Children usually don't care about their closets and if they had one that was interesting to them, they might show a desire to keep it cleaner. Kids love sports teams, famous athletes, movies, as well as movie stars and these can be used to make a themed closet for your child. If you design a closet around their favorite sports team or player, they will take much more interest in the closet and undoubtedly learn to use it.
Adding a colorful light or lights to a closet can also help make it look cool. kids love lights and they can add atmosphere to any closet. Just take a look at any nightclub or hip restaurant and you will see how effective lighting can be. If you put in the right kind of lighting in your child's closet they will show an interest in it that was never there before.
If your child is in a room with a walk in closet you have more options to make a fun space for them to store their things. If you have the money you could splurge for a custom closet that is build by a professional company. The custom closet business is big now and there are many companies that will come to your home and design something just for you. Having them design and install something fun for your child might be a bit expensive but it could be worth it to teach your kid about being neat and respecting their things.
No matter how hard you try, some kids will never learn to be neat. Other children though, are neat and clean naturally and do it without any prompting from their parents. Most kids fall somewhere in between these two extremes and if you take the time to try to build a fun closet for them, it will grab their attention. An interesting closet will help teach them to put their things away and learn how to use a closet.
Labels: Closets, Closets Ideas, Kits Closets Ideas
Lavender is a mild sachet scent option that works great and has been used for centuries for just this purpose, in order to keep closets and other methods of storage fresh. People have been utilizing the mildly sweet and soothing scent of lavender to refresh body, soul, and mind for many years, and it works great in small tight places or large open ones. Because the smell is mild and disperses quickly in a breeze, it is a good option for those who get headaches that are triggered by scent.
Pine is also a very common scent choice, but it can be overwhelming if you are not careful with the brand name that you choose. For those who want a pine scented sachet in the closet to keep things smelling fresh, be sure to choose a name brand instead of a store brand. Cheap imitations often overpower the entire space in pine, and it can saturate everything inside just as heavily as the musty stale odor you are trying to avoid. No scent is a good one if it is overwhelming.
Floral scent sachets have waned in popularity, but milder scents are becoming trendy again as new ideas are introduced that are less overwhelming. Although the name implies a wonderful walk through your flower garden, most floral scents more closely resemble those cans of bathroom freshener that we all avoid in the grocery store. Be wary of any scent that you cannot first smell for yourself, and consider a different selection if the scent seems strong at first. In cases like this, it is better to make a different choice than to be bowled over by the smell of cheap flowers later; and if you discover that the scent is acceptable later, sachets are very easy to swap out.
More modern ideas such as charcoal make a lot of sense if you want freshness without scent in your sachet. It may sound odd at first, but charcoal seems to soak up the scent without dispersing its own scent, meaning that you eliminate staleness and mustiness without adding any other scent. People with medical problems such as chronic illnesses made worse by scent, frequent headaches, allergy problems, and similar issues can choose to keep the closet fresh by using a charcoal sachet that neutralizes the odor. Charcoal is also a very eco-friendly idea, especially when combined with environmentally friendly packaging such as a bamboo sachet pillow or closet hanger.
In many ways this is surprising, as they are such an essential part of any bedroom. Indeed, for those that are on a budget, simply replacing the closet doors can afford a great new look. Naturally though, it is important that exactly the right look and style is chosen, whilst it is critical to make sure that they are the right dimensions for the space as well.
If replacing an older set, the first thing to do is to measure the height and the width of the closet doors. This is usually best done by removing them, and laying them out flat somewhere. This allows for the measurements to be taken accurately, and prevents any mistakes being made regards the tape measure slipping and the like.
If buying new furniture, the measurements should be provided by the staff in store and, they will be able to recommend on what types of door can be used. When deciding the many types available, it is worth considering how the space will be used.
For example, including mirrors into the equation can work extremely well; creating space and creating a focal point. In smaller rooms in particular this is an excellent idea; where there may not be enough wall space for a mirror to be hung independently.
Further than this, incorporating a mirror into sliding closet doors is a great look, and saves space as they do not have to open out into the room. Bi-folding options can also work very well to save space in much the same way, and some stunning effects can be achieved with these.
This is not the only clever way to work however, as much can be done with the inside of the doors too; incorporating space-saving ideas such as pockets into them. This will not work with sliding or bi fold of course, but with regular outward opening ones, they can be used to great effect.
