apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I don't know if this will help... but I installed Closet Maid in my living room closet and I really like the way it goes together. (It's much like Elfa but less $$$ and plain 'ol white)

but for a wide closet with a narrow door... I'd suggest arranging the 'display' so that your clothes are in the center... and maybe your seasonal items could be off to the sides. Or, another way... your clothes could be in the center, your shoes, boots, coats and boxes of stuff could be off to the side.

Maybe my answer is really simplistic - but I just wanted to get it started!

If you go into the Elfa dept. at the container store with your measurements a salesperson will help you design a closet. I found them to be helpful and knowledgeable.

I have this same problem...I have a long closet but just one door and am constantly second-guessing myself and being frustrated at what I decide gets "prime real estate" front and center. I'd rather not do an elfa thing in a rental, but surely there is a less expensive way to take advantage of all the space that's there. One thing that DID help me was to install those touch lights on either side of the door - it's much easier now to see what's lurking, I mean, being stored, on either end.

Mine isn't as wide as yours, and I have 2 bars, but for the difficult areas, I just stuck Ikea hanging clothes shelves (the short ones--the ultra cheap one) on the top. Not very elegant!

You need about 22" for hanging clothes depth. I would put a clothes rod or two on each side (perpendicular to the door) and put a 24"Wx12"D shelf system down the middle (behind the closet door on the wall). It would be a reach-in/walk-in closet. Otherwise, you are going to have access problems.

Sara, I have a very similar closet and feel your pain. I have tried a few things, and the ones that worked for me included the Skubb hanging sweater and shoe organizers from Ikea pushed over to the side beyond the closet door. Under that I put a two tier shoe shelf and another one on the shelf above the closet rod for purses et al. Directly facing the door I hang the most frequently worn clothes, and beyond the door on the other side, hang longer items and out of season clothes. There is just room under these for a small laundry basket.

The inside of the closet door has an over the door hook thing with six hooks where miscellaneous items and tomorrow's outfit live.

I wish there was full access to the entire width of the closet, but this seems to work for me and cost about $100 in all.

Remember to use the inside of the closet door too. Use a hanging toy or shoe organizer for items like sox, gloves, even rolled up tees... Organizers with mesh pockets are nice for viewing contents.

I have the same issue in my 1962 ranch. What I did is the same thing that Fingernail said. It has made SUCH a difference! Instead of more storage at the back of the closet, I hung a mirror. I also plan to put a hanging light in there when I get a chance. LOVE IT. I used the closetmaid wire system and some organizers from Target. Here are a few pics - http://www.flickr.com/photos/23996258@N04/tags/house/

Good luck!

Sara, I have the same type of closet. It does present a challenge, but a closet can be created. I wished I had photos to show you mine (I'm at the office).

Here's how I set mine up: use the length to your advantage by installing a bar along the length. You can hang long items there - coats, pants, or things you wear most often. In the back wall, install 2 rods: one high and one in the middle. You can use these to hang shorter items like shirts and skirts. Install shelves above the rods (you'll end up with an L-shaped shelfing system) and use that to store items you don't need often. Shoes can be stored on the floor along the length on the long rod. Put hooks on the inside of the door and a few along the empty wall. This system should allow you to be able to walk into your closet and maximize the space. Hope this helps.

Okay... I defer to fingernail's idea!!

I have a closet similar to yours, but smaller. The left side of my closet is flush with the left side of the door opening, but the right side of the closet extends about 16 inches further than the right side of the door.

I hung elfa shelves along the wall in that extra space on the right. I raised the closet bar about 5 inches and got one of those adjustable rod doublers, so I have 2 tiers of rod space in the space in front of the door opening. And then I just got some over-door hooks for belts and stuff.

My husband and I used easyclosets last year for our walk in. I am very happy with them. You can design them yourself online (which I did, then called a rep to go over my design for any flaws).

One word of caution, we decided to install them ourselves...it was major work. Find someone to install them for you. Don't be fooled by the name, they are not easy to install.

Their customer service was GREAT... they had to send me a replacement piece and it arrived within 2 days. I designed one large walk in closet and one hall closet for less than $1200.

Personally, I don't love the look of the Elfa closet system and it wasn't easier to install (my friend put hers in a month after I did mine) and it cost about the same for an equivalent sized closet. Good luck!

Just echo-ing the recommendation for Elfa (or knockoff) ideas. I had two tiny closets and it reaaaaallly helped. Cost $550 for both and because of how Elfa is made I could dismantle and take the system to my new apartment where I've installed it again in my new closets. So it's expensive but not so bad and you can re-use

Like fingernail's idea of hanging on each side. As a way to really use the space in the middle, in addition to shelves on the back wall, I'd consider mounting a substantial storage system on the door itself. Maybe shoes, sweaters, etc. Not sure on the solution, but imagine some kind hanging canvas system would be best so the door doesn't get too heavy.

My husband and I used rubbermaid closet and configured it pretty much like fingernail's, shelves in the back, clothing rods on the sides and shelves on the top of the rods.

I too have the same closet. Well it is actually in my daughter's room. I am in the process of trying to organize the closet so that she doesn't need to have a dresser. The room is 6X8. Tiny room = Tiny closet. One option was this that I found at Target online http://www.target.com/Closetmaid-Laminate-Closet-Organizer-4%E2%80%939/dp/B000IO2556/sr=1-4/qid=1203629955/ref=sr_1_4/602-5242813-8142227?ie=UTF8&index=target&rh=k%3Aclosetmaid&page=1. It also comes in a 24 inch shelving. Even with the 24 inch shelving there is still room to get the hanger to each rod. The price is right, but I was a little peeved when I found out the shipping was about $30. If i don't go with this then I will probably build shelving up both sides and put some Rubbermaid type drawers on some of the shelves. If I come up with another idea that works I will let you know.

In my last house, I had a similar situation with a bedroom closet. I removed the door (because there were three doors along two walls and it was just too much - no room to have furniture!) and hung sheer curtains instead. Then I added a second bar, kind of like fingernail's idea, running perpendicular to the main length, on one side. The closet was pretty small (and had pipes for the ancient plumbing system running up through both sides), but I was able to hang my shoe shelves there in a way that was accessible. I also added extra support to the original rod since I was hanging additional weight on it, after it fell down the first time.