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Clothes storage systems

Maya

Veteran

For you apartment dwellers, what are your favorite wardrobe storage systems? I am almost ready to finalize an apartment and I'm already envisioning how to decorate and organize my tiny space. Clothes are tough though. All of the Ikea systems seem to require wall or ceiling mounts, and I'm not sure that's going to be an option for me. Even if it's allowed, it doesn't seem practical.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

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30 replies

Latest reply was from Maya

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

No ideas Maya, but just wanted to say "how exciting!!!!"

Kari

Veteran

Maya, first of all, what items will/won't you have in your apartment? Do you have any closets or built-in shelves?

I try to maximize the vertical space in my closet with some of those Ikea collapsible shelves or shoe storage racks that hang from a clothes hanger, and I have a few rows of shelves underneath (cheap things that I got at Target) to store boxes or shoes in.

Kari

Veteran

Oh, and in college - when I shared the tiniest dorm room ever with another girl - we bought risers to slightly raise the height of our beds (you put the feet/wheels of your bed into this wide plastic riser), and then we bought some of those plastic pull-out drawers or bins to slide under our beds to store things like papers or socks or sweaters in. That was a huge space-saver.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Using skinny hangers definitely helps me, because I need to be able to see all my clothes. I don't buy the fancy ones; just cheap plastic ones from the 99 cents store.

We happen have some ridiculously deep shelves -- I guess they were designed to hold comforters or something. Since we don't have that many blankets, we store extra clothes/shoes/etc. in there. We use plastic tubs as "drawers" that we can pull out for easy access to things in the back.

Maya

Veteran

All I would have a rather pathetic coat closet. I have uploaded a picture of it. All it can accommodate is my over-the-door shoe hanger and coats. Maybe jackets too.

For knits, underwear, and jeans I'll probably just use the dresser I have or buy a new one. But most of my clothes (dresses, jackets, cardigans, and blouses) get hung. I could just get a clothes rack, but it seems so visually unappealing. I'd rather have a modular system, but I'm not sure such a thing exists that is freestanding.

It's not a done deal so I may end up disappointed, but it's a pretty fair representation of what I have been seeing in any case.

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Lisa

Veteran

Would a wardrobe storage cabinet be an option?
http://www.google.com/products.....FcQ8wIwAg#

Kari

Veteran

Maya, this will be a studio (no separate bedroom), right? Kind of a random idea, but if a clothes rack ends up being the best option for you, what if you got (or made) one of those large, folding screens to put in front of your clothing rack when you aren't using it? You could also use the screens to break up some of the space in your apartment - for example, to give the area where your bed will be a little bit of privacy from the main living/working area.

(I'm just brainstorming.)

Maya

Veteran

Yes Kari, it's a studio. I'm a little hesitant to break it down into too many separate spaces because I want it to feel as big as possible. I see your point though. I just wish everything could be integrated somehow, and feel like a unit instead of disparate elements.

Lisa, that is sort of along the lines of what I want, but bigger. I have lots of clothes :\

To be honest I haven't seen it in person yet, which is why it isn't finalized. I'm seeing it tomorrow and will probably take it unless there is something horribly and unexpectedly wrong with it. But I anticipate it will be only around 400 sq. feet.

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Have you ever seen those shelving units that are made out of material rather than wood or metal? They're installed by fastening velcroe tabs around a standard hanger rod in any closet, and that's it. You then have something like five extra shelves, and I use mine all the time for things like knitwear and jeans.

Elly

Veteran

You can get rolling clothes racks that have a fabric cover.

http://ts1.mm.bing.net/images/.....2c0xffffff

http://www.organizeit.com/images/rolcanwar.jpg

elpgal

Veteran

Yep, what Elly said. I had one of those when I was a studio dweller. Your new space looks very nice!

MsMary

Veteran

Wow, love the wood floor and that fireplace! I hope it's as nice in person as it looks in the photo!

AJ

Veteran

Sorry, no new suggestions for clothing space, but I just wanted to say that the place looks cute and I hope it works out for you when you see it.

Diana

Veteran

Ikea makes free standing wardrobes like these, which are nice:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/cata.....oom/19054/
They are less sturdy and polished looking than the modular built in ones (the PAX is the one I'm thinking of) but far cheaper and don't require wall attachments etc.

I have the aneboda (the first one on that page) but it used to come in a wood finish, which looks nicer than the white it comes in now. I also have a matching set of shelves with a door (no longer available, I think) that I use in lieu of a dresser (I like to be able to see everything in there when I open the door). I personally prefer an actual wardrobe rather than the canvas rolling closet thingies, because I think they look nicer, but they do take up more room so make sure you consider that.

