The Most Popular Closets of 2015
These closets are only a dream for most of us, but they’re full of great ideas
I’ve had a serious fascination with closets for a long time. And looking at the most popular closet photos of 2015 on Houzz, I’m comforted to see I’m far from alone. Movies and TV shows have influenced my idea of a dream closet over the years. In 1987’s Broadcast News, reporter Jennifer Mack (Lois Chiles) turned her second bedroom into a closet and spent some sexy time there with Tom Grunick (William Hurt). Clueless teen queen Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone) had spinning racks and computer integration to help her put together outfits. And on The Oprah Winfrey Show, interior designer Nate Berkus designed a closet for O that had a beautiful island and hooks for planning outfits.
Some of the most popular closet photos on Houzz make the closets I just mentioned look like crawl spaces in comparison. Some are bigger than most of our bedrooms and are probably better appointed than any room in our homes. But the thing is, there are great ideas to be gleaned from them, even if all you have is a glorified armoire. Other ideas pointed out here are just for fun and fantasy.
Some of the most popular closet photos on Houzz make the closets I just mentioned look like crawl spaces in comparison. Some are bigger than most of our bedrooms and are probably better appointed than any room in our homes. But the thing is, there are great ideas to be gleaned from them, even if all you have is a glorified armoire. Other ideas pointed out here are just for fun and fantasy.
Smart lighting. A lack of good lighting in a closet tends to lead to things like putting the navy suit jacket on with the black pants, or wearing two different shoes. Continuous LED strip lights over the rods illuminate clothing in a way that eliminates wardrobe malfunctions.
Strip lights: John Cullen
Strip lights: John Cullen
Shoe bench. It’s hard to buckle a Christian Louboutin caged 6-inch stiletto or pull up a thigh-high boot. One needs a seat. And apparently a shoe mirror. And probably an assistant. This is also a good spot for a friend or kiddo to sit while you play fashion show.
Bench: custom; chandelier: Lamps Plus
Bench: custom; chandelier: Lamps Plus
A closet annex. No room for a dream closet or even a small walk-in? Sometimes there just isn’t enough space in the main closet. Why dig around for shoes hidden beneath your hanging pants when you can display them in a built-in in your bedroom?
The stealth closet. Sometimes a closet is about length rather than depth and width. Using a space just a few inches deeper than a hanger, the length of a bedroom wall can be transformed into a row of closet cabinets. White doors without hardware give it seamless minimalist integration.
A dressing table area. Walking around a giant walk-in closet can be exhausting. A comfortable chair where you can sit while doing your hair and makeup and checking out how your jewelry looks is a must.
Seriously though, while this particular area is indeed in a designated dressing room-closet, you can see how well the design would fit on a bedroom wall. It’s a more traditional version of the stealth closet in the previous photo.
Chair: Lee Industries, upholstered in Tai Lao fabric by Stark; sconce: Ruhlman single sconce, Circa Lighting
Seriously though, while this particular area is indeed in a designated dressing room-closet, you can see how well the design would fit on a bedroom wall. It’s a more traditional version of the stealth closet in the previous photo.
Chair: Lee Industries, upholstered in Tai Lao fabric by Stark; sconce: Ruhlman single sconce, Circa Lighting
Pullout cabinets. Whether filled with ties, socks or shoes, these clever cabinets caught many Houzzers’ eyes. They take advantage of the depth of the space yet provide easy access. I particularly like the way the hardware on this walnut cabinet makes it look like an oversized dresser drawer turned on its side.
A spot for Sheeba to perch and keep you company. This is a drop-dead gorgeous closet, but let’s face it, the cat steals the show. I suspect many people saved this photo to admire this lovely diva.
Top-shelf opportunities. No matter how small your closet, you’ll want to take advantage of height — if you stop at the top rod you may be wasting space.
Wall color: Revere Pewter, Benjamin Moore; island counter: 3-centimeter Bianco Carrera marble
Wall color: Revere Pewter, Benjamin Moore; island counter: 3-centimeter Bianco Carrera marble
Rolling ladder. A library ladder allows you to take advantage of the space all the way up by the ceiling. And by the way, get a load of that ceiling! The closet is a good place to indulge in some whimsy — why not add a fun paint color, wallpaper or mural.