There are a great many options available today, and there are some excellent deals to be had online in particular. If buying on the internet though, it is ever more essential that the measurements be right because, though returns can probably be made, it will create an awful lot of unnecessary hassle.
Labels: Bedroom, Closet Doors, Closets, Doors
Get Organized With Custom Closets and Bathroom Storage Units
0 comments Posted by ariya at 6/28/2011Have you ever heard the phrase "band aid for a bullet wound"? That's basically what cleaning is: a stopgap. You're picking up your items, folding them, putting them into drawers, but without closet organizer systems to keep you in check, you're eventually going to wind up with the same old mess on your hands. Getting organized allows you to break the cycle.
For example, let's suppose you pull clothes out of your hamper to separate the lights from the darks. You only have room for one load of laundry at the time, leaving a pile of darks (or lights) all over the floor. And then something good comes on TV, and your best friend calls you on the phone, and suddenly that second load doesn't seem so important. It just stays on the floor. For days.
Sound familiar?
Fortunately, laundry problems are very simple to fix - all you need is a wicker laundry hamper with sorting capabilities. A laundry sorter hamper will have separate compartments for lights and darks, allowing you to organize as you go instead of every once in a while when you decide to do laundry. Some of these wicker laundry hamper products even come with three or four compartments for other categories of clothing, like delicates.
Speaking of clothes, let's talk about closets. The phrase "custom closets" might sound expensive, but this is only describing customization that you can do yourself using closet organizer systems. You can buy a system with various configurations of shelves, drawers, and hangers, then move the different components around to perfectly fit your space. Whether you have a walk in closet or a teensy enclosure, you'll be able to find something that fits, since closet organizer systems come in all shapes and sizes.
To compliment your closet organizer systems, consider investing in some new closet hangers as well. You probably have a hodgepodge of cheap plastic hangers from clothing stores and bargain bins, but it's possible to upgrade to closet hangers that will help keep your clothes wrinkle free — they might even help you fit more in your closet!
There's one important room we can't forget, and that's the bathroom. Like closet organizer systems, bathroom storage units can help prevent clutter by assigning a place for all of your items. Some bathroom storage units are designed to hold your shampoo and body wash in the shower, while others can keep your hair dryer or curling iron in a safe, dry place. Alternatively, people looking for a major storage upgrade should check out larger bathroom storage units like cabinets and shelves.
Unlike closet organizers, a shoe closet is more than just a bunch of boxes glued together to make a shoe cubby. I have nothing against shoe cubbies, mind you. They can be a practical, inexpensive and functional addition for closet or bedroom. But nothing beats a nice piece of furniture. I'm not talking custom cabinets, here - that can be a very expensive proposition. However, there are alternatives that can stills be attractive amenities to your home.
Shoe closets are available in a plethora of styles, types, and finishes. There's sure to be one that appeals to you and that coordinates with your existing decor.
The bench types are functional and attractively upholstered with a shoe cubby in the base. They come in a variety of cushion patterns and colors, and materials including leather. I love their versatility. Because they come in a range of widths, they can easily be incorporated at the foot of just about any bed without taking up precious wall space. They're just as functional in a walk-in closet as they are in an entryway. Some even have sock drawers located just below the bench cushion.
There are also bench styles with drawers that pivot forward, just like the freestanding types with the same style drawer. (Those come in single to triple high units in various furniture styles and finishes. Most are "assembly required", so have a handyman ready if you're not good at following directions or handling a screwdriver.)
If you can't deal with neatly placing matching pairs of shoes on a shelf that folds into the bench, perhaps a basket type unit would suit you better. Multiple baskets that slide in and out of the base under the cushion(s) seem to work well for reforming slobs and training children, (ie. husbands and kids - sometimes indistinguishable from one another.) Each one gets their own basket and all they have to do is toss in their shoes. It may take a bit longer to find a pair, and you can't be picky about the bottoms of shoes touching the tops of others, but it's better than tripping over them as you walk through the front door.
For those with extra wall space, the double door type cabinets with built-in shoe cubby are a beautiful addition to your bedroom ensemble. You can get these in single door widths, too, but obviously, those don't hold as many shoes. Both widths are available with sock drawers above the shoe cabinet. For an organization junky, this is the coup de'tat: shoes and socks in the same place!
Of the myriad of choices in shoe closets, there is sure to be one that will turn out to be the best buy you've made since those purple Prada's were on sale at Neiman Marcus. Okay, so you get your shoes at Payless - you'll still wonder how you ever got along without this awesomely practical and totally cool looking piece of furniture.
