Clothes are an important part of all our lives. Whether you are a bonafide fashionista who consumes Vogue like a meal or a more casual observer of trends and style, we all have to put something on our bodies before leaving the house, and what we choose to adorn ourselves with usually says something about who we are and how we want to show up in the world.

Since our clothes play such a large role in our lives as a whole, the way we store these clothes is of equal importance. Traditional closets, however, may make this a bit more challenging since smaller areas are harder to keep organized because you are at a greater risk for an overflow situation. One way to ease this worry is through custom closets, which can refer to the process of gutting out your current closet setup and adding custom shelving and rods, or it can refer to the holistic transformation of an entire room from guest suite to walk-in closet.

Now, when you think of a custom closet, visions of Kimora Lee Simmon’s Life in the Fab Lane-era wardrobe setup or something akin to Paris Hilton’s aughts-era clothing shrine may be first of mind. But these extremes are not the only situations in which a customized closet can be a useful and practical addition to any fashion lover’s space. But when it comes to custom closets, there is a lot of information out there, especially for something that is such a big investment. Thankfully, we are here to make the process a little bit easier. With the help of interior designer Eve Jean, we have broken down everything you need to know about custom closets.

DIY is an option, but not the only one.

For those who know their way around a toolbox, a quick trip to Home Depot for planks for a few planks of wood may be all you need. But for those not as well-versed in the world of DIY moments, outsourcing your closet needs is probably the best option.
Stores such as IKEA offer quite a variety of custom closet options, which you can have installed by personal contractors at reasonable price points.

“My children have IKEA systems, and we’ve been living here for five years, and they have not broken. But I also had somebody put it together,” says Jean, explaining that while people can likely put these closet systems together themselves, those who specialize in constructing these items may have industry-standard tools that can result in a more stable system.

Prices can vary.

One common misconception regarding a custom closet is that they have to cost an arm and a leg. While they are undoubtedly a luxury purchase, a custom closet does not need to be a savings-draining endeavor. “You could get the most basic custom closet, and it could cost you a little under $2,000,” says Jean. Still, she recommends going through a custom closet service dedicated to crafting custom units. This, she says, gives you the greatest return on investment. “You get what you pay for, meaning you know that the closet is not going to collapse at any moment,” says Jean.

You still have to factor in organization.

One of the biggest draws of custom closets is their aesthetic function as a makeshift showroom for all of your favorite threads. But how do people keep these massive closets showroom-ready? Trick question! They don’t.

“Nobody’s closet is showroom-ready unless you’re doing a closet photoshoot or something. Not even my higher-end Hamptons clients,” says Jean. To keep things sightly, though, she says building your closet around your lifestyle increases the ease of use, which in turn makes it easier to keep your space organized.

“Do you work out every day? Are you a stay-at-home mom? Do you have to go to work every day? The reason why I ask those questions is because it helps put the closet system together. If somebody tells me, ‘I work out every day and then after my workout, I come home make my shake, and then I get ready for work,’ I would do the closet system where all the workout stuff will be folded in one space, and then the work stuff would be right next to it,” says Jean.

Some things are hidden.

It’s unrealistic to assume that every single piece of clothing in someone’s closet will be aesthetically pleasing or display-ready, but they still have a place in these closet systems. You just have to get strategic with it.

“We kind of hide those things out of the eyesight and just display the bigger things, meaning that nice Chanel bags and red bottoms will be showcased behind the glass. Those are for display. But on the back end of the closet when you open doors and push drawers off to the side, that’s where the everyday stuff is,” says Jean.

Who shouldn’t get a custom closet?

Now, virtually anyone is a candidate for a custom closet, bearing any extenuating circumstances, since a custom closet can be done inside of your existing closet. But there are limits, and sometimes your interior designer or the manufacturer will have to tell you no. And that’s a good thing!

“Some clients, they’ll have this huge idea, like, ‘Oh, my God, I want to do this. I want to do that.’ And then they have the budget, but they don’t have the space and there is no way for us to make the space work,” says Jean, who adds that any reputable designer knows when to say when. It’s this honesty and expertise that ensures your custom closet will be both functional and stylish.