When you walk through the door of a new house, there’s a lot competing for your attention and it all seems important. But here’s a little secret. Any house can be completely customized for your needs. What’s important is finding a house with good bones, serving as a canvas to design the house of your dreams.
The one thing standing between you and that dream house? A plan to keep you focused and some imagination. Read ahead for a complete list of things to look at when buying a house.
There are plenty of resources on the internet to walk you through getting financially, separating your “Nice-To-Have” list from your “Must-Have” list, structural considerations and more. Our guess is that you have probably read them all. What those resources won’t tell you is that no matter the house you tour, there will always be a need to customize your storage options. That’s where we come in.
Take a good hard look at the features of your current home and survey which areas could be more functional with customization. Is your laundry or mudroom a constant pain point? Could you get more use out of your garage? Does your master closet streamline your busy schedule or add to the stress? Most times, you’ll find a house with great bones, but the storage and organizational spaces aren’t exactly what you need. That’s okay! Seeing the potential for customization is actually a silver lining because it offers you the opportunity to create a space that is perfect for your needs, your lifestyle, and your future plans.
You’ve done the pre-planning and now it’s time to start touring potential homes. Here are the spaces that offer up the biggest opportunities to customize your lifestyle—helping you get the most out of your new home.
Your day starts and ends with your closet. Having an efficient custom closet design for all your clothes, shoes and accessories are not only vital for a tidy and organized bedroom, but to get a good start to your day. Digging through overstuffed drawers and trying to track down your second shoe is no way to get into a good headspace as your day begins. Additionally, investing in custom closet organization—with room for everything and everything in its place—makes for a relaxed and calm space to come home to after a long day.
Keep all your clothes, shoes and accessories looking brand new with our thoughtful storage solutions. The Shoe Shrine®, for example, keeps all your shoes together and in perfect condition. The best part? The shelves are totally adjustable to fit boots, heels, and sneakers, allowing organization to evolve as much as your shoe collection. Keep your necklaces and bracelets from becoming a tangled mess with our pull out jewelry dividers. Or choose a sleek, velvet-lined drawer to elevate your décor while offering additional customization when you add velvet or acrylic dividers. Finally, integrate a hamper right into your master closet design and keep your space completely decluttered with a hideaway hamper.
Your bedroom should be a place of personal refuge and peace, free of clutter and piling clothes. We offer numerous tailored solutions. From cabinets and finishes to the type of closet you’re looking for, our custom closets will fit seamlessly into your space, complement your décor, and be right-sized for your needs. Find out more about our custom closets here.
The laundry room is a dynamic space that changes with your household. The more your household grows, the more your laundry loads grow as well. Bulky things like sports uniforms, pet supplies and linens can quickly fill what little space you have. Without a thoughtfully designed laundry room organization solution, the stress can add up too. Investing in a custom laundry room that’s tailored to your life will give you the space you need to get this daily chore done in no time at all.
Our custom laundry room designs offer smart solutions to help keep laundry day stress-free and efficient. Adding shelving, drawers and cabinets can help organize all your essentials like detergents, dryer sheets, and hampers so you can start laundry day prepared. Incorporate hanging rods for clothes that need a little extra time to dry. And finally, a pull-out ironing board is there when you need it, neatly tucked away when you don’t, keeping your favorite clothes neatly pressed and ready to go.
The laundry room is often overlooked, but it’s important that this room is can work as hard as possible for you, no matter the size. The key is designing the right solution, from small-space laundry closets to full-sized laundry rooms. Check out our laundry idea gallery here.
One of the most neglected opportunities for custom storage is the garage. Beyond knowing how much space you’ll need for your vehicle, the garage has excellent potential for building out additional storage. The garage is great for storing sporting equipment, surplus groceries, and home goods while having plenty of room for your tools. Inspired Closets offers different garage storage inspiration to build out the most useful space for your needs.
Durable cabinets are built to withstand the harsher garage temperatures, keeping your belongings in their best condition, while our heavy-duty shelves hold up all your gear and bright interiors finish the look. You can make the most of your space with our customizable slatwall options. Personalized organization allows your needs to grow with you, never holding you back.
