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Inside the 2026 Real Simple Home: See the Custom Closet We Designed

Real Simple Blog

Most New York City closets have no square footage to spare. This one, tucked into the primary bedroom of a historic brownstone in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene neighborhood, also had walls and doorways that kept moving as the renovation unfolded.

As the exclusive closet company for the 2026 Real Simple Home, read how we designed a closet that fit, and what you can borrow for your own home.

“Inspired Closets was a good fit for the Home because they gave us that important organization element in the primary, with very clever solutions for clothes, shoes, and other accessories. Our readers always enjoy smart solutions for organization, and this was no exception!”
– Hannah Baker, Real Simple Home Director
Glass closet shelves with folded linens and a woven basket
Window bench with open shoe storage beside closet drawers
Handbags displayed on a shelf above Houghton drawers with Matte Nickel pulls

Making the Most of a Small Space

Inspired Closets partnered with the Real Simple team to plan the design for the primary bedroom closet. The bedroom was designed by Aubrey Ament and Will Glaser of Brooklyn-based Glam Studio, and the rest of the Fort Greene brownstone came together through the work of talented designers from all over the United States. You can meet the full Real Simple Home design team here.

“We were delighted by how beautiful the closet finishes were and how much function it provided in a relatively small space. A bench seat and a window in the closet are true luxuries.”
– Aubrey Ament and Will Glaser, Glam Studio Designers

To keep pace with changing design needs, we brought each version of the closet to life at full scale using Inspired Closets Envision®, our augmented reality rendering tool. As the renovation progressed, the designers and installers were able to walk through an AR rendering of the closet to confirm each detail would fit and work well together before anything was installed.

5 Small Closet Ideas Worth Stealing

The room’s window became the anchor for the layout, and the rest of the closet was planned around the doorway. Several thoughtful design details and practical storage solutions help the closet feel larger than its actual footprint:

  1. Under the window, a built-in bench turns a commonly underutilized spot into usable open storage.
  2. Integrated lighting brightens the space and makes getting dressed easier.
  3. Glass shelves add a sense of openness and a touch of elegance.
  4. Undermount slides give the deep, oversized drawers both strength and style: They hold up to daily use and stay tucked out of sight for a sleek finish.
  5. A decorative top across the bank of drawers doubles as a countertop so a purse, sunglasses, or the next day’s outfit details have somewhere to land.

The team selected Houghton for the closet’s finish color. It’s light, bright, and the oak wood grain pairs beautifully with the tones of the primary bedroom. The Houghton doors and drawers were then finished with Matte Nickel hardware to complement the bedroom’s overall aesthetic.

Real Simple Bedroom with Closet
“Just like the rest of the home, the primary closet offers real-life solutions for everyday living, but still feels luxe and polished — without feeling unattainable or out of reach.”
– Hannah Baker, Real Simple Home Director

Installed in a Single Day

The one-day installation in Brooklyn started with the crew installing the window bench and working their way around the room from there. Once the space was framed, they wired the lighting and finished with the details: hanging rods, shelving, and hardware.

“During install, numerous influencers and designers passed through and it was energizing to hear their reactions to both the closet preview on the Envision headset and the physical product as it was put into place.”
– Jared DeBacker, Inspired Closets Product & Design Expert

Bring These Ideas Home

Now the family who calls this Fort Greene brownstone home can enjoy a closet where every piece of their wardrobe has a designated spot, making an organized, stylish life in Brooklyn feel a little more effortless.

You don’t need a Brooklyn brownstone to get a closet like this. The same ideas work in a small reach-in closet, a spare room, or an awkward corner under a window in any home. To put these custom closet details to work in your own home, schedule a free consultation with an Inspired Closets designer near you.

Schedule Your Free Design Consultation Today

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