Of course, for the majority of people with regular, non-walk-in closets, there’s a different way to handle top-shelf access. Integrate a cute step stool or sturdy chair into your bedroom design close to the closet.
Of course, for the majority of people with regular, non-walk-in closets, there’s a different way to handle top-shelf access. Integrate a cute step stool or sturdy chair into your bedroom design close to the closet.
Glass-front doors. These keep your clothes dust-free while allowing you to view them as you plan your outfit.
A large mirror. I’m always having to walk from my closet to a mirror, and it’s a time-waster. It’s also a tricky trek in two shoes with different heel heights that I’m trying to choose from. While you may not have room for a mirror this large, consider adding a mirrored closet door or a mirror just to the right or left of the closet door.
Windows. These homeowners turned a sleeping porch into a luxurious walk-in dressing room-closet. This meant there were plenty of windows to preserve, which give the room beautiful natural light. If you don’t have room for regular windows, consider transoms above your top shelves and-or a skylight.
See more of this home
See more of this home
Curtain call. All right, let’s have a little reality check: In a sea of closets that are bigger than many apartments, over 29,000 Houzzers added this realistically sized example to their ideabooks. A typical double-closet-turned-craft-emporium has a place for everything, including wrapping paper and ribbon racks, boxes with clear fronts, magazine bins and more. It looks wonderful exposed, but this clever homeowner replaced the closet doors with bold and pretty curtains from West Elm.
Sliding barn doors. These doors add an architectural element to the bedroom. While you’ll need ample wall space on either side for when they’re open, they’re less obtrusive than swinging doors. It’s not that pleasant to enter a closet and then have to shut yourself in because the swinging door is blocking racks or drawers. Pocket doors are another good solution for this issue.
Integrated drawers. If your closet is large, you may have borrowed some space from your bedroom. Eliminate the need for space-hogging dressers and armoires in the latter by using clever built-ins inside the closet.
Here’s a closer look at those drawers, specially outfitted for ties for the bachelor who lives here. Note the beautiful hardware that dresses up the closet. Another important detail, of course, is the classical bust. What dream closet is complete without statuary?
See, I told you. Ancient Greek and Roman ladies come in handy when you need somewhere to hang your necklaces.
Open concept. As long as you’re neat and have a great built-ins designer, this could be a fantastic solution for you. It keeps a bedroom feeling more open and lets both spaces get the maximum amount of natural light. The room divider serves as a closet on one side, and can be used as bookshelves or a media wall on the bedroom-facing side.
Personalize. If you have any leftover space where you haven’t placed a classical bust, hang a favorite fashion drawing or photograph. When I was a tween-teen, I used to tack my favorite fashion inspirations from Vogue and Elle all over the inside of my closet doors. When I opened up the double doors, Cindy, Estelle, Elaine, Linda, Paulina and Naomi played a part in helping me choose my outfits. Actually, today’s no different — I framed my favorite subscriber covers from Harper’s Bazaar (I swear, they are the best covers out there, besides Prince on the cover of Ebony and Tina Fey on the cover of Esquire, which I also have framed and hanging there) and hung them on the one small blank wall that covers the ductwork in my closet.
Anyway, enough about me. Your display of accessories like jewelry, scarves and purses also adds color, pattern and personality to your closet.
Anyway, enough about me. Your display of accessories like jewelry, scarves and purses also adds color, pattern and personality to your closet.
Wallpaper. Much like a powder room, a walk-in closet can be a jewel box that departs from the style of the rest of the room. There’s no need for white walls — let your whimsy flag fly in the closet.
Wallpaper: “Out for a Spin” Soft Gold on Mink in Brown Manila Hemp, Phillip Jeffries
More: How to Get the Closet of Your Dreams
Wallpaper: “Out for a Spin” Soft Gold on Mink in Brown Manila Hemp, Phillip Jeffries
More: How to Get the Closet of Your Dreams
Hardware: Diamond 1.25-inch cab knob, Emtek; cabinet color: Studio Finishes metallic glaze in Silver, Benjamin Moore