Design Tips and Buying Guide

Design tips

- Divide your clothes into short (about 40 in. in length including the hanger) and long (up to 70 in.). To save closet space, the rods for shorter clothes can be stacked in a “double-hanging” arrangement. Allow about 1 in. of hanging space for every garment. A good rule of thumb is one-third long-hanging to two-thirds double-hanging rods.

Reader's Digest Finished product

- Set long-hanging rods about 72 in. from the floor and double-hanging rods at 42 in. and 84 in. Another option is a medium-hanging rod for slacks at 60 in. high. Use the space above for shelving.

- Compartments for shoes may look tidier, but closely spaced adjustable shelves are more efficient and less expensive. Allow about 7 in. of shelf width for each pair of women’s shoes, and 9 in. for men’s.

- Keep your dirty laundry corralled with a wire basket.

- Don’t put drawers against the end walls of your closet, and make sure they will open fully without hitting a wall or door. Drawers are expensive; ours were about $60 each. If you can’t afford them now, install adjustable shelves and add the drawers later.

Buyer’s Guide

The following companies manufacture modular closet organizing systems.

Schulte Corp.: Dept. TFH, 12115 Ellington Court, Cincinnati, OH 45249; (800) 579-6446.

TECHLINE CLOSETS: A Division of Marshall Erdman and Associates, Dept. TFH, 500 S. Division St., Waunakee, WI 53597. For the nearest Techline Studio, call (800) 356-8400.

Lee RowAn Co.: Dept. TFH, 900 South Highway Drive, Fenton, MO 63026; (800) 325-6150. Web site: www.leerowan.com