If you share a closet space with someone in your life, whether it's a significant other or anyone else, this can occasionally be a stressful experience. From separating each person's individual area to differences in design preferences and other basic areas, there might be a few simple themes you should be working out in advance with someone you share a closet space with.
At Precision Closets & Garage, we're happy to offer a huge range of closet options for our Salt Lake City and other Utah clients, from reach-in closets to walk-in closets and many other options for not just the bedroom, but any other part of your home. We're also happy to help with your design and setup process for any closet need, including for those arranging a shared closet space of any kind. What are some of our top recommendations for how to design and organize shared closets? Here are several.
If you and someone else in your life are in the process of selecting ideal closets for a shared space, it's important to remember that some level of compromise will be necessary. After all, you'll both be using the same space, so it needs to accommodate both of your needs as much as possible while still being functional and aesthetically pleasing.
You might not get exactly what you want in terms of looks or organization, but try to keep an open mind during the design process. It's more important that everyone is able to use the space comfortably and efficiently than it is for any one person to have their dream closet.
Perhaps the single most common cause of disagreements or stress surrounding shared closets is a simple lack of enough available space. Some buyers don't take enough time to consider all the different clothes and other possessions they'll be storing in a closet space, assuming they can just fit everything in -- but when it comes time to actually fill the closet up, they suddenly realize that there's nowhere near enough space.
While you're in the planning stages here, both parties who will be using the shared closet should be taking some time to go over their precise needs in terms of space. And because most of us tend to add clothes and possessions over time, we recommend going for a slightly larger closet size than you might think you need. It's always better to have too much space than not enough.
If at all possible, it can be helpful to try and create some kind of separation between the two different people's belongings in a shared closet space. This way, each person has their own little 'area' that they can more easily keep organized, and there's less risk of accidental mixing or damaging of each other's belongings.
One popular way to do this is with a divider shelf -- essentially, a shelf that runs down the middle of the closet (at about head height) and provides a physical barrier between the two sides. If you're using a walk-in closet, you might even be able to put in two entirely separate compartments with their own doors. Just make sure that there's still enough space on both sides for each person to comfortably move around and access all their belongings.
Whenever possible, it's best to try and declutter and organize your shared closet space together. This way, you can more easily come to a mutual agreement about what should be kept in the closet and what can be thrown out or stored elsewhere. It also helps to ensure that both people are happy with the final organizational setup of the space.
If you find that you're having trouble coming to an agreement about what should stay and what should go, try to be as objective as possible. For example, if one person hasn't worn a certain item of clothing in over a year, it's probably safe to assume that they don't need it taking up space in the closet. The same goes for any other belongings that are no longer being used on a regular basis.
Especially if your shared closet space gets a bit crowded at certain times of the year, it can be helpful to move off-season items elsewhere when they're not being used. For example, winter clothes can be stored in boxes or bags under the bed during the summer months, and vice versa.
This helps to free up some extra space in the closet so that both people can more easily access the items they need on a day-to-day basis. It also helps to cut down on the overall clutter in the space, making it more pleasant and inviting to be in.
One element that's enormously valuable in any shared closet space (or really any shared living space) is labeling. Whenever possible, try to label shelves, drawers, and other areas with each person's name. This helps to prevent confusion about who owns what and makes it easier to put things back in the right place.
It can also be helpful to label storage containers or boxes that are being used to store off-season items. This way, you always know exactly what's inside them and can more easily find the things you need when you need them.
Know what will happen if you don't have a dedicated dirty laundry bin, bag or area? Dirty clothes will just be strewn all over the shared closet space, making it more difficult to keep things organized and tidy.
To avoid this problem, it's a good idea to designate a specific area for dirty laundry. This can be anything from a laundry basket or hamper to a whole section of shelves that's just for storing dirty clothes until they can be washed.
For more on how to design and manage a shared closet space with a significant other or anyone else in your life, or to learn about any of our closets, garage storage themes or other products for SLC and nearby clients, speak to the team at Precision Closets & Garage today.