Labels: Closets, Organization, Shoe Closets, Shoes, Storage
Taking care of your lovely closet is not at all a mammoth of a task, and you only need to do it once in two weeks or so. But again, if you forget to do that too, you might get your closet damaged sooner than you think. A damaged closet not only looks bad, but also can cause damage to the items stored in it. Most of the times as we store clothes in the closet, they are affected irreversibly when the closets are damaged. Rather than going through all this trouble, its better if we take into account the weekly maintenance of the closet organizer.
Things That Can Damage Your Closet
When we list down the things that can damage your closet, in that list, the first item would be water. Water can cause utmost damage to your closet organizer. Usually water can cause damage mostly to the wooden surfaces and the glued parts. Thus you have to make sure that your closet organizer doesn't get wet. Metal parts of organizer might not get rusted because of occasional encounter with water, but definitely a prolonged exposure might do a serious damage. Even if your closet gets wet, which usually happens, you must clean it as soon as possible. If you let the water stay, after sometime water seeps deep into the ply and gets absorbed by the wood. Moisture is the worst enemy for the wooden closet. Thus be careful when you're walking around in front of a closet having a cup of coffee, because water would be easier to clean than a blob of thick coffee.
Avoid putting wet clothes in the closet. This can elongate your closet's life by a very long time. Many a times when we get wet in rain, we remove our wet clothes and hang them or put them on the wooden closet, and when our kids come back from play after getting wet in muddy waters, we do the same. By doing so, you are giving enough time to the closet to absorb sufficient amount of water in order to get affected by fungus or dampness.
Always keep your closet at a good distance from either bathroom or washbasin. These are the areas where the moisture content is high. Keeping closet organizer near these areas expose them to a constant spray of water droplets, which eventually turn sour for the health of closet.
Things You Can Do To Save Your Closet Organizer
Airflow is the best friend for any wooden furniture, and so it is for your closet organizer too. Always make sure that the room in which you have kept the closet is always ventilated properly. Without proper flow of air, your closet is most likely to get dampened at places which is not exposed to air.
When you are either sweeping or cleaning your room, cover the closet with cloth, which would prevent it from catching dust. Also make sure you clean the interiors of the closet at least once in two weeks using the vacuum cleaner or by hand itself.
Rotate the position of closet at least once in 3-4 months. Its good to change the position of the closet so it gets introduced to better aerated locations within your home. By doing so, you would avoid damp or fungus attacking your closet. All in all, closet organizer is one important tidy machine which keeps your things organized.
Labels: Closet Organizer, Closets, Maintenance
Profiles and sizes
Closet tubing comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, materials, and colors. The most common shapes, or profiles, are round and oval. Round closet rod is sold in 1-1/16 inch diameter tube and 1-5/16 diameter tube. It can be purchased in steel, stainless steel, and aluminum.
Round closet rod generally carries more weight due to the shape of the tube and usually has a thicker wall. While either size is suitable for a closet, for maximum weight bearing capacity use 1-5/16 diameter rod.
Oval tube isn't truly oval in shape but more of an oblong rounded shape with two flat sides. It normally measures 15 x 30 mm or approximately 1-1/8 x 1-1/4 inches. Oval tube is manufactured in steel or aluminum.
Materials
Metal closet rod is available in Steel, Stainless Steel, and Aluminum. Steel is typically sold with a Polished Chrome finish; this is the most common closet rod material and finish. Its advantages are strength and durability at a lower price. Stainless Steel is typically sold with a satin or brushed finish. It offers the strength and durability of steel with the added advantage of rust and corrosion resistance. Stainless steel is ideal for humid and sea-side applications.
Aluminum is sold in a variety of anodized finishes. Anodizing is a process in which electricity is used to p roduce a hard and durable surface. Aluminum tubing is much lighter in weight but with a similar load bearing capacity to steel.
Evaluate your needs
Length - The first thing you should consider for your installation is the length of the closet rod. The length should be determined by measuring the wall to wall distance. Dry wall often has very slight waves or undulations in it so that the distance between walls may differ from one spot to another. For this reason it's important that you take your wall to wall measurement at the exact spot where the closet rod will be installed. Usually the closet rod is mounted at least 12 inches from the back wall. Having someone help you measure will make the job much easier and give you better results. If you need a closet rod over 8 feet long some profiles and finishes are available in extended lengths up to 12 feet.
