We tell you what layout, decoration and furniture to choose to organize a convenient and up-to-date storage system in the apartment.
1. Choose a location
First of all, determine how much space you have for a dressing room. “If space is limited, it is important to use every square meter as efficiently as possible. The ideal shape for a dressing room is a rectangle. The minimum area is 3 square meters. At the same time, the length of one wall should not be less than 2 meters,” recommends brand manager of the design company Estima Maria Parshina.
2. Get rid of the excess and assess the scale
The next step is to get rid of unnecessary things. Throw away or donate to charity things that have been gathering dust in the closet for many years, and then put aside things that you use extremely rarely, says the founder and director of the Dobrokovskikh Workshop Anna Dobrokovskaya. She noted that after this, it is necessary to determine the number of things in order to correctly assess the necessary storage areas.
3. Divide things by seasons and categories
Consider dividing clothes by seasons. For example, summer clothes can be put away in drawers or in the upper sections during the cold season, and vice versa. “Dividing things into categories is also a good solution: sort dresses, sweaters, trousers, shirts for easy access. For example, for people involved in sports, special sections for sportswear and shoes can be provided. Periodically review the contents of the wardrobe, get rid of things you do not wear, and update the collection,” says designer, founder of the Grande Familia studio (iRoomproject) Inna Kaminskaya.
4. Choose the right material
There are many materials and furniture options for organizing a wardrobe room, the choice of which depends on your budget, interior style and taste preferences. “Wood is a classic material that creates a warm and cozy atmosphere. Wooden shelves and cabinets can be made of solid wood or MDF (finely dispersed wood-fiberboard) with a veneer coating. MDF is a more economical option compared to wood, but it is also strong and durable. It can be painted in any color and decorated in various ways.
LDSP (laminated chipboard) is an even more budget-friendly option that is often used to make cabinet furniture. LDSP comes in a variety of colors and textures.
Steel and aluminum are used to create modern storage systems with drawers and mesh baskets. They are lightweight, durable, and moisture-resistant. “It is better to use durable and long-lasting materials for finishing the floor and walls in the dressing room, such as natural stone or porcelain stoneware,” says Maria Parshina.
5. Opt for minimalism
Minimalist dressing room designs with an emphasis on clean lines, simple shapes, and the absence of unnecessary details are currently in vogue — this helps create a sense of order and tranquility, says Inna Kaminskaya. Light and neutral shades for walls and furniture, she says, will visually expand the space and create a cozy atmosphere for you.
6. Determine the number of shelves and sections
The number of sections, shelves and rods, drawers and their dimensions directly depend on a detailed description of things and their systematization. “For example, it is better to store knitted items folded, sections for underwear should not be too deep, shirts and jackets are conveniently stored on hangers, and rods should not be placed very high, there are separate pull-out sections for trousers. Do not forget sections for long items, as well as for storing an additional set of linen, blankets, towels, because there is not always a pantry or laundry room in the apartment,” recommends Dobrokovskaya.
For long clothes, such as dresses and coats, rods of at least 160 cm are needed, and for shirts and blouses – about 100 cm, says Maria Parshina. She also advised adding corner modules – the corners of the room can be used by installing additional shelves or rods there. Also, don’t forget about mobile racks, containers and baskets on wheels that can be moved as needed, clarified the expert from Estima.
7. Choose modular storage systems
Using modular storage systems that can be adapted to your needs is a very good solution, say designers. “Install shoe racks and clothes hangers so that they have different heights to ensure easy access. To do this, take inventory of all your things, storage cases and boxes by external dimensions. Add drawers for storing small items and accessories to maintain order. Make the most of the height: install shelves up to the ceiling to use the space that usually remains empty and collects unnecessary dust.
8. Use mirrors and transparent furniture
Place a mirror in your dressing room, it will help visually enlarge the space and make the process of choosing clothes easier, advises the head of the Grande Familia studio. She also emphasized that it is worth using light and transparent storage elements, such as glass cabinet doors, which allow you to see the contents, add lightness to the space and protect things from dust. However, if you have an open dressing room, you should abandon such solutions to avoid visual noise.
9. Plan the lighting
Well-designed shelf lighting will not only decorate the dressing room, but also make it easier to find things. “It is advisable to illuminate each shelf to see what is on it. It is also necessary to think about the lighting along the rod. Do not forget that the lighting can also play the opposite role. If you do not keep things in order, the lighting will reveal all the sloppy storage and chaos will reign in the room,” says Dobrokovskaya.
10. Determine places to store shoes
Shoes are conveniently stored on special shelves. “They are often placed at an angle with a lock. It is also necessary to think about where to store seasonal shoes in boxes. Please note: if you use mezzanines to store shoe boxes, you can choose special beautiful boxes and stick a picture of your shoes that are stored in them. Thanks to such small details, you will find the right pair faster and the order will be maintained longer,” Dobrokovskaya said.
“It is worth noting that vertical shoe organizers will allow you to compactly place shoes, maintaining their shape and preventing deformation. Thanks to such small details, you will find the right pair faster and the order will be maintained longer,” Dobrokovskaya emphasized.
11. Use modern gadgets
Experiment, use innovative techniques for convenience and functionality. “For example, automatic lighting systems, built-in chargers and even clothing accounting systems using mobile applications. Smart hangers with built-in sensors will help organize the placement of clothes, track the condition of things and even remind you that you need to wash or iron. There are lighting systems that turn on automatically when you open the door or when the lighting in the room changes. Some of them can also change color depending on the time of day. Now interactive mirrors with built-in screens are appearing on the market that offer outfit options based on the selected clothes. It is really interesting when you can try on clothes in real time along with your stylist’s recommendations,” Kaminskaya said.
Also, if possible, it is worth installing temperature and humidity detection devices in the dressing room, they will help maintain optimal conditions for storing clothes and shoes, and the selected air fresheners will maintain freshness and a pleasant aroma in your dressing room, the head of the Grande Familia studio summarized.
12. Don’t forget about the ironing area
In order to free up space in the apartment, it is worth providing places for drying and ironing in the dressing room. “Compact steamers that can be built into the dressing room for quick processing of clothes before going out will be good gadgets. You can integrate an ironing cabinet into the dressing room, this will help maintain order and organize the space. It can be hidden behind the doors to avoid visual clutter. Fast and effective steaming of clothes is provided, which will significantly reduce your time spent on ironing. Also, to save space, you can install a folding drying board in the closet,” says the head of Grande Familia.
13. Give preference to narrow hangers and multi-level hangers
In order to save space, choose narrow hangers on hangers and multi-level hangers for trousers, skirts and shirts, advises Maria Parshina. She explained that this approach will allow you to effectively use every square meter of your dressing room, while maintaining order and ease of access to things.
14. Provide drawers for accessories
Not only every fashionista has a lot of different accessories in her wardrobe, but also men. To store bags, belts, ties, scarves, cufflinks, watches, glasses, it is necessary to provide separate shelves in advance, says Anna Dobrokovskaya. According to her, special organizers that are convenient to put in shallow drawers are in trend today.
“Don’t forget about the space under the ceiling — you can place large items there, such as travel bags, umbrellas and suitcases that are not used regularly,” the expert from Estima summed up.