My husband and I recently purchased a very run down, Victorian style house. It’s previous owners had altered the internal design of the house, several times over. The ceilings were brought down to a height of 8 feet as opposed to 12 feet and much of the hardwood in the floors and trim was badly beaten. It was clear that we had a lot of work to do and we were going to need to consider the use of Bifold closet doors for some of the rooms.

I do like a Victorian design, but I like to brighten things up a bit in these kinds of homes. I want to maintain the architectural integrity, but I also want for it to feel livable and less weighty, if you know what I mean.

Hinged Closet Doors. The most common design of closet doors is the hinged or swing doors. These are attached to the closet using hinges, and can be swung open to reveal the content of your closet in full. The only problem with this type is the space it consumes in the room once opened.

Most people have trouble keeping their closets organized. Cluttered, stuffed, dusty and messy are words that most people will use to describe their closet when asked. I challenge you to get your closet organized, clean and manageable. The secret is to have a place for everything. You have to learn to make the most of useable space and categorize like items.

Try to create a balanced and visually appealing design. You’re investing your time and money….so be sure you like the finished product. Determine how much of each clothing storage “type” you need (eg. hanging, folded, drawers). Some professional organizers recommend doing a detailed inventory….but who has the time. Just make a general estimate of what you use now, and note any deficiencies. For example: you have 10 feet of hanging space, but could use another 2 feet.

Don’t underestimate how much space you require for hanging clothes, and don’t plan too much area for long hanging. With today’s fashions most people don’t need more than 12 to 24 horizontal inches of long hanging space.