Maya

Veteran

Diana, that was my first instinct but then I read this:

This furniture must be secured to the wall with the enclosed anti-topple device.

Can you get away without securing it to the wall? That just sounds extreme...

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

Securing it to the wall is not really a big issue. Their wall systems come with a tiny silver strap that you screw on to the furniture and then to a stud in the wall. You'll need a drill and a stud finder to do it.

Maya

Veteran

It's not really an issue of being capable of doing it. It just isn't permitted (this is part of someone's house).

Diana

Veteran

Maya, I have never bothered to attach any of my ikea furniture to the wall, and nothing has toppled over yet! I do think it's a good idea to put heavy things on the bottom shelf (mine has a bottom shelf under the main part with the clothes rod) like shoes and stuff but honestly unless you have some really top-heavy clothes I wouldn't worry. I think it's just a liability thing...

Patty

Veteran

A new space --pretty exciting!
Instead of attaching a shelving unit to the wall- wedge the bottom front of the unit with a piece of cheap crown molding ---it tilts the unit back against the wall a bit so it won't tend to lean into the room. just a peice of wood like you see where the floor and wall meet--that finishing piece of molding----we have even used yard sticks. You'll probably keep heavy pieces in the bottom that will help anchor the footing to the floor anyway so this helps keep it up and secure to the wall. We have 10 Billy book shelves and two deep kitchen pantries set up like this and have never had one topple over --even with kids digging thru.
Have fun!!!
O course this doesn't work so well with legged shelves but with solid boxy bottom shelves like the Billys.

Scarlet

Veteran

We use the Pax system and we never attached it to the wall. No problems for 5+ years. I think they probably say that you must attach it to the wall because of law suits or something. It's like saying you can't set up a bookshelf without attaching it to the wall. Who does this? Our current floors are old and uneven, so we level the shelves/wardrobes with splints (little wedges stuck underneath). I think that's the word.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

These are spendy but I think would be invaluable in a studio, think of all the boots, books and out of season woolens you can store.
http://www.thestoragebed.co.uk.....4QodkgNFfA
I really want one as we are rapidly outgrowing the available space.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

When I had my studio in the Bronx I seriously considered getting a captain's bed. It's a bed with drawers under the mattress. I know of at least one furniture store in Manhattan that sells them in a variety of finishes.

Vani

Veteran

These are not pretty but between 2 of these, two of chaper versions of this and this my little walk-in closet served DH, me and our bed & bath linen very efficiently with just enough space for use.

ETA: Oops, just the picture you posted. I would highly suggest a nice sleek dresser or chest of drawers that would look nice and offer plenty of storage - for all your knits, underwear and linen. You could then hang your clothes in the closet and us lower shoe racks for your shoes.

April

Veteran

Maya, could you imagine having prettier things in view, something like this: http://s3.amazonaws.com/atimg/.....ect540.jpg ?

I know in the picture they have all those elements attached to the wall and ceiling, but a clothing rack on wheels could produce a similar effect.

Also, along Anna's idea of a captain's bed, here's a variation: http://www.potterybarn.com/pro.....y=cdaybeds

Kristine

Veteran

I'm sure you have beautiful clothes, so how about treating them as a display on a rolling wardrobe rack? You could complete it with old vintage fashion photos, hat boxes, a dress form, an old vanity or whatever suits your taste. You could devote the whole space to style and fashion!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*excited*

Have you bought a bed yet? I was going to suggest something like what Anna and Julie have suggested.

I'd keep all your jackets and coats on a fun visual outside rail - hang your handbags on it too. Keep undies and basics in a chest of drawers and get the container store to help you with space in your closet.

Maya

Veteran

But Angie. I would have no closet! That closet is just big enough to hold my coats (possibly jacket), and contain my tall boots. There is no way it will fit all my clothes.

I'm actually considering a loft bed, which would leave most of the floor open, and be a better bedbug strategy.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Maya, sorry that I wasn't clear. I meant that you get a few clothes racks (like we use for the clothes swaps) and hang your coats and jackets on them, leaving them displayed on the floor of your studio apartment. It's a fabulous aesthetic effect actually.

Use the cupboard for your dresses and blouses.

Buy an armour or chest for the rest.

Store under the bed.

Display your accessories.

Get shoe racks.

Voila!

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

Maya I just had to pop back and say that until you posted the actual approx square footage of your potential new home, I really had no idea as to just how small Studio's were. (I converted it to meters and paced it out in my house!).

So thank you - I now have a much better appreciation of your challenges - we don't have any high-density living where I live, and I've no idea if that sort of sizing is common in our larger cities or not.

Did you end up taking it?

PS I had one of those beds with drawers under it as a teenager and LOVED it.

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