Inspired Tip: In addition to storing your vehicles and tools, make the most of this square footage by turning it into a home gym! Having a garage home gym offers benefits of privacy as well as saving you time and money (and you won’t have to fight rush hour traffic to get there). If you’re considering a home gym in your new home plans, check out our guide here.
Even though you cook in the kitchen, the pantry stores all the magic that makes it happen. The most important thing to take note of in the kitchen is storage. Think about how much precious counter space is used by things that should be in the pantry, not to mention how cluttered it can get. Having adequate pantry storage is the key to a tidy kitchen, regardless of counter space. On your home tour, pay attention to how much pantry space there is and how much more functionality you could get out of the kitchen with a little more pantry customization.
Perhaps no room best symbolizes “the little things count” than the kitchen. With so much kitchenware, it can be easy to let it pile up and close the pantry door. What most homeowners don’t realize is that what is just as simple and effective in the long run is organizing it with the right solutions.
Pantry organization is a breeze with our vertical dividers to store items like cutting boards and baking trays. Pull-out pantry drawers and shelves hide those small appliances like your favorite mixer, food processor, or smoothie machine. And of course, stemware storage keeps your fine glassware safely out of the way. All that said, take a minute to envision yourself living in your new kitchen. If you can see the space best serving you, then you’ve found a kitchen with potential. With tailored pantry design options at various price points, you can find your dream pantry solution here.
The entryway bookends your school and workday. As you walk through each front door, imagine that you’re coming home at the end of the day. Take a second to visualize what that looks like for you and compare it to the entryway you’re standing in. What does the space need to make that moment as easy as possible? Chances are, it’s proper entryway storage. Building out your entryway with custom storage (like hooks and cubbies) to keep all your essentials organized and right where you can grab them on your way out saves you time and energy throughout your busy days.
Installing hooks keeps you from looking for your keys, bags, and scarves at the last minute. Our pull-out baskets keep things like mittens, hats and dog toys organized and out of sight. The Shoe Shrine keeps everyone’s go-to footwear right where they need them and protected from being stepped on…or tripped over. An integrated bench gives you a place to sit while getting all your gear on and together before taking on the day.
With an array of entryway organization options, it’s easy to create a custom solution that works for you.
You know that feeling of stepping into a room and everything just feels right? Think about a room that feels fresh and airy. Now imagine that same room feeling warm and cozy. The difference there was lighting, and the same room can be completely transformed by adjusting how it’s incorporated into the space.
Most people don’t think about the effects of lighting, but it’s incredibly important. Poor lighting has been linked to headaches, neck soreness and eye fatigue, whereas, proper lighting is one of the unsung heroes in home design. Having the right lighting paired with your custom organization can significantly improve your mood and energy level by helping you navigate your surroundings and creating a welcoming ambiance any time of day.
Just like organization, lighting is a reflection of how you use a space and can further elevate the spaces you’ve taken the time to curate and customize. With a layered lighting plan from Inspired Closets, we can take your home customization to the next level.
Shopping for a house can be stressful, but with these spaces in mind, you can calm the chaos and see each home’s true potential by customizing your space. Make sure to take as much time as you need to decide on a new home and ask as many questions as you want—the more information you have, the better!
Remember to focus on finding a home with good bones and great structure, and think of cosmetic flaws as opportunities for customization. If needed, ask to visit the house more than once until you’re confident about the layout and changes you plan to make. When you’re ready to personalize your new home, fill out this form on our website for a free Inspired Closets consultation.
Whether you’ve been collecting walk-in closet designs on Pinterest for a while or the baskets, totes, and other quick-fix closet storage solutions you’ve tried just aren’t cutting it, Inspired Closets is here to get you started on your walk-in closet creation journey. There’s a lot that goes into creating and building a walk-in closet you love, like determining if you have enough room in your home (and budget) to accomm...
Of all the places in your home, why does organizing the garage feel so daunting? The physical size, the number of things collected over the years, the variety of things, and the lack of a thoughtful, organizational structure all contribute to feelings of dread and overwhelm. Add to that the vast number of garage cabinet ideas available to you, and it’s no wonder we want to close the door and go back inside!
