As someone who designs closets, one challenge I encounter quite often is working with frustrated couples who are sharing a closet. It can be a struggle to keep everything in order when space is limited and each person has a full wardrobe of clothing and accessories to maintain. The good news is that with the right approach, organizing a walk-in closet to accommodate two people can be done.
Here are some of the ways I recommend arranging a walk-in closet for two:
- Start with a clean slate
- Divide the closet into zones
- Compromise on design elements
- Work together on regular maintenance
If you’re ready to banish arguments about the closet starting today, keep reading!
Start with a Clean Slate
If you and your partner have a disorganized closet, the first step is to take everything out and start fresh. Pull out the clothing, shoes, and other accessories, and put them in piles on the bed, a chair, or even in another room.
Also, remove anything that doesn’t belong in the closet; maybe you’re storing outgrown children’s clothing or seasonal decorations in your walk-in closet. It’s best to find another place for these if you’re squabbling over space.
Go through your clothing and shoes, and see if there’s anything you can give away or otherwise remove. Southern Living has some ideas on how to clean out a closet to get rid of extra items you’re not using.
Use this opportunity to dust the shelves and walls, remove any cobwebs from the corners, and sweep or vacuum the floor.
Divide the Closet into Zones
Now that your closet is cleared out, it’s time to put everything away. I recommend breaking the closet up into zones. Each person should have designated shelves, drawers, and hanging rods, as well as individual shoe storage and, if applicable, a rack for ties, belts, scarves, and other small accessories.
There can be exceptions to this guideline. For example, if neither of you has many shoes, it’s fine to share a large shoe organizer. Also, don’t feel as though you need identical space; if one of you has a lot of hanging items and the other has mostly jeans and t-shirts, it would make the most sense to allocate more hanging rod space to the former and extra drawers to the latter.
Compromise on Design Elements
Your walk-in closet system should be a space that appeals to both of you. You may each have different tastes and organizational preferences, and both should be accommodated to the extent possible. Just as you did for other areas of the home, sit down and talk about the colors and styles each of you prefers.
Try to find a common theme or color palette; even if one of you is more minimalistic and the other is more bohemian in terms of decorating, a bright white or solid black finish could appeal to each of you. Both of you will have your own color schemes within your visible wardrobe elements. You may need to compromise on things, like lighting or other decorations; try to find something that each of you will find pleasing.
Work Together on Regular Maintenance
Finally, it’s important for each member of the couple to work together on keeping the closet neat and tidy. With two people using the space, it’s easy for it to get cluttered. Make some ground rules about a mutually acceptable level of neatness, and strive to stick to that.
Have a regular time, perhaps once per month, to spend 15 minutes or so going through the closet – straightening what needs to be tidied and removing any items that don’t need to be there any longer. This should not fall on just one person, and it should be done frequently enough that it doesn’t take longer than about a quarter of an hour.
Conclusion
By keeping my tips in mind, you and your partner should be able to transform your walk-in closet into a stress-free space that accommodates both of you. It just takes some planning and cooperation. Of course, if you are still having trouble finding the space for everything you need to store, feel free to give me a call, and you can meet with a member of my design team to create the custom closet of your dreams.
