July 01, 2021

18 Creative Built-In Closet Ideas

A creative closet is where organization and functionality meet style and design. Efficient use of closet space utilizes built-ins, rods, shelving, drawers, and more to create clever storage areas.

When creating a built-in closet, personalization is of utmost importance. Do you have a lot of shoes that need a home? There are solutions for that. Do you iron often? Perhaps a built-in ironing board is a good idea. If you have a lot of jewelry, you may want a few jewelry drawers built into your closet. There are many closet built-in ideas that can accentuate your space and tailor it to your needs.

At ShelfGenie®, there is nothing we love more than creativespace transformations. Ranging from nifty add-ons to total makeovers, here are our favorite built-in closet ideas.

Built-In Closet Ideas That Create Space

1. Modular Shelves

designtated area for your shoes part of built-in closet ideasDesign your built-in wardrobe with designated space for your shoes and bags. Modular shelves offer tons of flexibility and allow you to make creative changes without much investment. From wire to wood shelves, they are entirely customizable to fit your storage needs and aesthetic preferences.

2. Adjustable Rods & Shelves

add rod as part of your built-in closet ideasAdjustable rods can be raised or lowered according to your storage needs. This allows you to organize everything from pants and skirts to jackets and sweaters more efficiently. You may also want to add another rod or a few extra shelves to any closet to double your hanging space.

3. Bi-Fold Doors

white bi fold doors part of built-in closet ideasBi-fold doors are an alternative to sliding doors that work especially well for smaller built-in closets. These doors have the potential to be a great focal point in the room. Pick from modern raised wood panels, funky accordion, or classic French-style glass bi-fold doors to match your interior.

4. Vertical Layers

storage layer behind sliding door as built-in closet ideasAdd a layer of additional storage behind your sliding door for items you want to keep hidden away. This handy solution can be applied to any other furniture that allows for the installation of sliding doors.

5. Customize Existing Storage Space

dedicated room for clothesMake room for the items that matter to you by designing your built-in closet to fit into other storage spaces, such as spare cabinets. Any space can function like a closet if it is adapted effectively.

6. Glass-Fronted Drawers

wooden drawers for jewelryJewelry and other delicate items are often kept in drawers where they are thought to be safe and secure. But it’s easy for that drawer to turn into chaos. Switch out the solid drawers for ones with a glass front to give yourself a clear view of your valuables.

7. Gliding Shelves

white gliding shelves for built-in closet ideasMake your morning rush less stressful by adding gliding shelves to your routine. Custom gliding shelves give you full access to every single cubby in your built-in closet, making things easier to reach and much more efficient.

8. Shoe Rack

Keep your beloved shoe collection neatly organized and protected with a built-in shoe rack. The racks can be designed with slanted shelving or individual cubbies to display shoes. ShelfGenie can make custom shoe fences tailored to store all of your shoes, from tall boots to athletic shoes.

9. Built-In Laundry Hamper

Incorporate a laundry hamper pull-out into your closet that can be divided into sections like lights and darks or laundry and dry cleaning. Tilt-out hampers are cabinets hinged at the bottom that allow you to easily toss in dirty clothes. For limited space, hamper bags attach to hooks or rods and allow you to sort different laundry off the floor.

10. Pull-Out Ironing Board

If ironing is important to you and you have enough closet space, incorporating a pull-out ironing board with your closet is a great idea. These pull-out ironing boards are easily accessible when needed, but they’re hidden away when not in use.

Beautiful Accents for Your Built-In Closet

11. Task Lighting

good lighting for built-in closet ideasQuality lighting can change the entire look of your built-in closet. Play around with different lighting elements and wattages to set the mood you desire in your closet. Task lighting focuses light on a specific area of your closet, like the dressing area or jewelry display. LED track lights are popular for illuminating the entire closet, while a softer recessed light can put your favorite bags or shoe collection in the spotlight.

12. Fresh Materials

built in closet with white clothesFrom fabrics to woods, changing the material of your built-in closet can instantly update the look and feel of the space. When in doubt, go for a timeless material in neutral colors such as gray suede or beech wood.