Weight bearing needs - Next, decide what kind of clothing will be stored on your closet rod. While a mix of garments is expected in a normal closet, an Arizona wardrobe will be much different from a Minnesota wardrobe. Cold weather clothing will weigh a lot more and that should be taken into consideration. A closet rod in a coat closet will need to support a lot of heavy items while a closet rod in a nursery closet will not need to support much weight at all. Keep in mind that the longer the closet rod the more likely it is to sag when loaded with clothing. Center supports and shelf/rod brackets will keep the closet rod straight. As a general rule, closet rods under 5 feet don't require center support. For longer spans consider using center supports every 3 or 4 feet.
Finish - After the practical needs of your closet are determined you can concentrate on aesthetics. Profile shape, color, and finish should fit the décor of the closets and surrounding room. With so many choices available you should have no problem finding something to suit your taste.
Mounting Flanges
Mounting flanges are the supports that attach to the wall and hold your closet rod up. Each type of rod will have mounting flanges made specifically for it but there are common types of flanges used for all tubing. Open flanges are made with the top portion open like a "U" so the closet rod can be easily lifted out. Closed flanges completely encircle the end of the mounted closet rod and do not allow removal without unscrewing the flange from the wall. 32mm pinned flanges are made to work with 32mm systems or European closet systems. These are closet systems that have pre-drilled holes spaced at 32 millimeters running up and down the closet side panels. While 32mm flanges can also be screwed in place, this isn't necessary and foregoing screws allows adjustment of the closet rod up or down if you wish. 32mm flanges are available for round and oval tubing in open and closed variations.
Accounting for mounting flange space
Since the mounting flange may have a back-plate, the flange you use will determine the cut length of the rod. For instance, if the wall to wall measurement is 60 inches and you are using two open flanges you'll need to subtract ¼ inch from the total length of the rod. Each open flange has a 1/8 inch back plate. 1/8 + 1/8 = ¼ inch of space that will occupy the total length of 60 inches. Some closed flanges have an opening all the way through so that your closet rod will actually touch the wall. In this instance the rod itself could actually be 60 inches long. Be sure to find out what space your mounting flanges will take up and factor that into the total length of the application. Each flange has a cuff, the part that encloses and supports the end of the tube. The cuff will be between ½ inch and 1 inch deep. Keeping in mind the cuff depth you may want to cut the closet rod just slightly shorter to give yourself some "wiggle room".
Cutting closet tubing
While it is possible to cut closet tubing yourself it's usually worth it to pay a cutting charge if that service is provided by your supplier. If you do decide to cut it yourself use a saw blade made for cutting metal. Be sure to use your saw as directed by the manufacturer to prevent accidents!
Installation
Once you have everything measured and cut you may proceed with installation. This step will be easier with some assistance so get a friend to help. You've already made sure that your tubing is adequate for your closet, now you need to make sure that it's firmly and securely mounted in place. The mounting flanges are far more likely to tear loose from the wall than your closet rod is to bend so it's critical that this step is done correctly! If the closet rod is to be attached to dry-wall be sure that it is located so the screws go through the dry-wall and into a wall stud. Dry-wall alone is not sufficient as a mounting surface. If you're unable to screw into a stud, plan on using a wood mounting board on top of the wall. This should be firmly attached to the wall studs and will provide a suitable point of attachment for your mounting flanges. If you do use a mounting board remember to subtract its thickness from your wall to wall measurement when determining your closet rod length. Depending on the type of flange you're using, it may be screwed in place before the rod is set or it may need to be slid onto the rod prior to screwing in place.
Using Your closet
Once everything is in place you can start filling your closets. While metal tubing has a very durable finish it can scratch if used roughly. It's always a good idea to use quality hangers to protect your clothes and your closet rod. Plastic hangers will ensure that the finished surface remains scratch free. Wood and metal hangers are fine just as long as the hook has a smooth finished end. Wire dry cleaning hangers have sharp ends and should be avoided.
Labels: Closet Rods, Closets, Installing
Ordering anything online can be a little scary, and ordering a custom product can be even more challenging. Here are a few suggestions to make ordering custom closets online a little easier and more secure.
1. Get familiar with your closet layout. Take exact measurements of each wall including the height of each wall. If the ceiling height varies in your closet, determine exactly where the change occurs. For wall widths, take measurements at both the floor level and at the highest level you can reach, and if you want to be extra careful take measurements mid-way. You'll want to use the smallest of these measurements when designing your closet, since this is the most restrictive dimension.