Entryways serve many purposes in a home: housing shoes, keys, bags, and coats, making a good first impression on guests, being a launchpad for your family’s day, and so much more. When your entryway is particularly small, keeping it neat and organized can be challenging and force you to get scrappy and creative with small entryway storage ideas. We’re here to help you calm the chaos of small and cluttered entryways with five space-saving s...
Hybrid work. A relatively new trend in work styles, hybrid work means you’re in the office a few days a week and working from home the others. It’s great, right? Then why does it leave so many feeling exhausted and unsettled? The answer lies in our need for patterns and predictable routine. Often thought to be “the best of both worlds”, hybrid work by its definition lacks uniformity, and a lack of home office organizati...
Are you faced with a disorganized collection of bikes every time you enter your garage? Do you want bike storage solutions to help you calm the garage chaos? Inspired Closets is here to help. Simply schedule a free, in-home consultation with one of our designers to get started. We’ll listen to your current frustrations and evaluate the existing situation so we can find the most effective way to arrange your garage bike storage and create an ...
In the quest for complete closet bliss, there are many different organizational approaches and methods you can try. From rolling shirts to replacing hangers, there is no shortage of advice on how to optimize the space you have for easy access to the things you love. But across the many tips, tricks, and hacks, there’s one solution that can help improve, organize, and optimize any closet: upgrading your closet lighting.
They say purses are like friends… you can never have too many. From clutches and crossbodies to backpacks, bucket bags, and totes, nothing haunts us more than the purse we didn’t get, except maybe how to organize purses in our closet and the mess of purses crammed onto the shelf in our closet. While purses top the list of most useful accessories, purse storage and understanding how to organize purses in a closet seems to elude us. ...
It’s no secret—the holidays are a celebratory time that can leave us with excess. From presents to decorations, you’re not alone if you find yourself with an overabundance of things post-holiday and a sudden urge to purge in an effort to maximize closet space and get organized for the new year.
The holiday season is here and with it comes a to-do list a mile long, it seems. From events and holiday entertaining to online shopping and mall hopping, it’s easy to feel stress creep into what might otherwise be a calm, quiet month. When it comes to holiday party entertaining, the key to making it happen with a joyful heart is focus. Your time is limited so spend it prepping the spaces you expect to use the most.
Real talk. Last winter was a bit of a challenge. Not necessarily because of the weather but because the things you needed most weren’t easily accessible. From holiday decorations to ski boots and skates, finding what you needed when you needed it was a chore, and cleaning a garage in the winter was not high on your want-to-do list. But here we are again, heading into the busiest time of year with a winter garage that’s less than or...
“Square peg in a round hole” is often how homeowners describe the relationship between their clothes and their closet. A mismatch that leads to frustration. If a closet renovation is what you want, but you’re not sure where to start and slightly afraid of making a closet remodel mistake that you’ll live with for years, we get it. Like anything in life, knowledge is power, and knowing a bit more about how to get the closet redes...
Being in the custom closet business means we’re in a lot of homes, and after thousands of in-home consultations there is one thing we know for sure – no two walk-in closets are the same. From simple rectangles to L-shaped closets and angled ceilings to windows and electrical panels, we’re always curious and excited to see what’s behind the closet door. If your closet is like many we see, it just might be a walk-in closet wi...
When was the last time your garage floor was free of clutter, and you felt really good about how you were using the space? An often overlooked – and overwhelmed – space, your garage is likely full of everything except your cars. A mix of tools and lawn equipment, random seasonal décor and all your kids’ outdoor toys, it’s easier to close the door and keep on moving than tackle cleaning it out. If you’re not getting the m...
With the many phases and thousands of decisions you make when building a new home or completing a home remodel, it’s not surprising that little attention is given to your closet design and what goes into your closet. After so much focus and effort in other areas of the home, decision fatigue and budget realities set in, and it’s easy to see how your custom closet plans end up on the editing room floor, so to speak – and you opt i...
A house is not a home without the laughter, love, and memories that a family brings inside. Transformed one busy day at a time, your home is a mirror of the life you are building, every room a chapter in a story that only your family can tell. That’s why it’s so important that each space has a clear and specific purpose, making it easy to maximize every square foot of living space to make home your favorite place to be. Yet, nearly...
