regularly to eliminate the need for boxes. Consider the space you reserve for a hobby, like sewing. Some homeowners have incorporated a large cabinet space with a sliding drawer for a sewing machine. Others have eliminated their laundry room by bringing the washer and dryer into the closet, literally maximizing efficiency. A master closet full of clothes also works great for soundproofing a coffeemaker.

With a master closet, homeowners also have a separate area for brilliant lighting that will not wake up a partner or spouse. And if you do not need much lighting, or are looking to up your display game, low-voltage LED lights can be used in the cabinets without worry of a fire hazard. The cost to have those lights on year-round is negligible, though Chris would still recommend a switch or motion sensor.

“People are glorifying the experiences they have when they go on vacation and feel great,” says Chris. “When you wake up in a hotel room, you get most everything done in the bedroom before you event get out the door. People have the same idea in their homes these days.”

Work, family, hobbies, whatever it is we do every day, there are so many things we actively think and stress about. These homeowners are living with the confidence that every morning and evening are going to be as comforting as they are consistent, and it is all thanks to rethinking the function of a closet.