2. Make a simple sketch of your closet using a heavy lead pencil or pen and notate the measurements of each wall. You don't necessarily need to make your sketch to scale, but that would help you understand the potential of your closet.
3. Now that you have a sketch of your closet's layout start thinking about a logical floor plan. When designing your floor plan be realistic about the size of your space and any obstacles in your closet. Most people tend to over design a closet space in a effort to maximize storage area. Don't make a plan that blocks a door from swinging completely open or would create a cramped space. Better to move items to another storage area than create a tight and difficult closet. Remember that hanging clothes need at least 24 inches of depth and the minimum shelf depth for folded clothes is 12 inches.
4. When you have your closet floor plan finished begin assessing what type of articles you need to store in your closet and how much space you need for each type. Most people need more space for hanging clothes followed by folded clothes, shoes, purses and dirty laundry respectively. Determine if you want to have drawers in your closet and how many you need. Having drawers in your closet can free-up additional space in your bedroom.
5. Now that you have a rough ideal what you are going to store and how you are going to store it, it's time to create your closet design. The best way to do that is to find an online design program that can can design your closet to-scale. Several closet companies have online design programs geared to their individual products. Some of these online programs are very complicated and take some time to learn, but there are also some easy to use programs.
6. You need to design your closet one wall at a time. However, you also need to consider how the designs on each wall will meet at the corners, in walk-in closets. Some online design programs don't connect closets at the corners because of style of the product they offer. It's better to use companies that offer closet systems that utilize all of your closet space including the corners. After you find a program that you like start designing.
7. Some professional designer tips:
Try to create a balanced and visually appealing design. You're investing your time and money, be sure you like the finished product.
Locate drawers at the center of your closet design, directly across from the door so they are the first thing you see when entering the closet. Drawers make a good visual focal point and they typically need the extra clearance provided by the central location.
Use the corners for hanging space not shelves. Corner shelves are sometimes too deep and clothes get lost, but corners work well for hanging clothes.
Don't underestimate how much space you require for hanging clothes, and don't plan too much area for long hanging. With today's fashions most people don't need more than 12 to 24 horizontal inches of long hanging space.
8. Now that you have the perfect closet design let's talk about the products available online.
The Material- Almost all of the online closet companies use particle board with a melamine laminate veneer finish. Particle board is a very versatile and inexpensive material primarily used for the manufacture of low-end furniture. Unfortunately, particle board can also be brittle and vulnerable to moisture. The only company currently offering an alternative material is Speedy closets. These components are constructed using MDF (medium density fiberboard) over a real wood frame. This is the same type of system used for the doors in your home. The system is very strong and highly resistant to moisture. All online closet companies use a melamine veneer as the surface material. Keep in mind the quality of melamine varies from the paper thin stuff you see on the cheap furniture from big box retailers, to high impact resistant melamine that looks and feels like real wood.
Closet Systems- Most of the online closet companies offer very similar style closet systems. These systems are usually held together using plastic fasteners and are hung on the wall like a kitchen cabinet without doors and the shelves are typically adjustable. The disadvantage to adjustable shelves are the hundreds of unattractive holes that line the interior of the closet sides. High quality custom closets never have numerous visible holes on the surface. Speedy Closets offers a floor based closet system with no visible holes lining the interior of sides and the highest quality melamine veneer online.
Price - Be sure you are getting an acceptable quality for the price of your closet. Compare the price from at least two online companies for similar closets systems. Be sure that you are also comparing similar quality products. While price is important, make sure the final product will be acceptable to you. Conversely, if you don't plan on staying in your present residence for long, perhaps you don't need to be concerned about the durability of particle board or wall hung closet systems. However, if you are concerned about aesthetics and quality of your closet system, be sure to do your research on the materials and style of closet you want.
Installation - Installing a closet can be a difficult and time consuming task even for someone handy with tools. If you have large closets you could find yourself sorting literally hundred of parts and spending days assembling your system. However, there are several companies that offer pre-assembled closets at no additional cost. With pre-assembled closets you can install your system in a fraction of the time and usually without any power equipment. Regardless of which type of system you order, always secure your closet to the wall using the hardware provided with the kit.With these insider tips you should be better equipped to order your custom closet online.
Labels: Closets, Closets online, Custom closets, Order