If you share closet space with your significant other and find yourself constantly picking up and reorganizing—only to find more items living outside of the closet than properly put away—you’re not alone. As you look around, even your store-bought bins aren’t quite working. Belts are hanging off hangers, piles of clothes are draped over furniture and neckties are being hung on doorknobs. It’s challenging trying to mix dif...
For many families, the garage is the most difficult space in the home to keep organized. Seemingly wide open where anything can go, it’s easy to overlook its primary role to house your cars and other outdoor items and instead, use it for pretty much anything you don’t know where else to store. Seasonal holiday décor, bulk shopping supplies, and mismatched shoes compete for prime real estate with sports equipment, lawn care supplies, and s...
It’s time to recognize the modern living room as the “heart of the home.” A dynamic space that supports daily waves of all kinds of activity, it’s easy to see why open concept floor plans are in such high demand. By replacing boxy floorplans with expansive grand spaces, key living space comes from blending the living room, kitchen, entryway, and dining room. And because your family’s traffic patterns pass through ...
It’s been said that home is where love resides, memories are created, friends and family belong, and laughter never ends. It’s also been said that it’s the place where toys become mountains and busy moms can feel overrun. And if your children are young, the list of things that never seem to get put away is long – puzzles, books, board games, electronic games, trains, dolls, dress-up clothes, stuffed animals, matchbox cars, ...
Spring has arrived and with it, a feeling of rejuvenation and excitement for a fresh start. But as the weather begins to change and your family calendar starts to fill up, just the thought of spring cleaning makes you feel anxious. So much so that when you try to commit your time and effort to get the job done, not knowing where to start can make spring cleaning feel impossible. Afterall, the last thing you need on your to-do list is to spend ...
Another Monday has arrived and with it another busy week, an impossible calendar, and a story of disorganized stress that is all too familiar. Ever the optimist, you get up early thinking you will outsmart the chaos, allowing ample time to get yourself and your family organized and out the door. You even laid out clothes and made lunches the night before! But instead, you are met with the usual resistance, pleas to stay in bed, the disappointm...
It’s no surprise that after more time at home than ever before, studies are predicting a baby boom is on the way. From first time parents to families that already have kids in the home, having a baby is an exciting season in everyone’s lives (is it lives or life?). If this includes you, then you are on one of two paths: You are either preparing for a new addition to your family to arrive or having children is a future possibility. ...
For busy families, December is the most wonderful (and stressful) time of the year. A constant juggling act, your schedule is packed with kid’s recitals, holiday guests, and seasonal fun while somehow making sure your home is holiday ready. And just like that, your house is divided between beautifully decorated (and clean) rooms full of holiday magic and the rest of your house operating like one giant drop-off zone full of debris.
Let’s face it. You love this time of year for the togetherness and celebration it brings. But, if you’re like us, you feel torn between pausing to take it all in and racing to get it all done, bouncing between those two realities can leave you feeling drained. This time of year, every holiday happening, from family pictures to hosting a neighborhood party produces a to-do list a mile long that has you cleaning for the holidays and ...
Have you ever thought about how you feel when you step inside your closet? If you’re like most people, feelings of stress and frustration take over because you know the space could be better utilized if you had more time to tackle a walk-in closet design project. But what if we told you that the way you feel has just as much to do with the closet interior design of the space as it does with how the space functions? When your most persona...
It has been said a million times, and it will be said a million times more: change is hard. Homes are always transforming, whether you are working from home or back to the office; a hybrid lifestyle has become the new norm for the everyday family. More often it seems kitchen tables become school desks, bedrooms transform into offices, and all the boundary lines between home, work and school start blending together. Balancing the ever-changing ...
Have you ever wondered what your home would be like without a pantry or laundry room? Next to the kitchen, each space plays a key role in keeping daily life organized and on track. Yet they often lack any kind of décor or interior design. The great news is that with a few smart pantry design and laundry room design plans, you can transform your home with your favorite interior design trends in the spaces you use most.
Does your family have a knack for leaving their things everywhere except for where they need to be? Maybe it’s a bag, briefcase or backpack cluttering the entryway, or jackets and coats hanging on the backs of chairs, or even dirty clothes tossed practically everywhere except the hamper. Yet none of these everyday organization issues are as frustrating as the scattered mess of shoes that overtake your mudroom or entryway.
