Guide to Updating Your Closet and Upgrading to a Walk-In Closet

Serving the Vancouver-Portland Metro Area

Have you been considering how to transform unused space into something more valuable? Or maybe it’s time to upgrade your old, inefficient reach-in closet? A custom walk-in closet may be exactly what you’ve been looking for, and while this decision comes with a lot of choices, you don’t have to feel overwhelmed. To help you get started, we’ve put together this guide to upgrading to a walk-in closet.

This closet design checklist is designed to give you ideas and inspiration as you prepare for a successful project, ensuring you get a built-in closet system that perfectly organizes your life and complements your style.

At Portland Closets, we make the closet upgrade and custom design process simple by walking you through every step. You’ll work with a dedicated design consultant who can answer all of your questions and provide as much or as little assistance as you need. If you know exactly what you want, they’ll help you bring it to life. If you’re not sure, they’ll collaborate closely with you so you get the perfect custom walk-in closet for your needs. 

How to Design the Perfect Custom Walk-In Closet for Your Home

A custom walk-in closet isn’t just an investment in your home’s property value – it’s also an investment in yourself and your daily routine. But to make sure you get your maximum return, there are a few things you should ask yourself and think about.

Here are seven of the most important considerations for creating the ideal custom closet system for your home:

How Much Space Do You Have? Do You Have Room for a Walk-In? 

You must first determine if you have the minimum 24” depth for hanging clothes plus a comfortable 36” aisle for circulation. If space is tight, we can design a deep reach-in or narrow walk-in closet for maximum storage.

Inventory Your Wardrobe

Categorize your belongings — long-hanging items, double-hanging items, folded clothes, and accessories (shoes, bags, ties). This audit is crucial for determining the right ratio of rods, shelving, and built-in drawers.

Defining Shape and Flow (The Layout)

Decide on the best layout — single wall, L-shaped, or U-shaped — based on your room’s dimensions. Also, be sure to take into account your current or future accessibility needs, as this affects turning radius and rod placement.

The Door Decision (Maximizing Wall Space)

Determine the best door type (pocket, sliding, barn, or traditional swing) to maximize the amount of usable wall space inside the closet.

Choosing Materials, Look, and Feel

Select materials, finishes, and hardware that match your home’s aesthetic. We guide you through the choice between laminate vs wood veneer for luxury custom closets, which significantly impacts the feel and the factors influencing custom walk-in closet cost. For an up-close look at your options, be sure to visit our Portland showroom and experience the quality and finishes firsthand.

Integrated Features for Functionality

Identify the specialized built-in closet storage and accessories that will streamline your routine, such as pull-out valet rods, velvet-lined jewelry drawer inserts, or a custom island.

Lighting and Environmental Control

Plan for proper illumination, which typically includes LED closet lighting, and ensure adequate ventilation to protect high-quality fabrics and footwear.

How Do You Want to Use Your Walk-In Closet?

What do you want your closet to do for you? How do you plan on using it?

Thinking about how you plan on using your walk-in closet on a daily basis is crucial for selecting the right features.

Here are some examples:

Design Your Custom Walk-In Closet by Answering These Questions

We use these questions to tailor a walk-in or reach-in closet design that is exactly right for you. Use this as your starting point for our conversation:

1. How much space do you need for primary storage? What percentage of items need hanging vs. folded storage? What other items would you possibly store in your closet?
2. How important is quality craftsmanship? Are you more concerned with prioritizing high-end features and finishes or maximum cost-efficiency?
3. What specialized built-in closet storage do you require? Examples include tie racks, charging stations, and specific cubby sizes.
4. What is your preferred layout and material? This impacts the factors influencing your custom walk-in closet cost.

Which Walk-In Closet Features Should You Get?

Choosing the right features is how you make your custom walk-in closet truly feel like yours. Below we’ve listed some of the most popular features we offer. If you don’t see the feature you’re looking for here, ask your design consultant. Most likely, if you can dream it up, we can make it happen.

• Corner Shelves: Maximize your space with our rounded corner shelves. They offer excellent storage and can be adjustable or fixed, eliminating dead corners.
• Shoe Racks and Storage: Easily organize your footwear with flat or slanted shoe shelves. Adjustable shelves accommodate everything from tall boots to flats.
• Jewelry Organizers: Our felt-lined, multi-compartment jewelry trays organize necklaces, bracelets, and rings. Keep them safe with optional locking jewelry drawers.
• Island or Peninsula: Ask your designer if you have space for a custom island or peninsula. With endless countertop and configuration choices, it’s a great addition.
• Drawers: We’ll customize deep or shallow drawers to your exact needs.
• Hampers: Eliminate awkward, freestanding hampers and maintain a neat closet with a fully integrated pull-out or tilt-out hamper system. 
• Closet Display Cases: Make items like purses or shoes the focal point with a custom glass door display cabinet. Add energy-efficient LED lighting to make your items pop.
• Belt and Tie Racks: Sliding belt and tie racks keep accessories visible and organized, adding functionality and saving space. 
• Pants Organizer: Our sliding pants organizer uses specialty hangers on a sliding rack to keep trousers dedicated, organized, and wrinkle-free, freeing up hanging rods.
• Valet Rod: Perfect for planning outfits or setting aside items, our sleek Valet Rod is a valuable and simple accessory for any custom closet.
• Hooks: Simple yet effective, hooks are great for hanging frequently used coats or purses. Choose from many options to fit your style.
• LED Lighting: Our energy-efficient LED lighting, from strip lights to puck lights, is the perfect finishing touch to illuminate your new custom walk-in closet.

Ready to Design Your Dream Closet?

Relying on professional service and installation is the only way to guarantee your custom built-in walk-in closet is safe, secure, and perfectly tailored to your space for decades of use.

If you’re ready for a free, no-obligation estimate, give us a call. We’ll ask you a few questions about what you’re looking for and provide the quote. Or, if you’re not quite sure, we’d be happy to schedule a complimentary design consultation in your home or here at our showroom.

Be sure to also check out our walk-in closet gallery with photos of recent walk-in closet projects we’ve completed for clients!