13. Glass Partitions

glass closet for built-in closet ideasA custom built-in closet idea doesn’t have to be separated from the rest of the room. If space is tight, try a glass partition instead of a traditional door. If you can afford it, leave a little extra room to emulate the feel of a mini walk-in closet. With everything in plain sight, you will have added motivation to keep your wardrobe neat and tidy.

14. Corner Closet

large wardrobeCorner closets are ideal for rooms with irregular alcoves and walls without purpose. Why not measure that space and brainstorm a custom built-in closet idea? Making use of odd corners also adds a unique geometrical shape to the closet that will be a style statement in itself.

15. Wrapped Closet

built-in corner closet ideasBuilt-in closets don’t have to fit into a single wall. Customize your closet to wrap around the corner of two walls for a seamless look. Corner shelves are incredibly useful for maximizing space, and they look great, too.

16. Mirror Sliding Doors

mirror sliding door for built-in closet ideasMaximize your space with sleek sliding mirror closet doors that provide easy access to your built-in closet. There are many stunning design options when picking a sliding door, but a mirror door can give even the smallest of rooms the illusion of spaciousness.

Get Organized

17. Wicker Baskets

wicker basket for summerWicker baskets are “in” for the summer. It should be easy to find one that fits in the top or bottom shelves of your built-in closet, as these chic storage solutions come in all shapes and sizes. They are especially useful for keeping bulky items such as bedding and winter clothing out of sight.

18. Dividers

Underwear drawer hack as built-in closet ideasPutting dividers in drawers is a great way to keep your underwear and socks organized with minimal effort. You’ll be able to quickly find what you’re looking for, and it will be easy to identify when you’re running low and need to do a load of laundry.

Bring Your Built-In Closet Ideas to Life

We hope you found these creative storage ideas helpful. Whether you use some or all of our creative built-in closet ideas, we’re happy to help. Helping you keep your home and personal items organized is what we do.

ShelfGenie serves select markets in North America by implementing innovative custom built-in closet ideas and creating storage solutions for an extensive range of household needs. All of our work is backed by the Neighborly Done Right Promise™, which guarantees customer satisfaction.

Find your local ShelfGenie and schedule a free consultation with one of our designers to evaluate your home and help you get the most out of your space.

Explore Our Solutions

Click on a section below to explore how ShelfGenie can enhance your home.

What Our Customers Say

  • It’s amazing how much more room there is!

    “We are loving the new storage! It’s amazing how much more room there is. I really didn’t think it would add so much more room, but it did!”
    Ed & Becky W
  • Smooth as silk with low-pressure sales and creative solutions.

    “It took 3 visits -- a sales and design, measure, and install to complete the installation. Every visit was on time and catered to my schedule.”
    Paula D.
  • Didn’t make me feel like my kitchen should have been cleaner.

    “The designer was the best! She was knowledgeable, kind, experienced, and didn’t make me feel like my kitchen should have been cleaner”
    Melissa L.

Schedule a free, no obligation at-home consultation.

Ready to get started? Select your preferred booking method below, and one of our talented ShelfGenie designers will come to your home and create your custom storage solution.
  • Step 1 of 3

    Your Contact Information

    *By clicking submit, I provide my signature, giving consent to ShelfGenie, a Neighborly company, along with Neighborly’s affiliates and network of service professionals, to contact me by telephone (including text, autodialed and prerecorded messages) at the number I have provided and/or contact me via email to receive information about Neighborly’s or its affiliate’s offerings. I understand that this consent is not a condition of purchase and I can withdraw my consent at any time. To provide the most expedient service, I consent to be contacted during the normal business hours of 7:00am –9 :00pm, or at any time of day, within 10 minutes of submitting this form, if outside of normal business hours.
     
  • *By clicking submit, I provide my signature, giving consent to ShelfGenie, a Neighborly company, along with Neighborly’s affiliates and network of service professionals, to contact me by telephone (including text, autodialed and prerecorded messages) at the number I have provided and/or contact me via email to receive information about Neighborly’s or its affiliate’s offerings. I understand that this consent is not a condition of purchase and I can withdraw my consent at any time. To provide the most expedient service, I consent to be contacted during the normal business hours of 7:00am –9 :00pm, or at any time of day, within 10 minutes of submitting this form, if outside of normal business hours.