Do you have an inspiration board full of cool garage ideas like a garage hangout or a beautiful garage craft room? Or maybe what you really want is a garage home gym for no excuse workouts. If so, there’s a good chance you also have a lot of questions about everything from wondering how much a garage conversion will cost to choosing which space idea you will enjoy the most. The great news is we can help!
When you are getting ready to move, your to-do list is full of tasks to tackle before the big day, including figuring out the best way to move clothes. It might be tempting to let the movers toss everything in a box and deal with the mess once you unpack. Or you can save time, money, and space by finding the best way to pack and fold your clothes and working with your movers to create an organized transition into your new home. Here are our ...
Imagine going from your office to the gym in under 10 minutes. Not only is this convenient, but it eliminates the pressure and intimidation that comes with going to your local gym. And that’s why there’s no better way to ensure you meet your fitness goals than to build a gym in your own home! With a home gym setup, you’ll save gas, time, energy, and money. If you have underutilized space in your home, such as the garage, here’s how to ...
Working from home is here to stay and with it, the need to make your home office as on-trend and organized as the rest of your home. Arguably one of the most important spaces in your home, check out our favorite home office interior design ideas for you to consider as you create a dedicated workspace just for you.
There’s no place like home. And when you take the time to transform your home with fresh room organization ideas, you quickly find that it’s easy to make home your family’s favorite place to be. Here are our top tips for organizing the spaces you use most.
Our promise to you is a custom closet experience from beginning to end that leaves you feeling inspired. Custom means uniquely you, and for us, it’s not about creating a new space, but rather creating a uniquely you custom closet space that you’ll absolutely love. A custom closet that you’ll love for years to come. A closet system you’ll want to tell your best friend about. A custom closet you’ll want to show your sister over FaceTim...
How much does a custom closet cost? It’s easily our most frequently asked question, and the answer is: It depends — mainly on the size of the space and what we’re putting into it. When considering a custom closet, the easiest way to think about cost is ...
Yes, you can! Designing a closet is a process and we want to make sure that the final design is one you’ll love for years to come, which is why we use proprietary software that allows you to compare different designs with the click of a button. Wondering if you have enough drawers in your design? Swapping out a few shelves and replacing them with drawers is an easy change. Want to see an entire section change ...
For closet design and installation time, it all comes down to size. The larger the closet, the more opportunity for customization, and in turn, the more time it might take to design and install your custom closet. So while a reach-in closet can be as fast as half a day to a full day, a walk-in closet typically takes a day or two, and a room-size boutique closet can take three to four days to complete.
...Together we will design a space that can change with you over time, and that built-in flexibility is the key. Your custom solution is created uniquely for you, so we make sure we understand your needs from the start and design a space that will take care of those needs now and in the future. We want your final installation to feel like the rest of your home so we make sure to consider your interior design style ...
There’s nothing like adding that perfect piece of jewelry or scarf to your outfit to finish the look. And the same is true for your favorite handbag too. So we make finding all those accessories easy. Space-saving jewelry trays are an easy insert in any drawer and they are especially well placed in a custom closet with an island.
Shoes present an organizational challenge, no matter how big or small your home is. Most shoe racks, shelves, and closet shoe organizers take a one-size-fits-all approach, leading to disorganization and frustration. So we work with clients to relieve that frustration by creating custom closet shoe storage to keep each pair organized.
Read on to learn more about our customized shoe racks and shelves and how they can help you keep your cl...
When you decide to install a custom closet in your home, you are choosing to add a new structure that will be there for years to come. So it’s important to know what your custom closet materials are made of and how to care for them so that they will always have that same fresh look they had on installation day.
Getting and staying organized at home can be a challenge, and it’s even more of an issue when your closets are small. That’s why we asked professional organizer and Inspired Closets Vermont co-owner Elizabeth Warren to share her favorite small closet organization ideas. Here are her tips for how to make the most out of the space you have to create an organized closet you’ll love.
We lay this foundation during your initial design consultation, taking the time to get to know you and evaluate your space. Our proprietary software enables us to offer you a collaborative experience where you can see your design come to life and make changes in real-time so you’ll know exactly what it will look like once it’s installed.
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