How to Master the Master Closet

One of the most exciting rooms in the house to redesign is the master bedroom. It’s your retreat, your oasis, your sanctuary. But in all the enthusiasm, don’t forget about the closet!

Often hidden from public view when you close the doors, I believe a beautiful closet is the ultimate luxury because it’s an investment in you. You use your closet every day, so it should be a pleasure.

When I design a master closet space, I always have two major goals:

• Beauty
• Function

While at its core, your closet is all about keeping your clothing and accessories nicely organized, but within that system, you can choose the colors and styles that you love best for a well-designed space.

Designing an Organized Closet

Ideally, your master closet will be a walk-in with room and used as a small dressing room. If your current closet isn’t up to snuff, you may be able to expand it with a professional remodel to gain some space. Once your walls are in place, here’s how to configure a closet:

• Built-ins:   A custom closet is designed to fit your life with the right combination of shelves, drawers, and hanging rods. You can choose specialty drawers to hold your shoe collection or a series of open shelves with baskets and boxes in a style you love. Jewelry trays, scarf drawers, and tie organizers are also useful additions.
• Cabinetry:   Closed cabinetry is ideal for keeping dust off of your precious apparel, footwear, and handbags. To keep it from looking too flat, incorporate glass fronts on doors or drawers and adorn them with beautiful hardware pulls. Hardware is always the jewelry on a cabinet!
• Full-length mirror:   A mirror in your closet is completely practical for getting dressed, and it does double design duty by making your closet appear larger.
• Comfortable seating:   Whether you choose to add a chair at a built-in vanity or an ottoman or bench to rest on as you pull on your boots, a plush seat is the ultimate comfort accessory to add to your closet.

Making Your Closet Gorgeous

Once you’ve worked with a designer to get the “bones” of your closet right, it’s time for the fun part… decorating! I often recommend that clients go just a step bolder than they might in a public area of their house, since they don’t need to share the design with anyone. Here are some of my favorite “extras” to take your master closet to the next level:

• Wallpaper:   With all those shelves and drawers, you may not have much room left for artwork in your closet. Wallpaper solves this problem by surrounding you with a lovely pattern and lots of color.
• Chandeliers:   Good lighting is important when you’re dressing for success, and an accent chandelier overhead will make a statement while doing its duty providing that light.
• Carpeting:   Something soft underfoot is always welcome, especially on a cool winter morning. Take the opportunity to choose a special statement piece to anchor the space.

Not sure how to get started on designing a master closet? Work with a professional designer!

At Nicole Arnold Interiors we offer on-site consultations and the chance to get immediate feedback and insight into your ideal home interior.