Closet Storage System

A conventional 6-by-8-foot walk-in closet has, on average, 20 linear feet of hanging space. Take that same closet and incorporate a closet system into it and, abracadabra, you can have up to 40 linear feet of hanging space. Besides hanging space, shelves and drawers can also be added to make the most of the closet.

When planning for storage, do as the professionals do: make a list. Ask each member of the family to itemize their possessions on paper. It seems like a dreadful task, but it will be worth the effort in the end. Item by item count isn't necessary, but you need to know whether you'll be storing more shorts than long pants, or skirts and blouses with only a few dresses, before you begin making decisions. And then, of course, you must account for shoes and accessories.

The above chore will help determine how much full length hanging space is necessary, compared to double hanging space. Corners are good for shoe storage. Shelves over drawers are great for folded sweaters and folded pullovers. Hide the underwear in the drawers under the shelves.

For growing children, the best bet is to accommodate their closets as if they were adults. Since they seem to outgrow their clothes every three months, it is unwise to make their storage pint-sized.

In the bathroom, keep safety considerations first. Keep razors and medicines in childproof drawers. Allow extra storage for lavatory paper and tissue boxes. Opt for drawers over cabinet doors with a shelf behind the doors. The drawers will keep you better organized. Vary your drawer sizes so you have narrow ones for cosmetics and / or combs and brushes with the deeper drawers for tall bottles, such as mouthwash, moisturizing creams, astringents and the like. If you have the space, put in shelves for towel storage. Towels can add a colorful, decorative touch and with the towels in the bathroom your linen closet has more space for bulky bedding.

In the kitchen, efficiency is the primary concern. Dishes, glasses, cups and flatware will be most convenient if stored near the dishwasher. Pots and pans should be stored close to the stove. The average family of four requires 10 cubic feet of dry goods storage, so keep that in mind when planning your pantry.

For shared possessions such as games, books and magazines, the family room and living room should be used. Drawers in the furniture, window seats with storage and plenty of shelves are ideal places for these items.

Plan, too, for storage space in the garage. Just putting things in there any which way will result in an unkempt mess where things are hard to find and where things will get broken easily. Inexpensive fiberboard shelves are a quick, effective way to make order out of chaos.

(Rosemary Sadez Friedmann, a member of the American Society of Interior Designers, is president of Rosemary Sadez Friedmann Inc. in Naples, Fla.)