Closet organizer question- mostly mm ;)

Re: Closet organizer question- mostly mm ;)

• AprilZ81 member

  

  January 2016

  I've been drooling over the Elfa system at the Container Store.  I had them draw up a design for our closet and it would be $2300 for what is currently on the list.  There are some features that I could do without, but man it is beautiful.  I like that it is adjustable so if our needs change in the future we can move parts around without too much trouble.

  
  

  Wood closets are beautiful but most of the "wood" systems are just particleboard and I feel would probably not wear well long term.  If you go wood get the real stuff.  Wood is more beautiful but not flexible so if future owners move in and have different storage needs it might end up getting ripped out one day.

  
  

  If this is not a long term house for you I would probably go with some sort of modular wire system (Elfa, Closet Maid, Ikea, etc.) that has the features you want but that you can mix and match features.  

  Formerly AprilH81

  

  
  

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• lbonga1 member

  

  January 2016

  I actually really like Ikea's storage and organization options. I played around with building a custom one of those metal systems on their website a while back. I like that they can be changed easily if your needs change, and the cost is pretty awesome too. I was planning to get one before DD2 was born to have a space to store her clothes because the girls' bedroom is a den without a closet. But the crib we bought came with a trundle, so we ended up not needing it.

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• dragonstarjk member

  

  January 2016

  AprilZ81 said:

  I've been drooling over the Elfa system at the Container Store.  I had them draw up a design for our closet and it would be $2300 for what is currently on the list.  There are some features that I could do without, but man it is beautiful.  I like that it is adjustable so if our needs change in the future we can move parts around without too much trouble.

  
  

  Wood closets are beautiful but most of the "wood" systems are just particleboard and I feel would probably not wear well long term.  If you go wood get the real stuff.  Wood is more beautiful but not flexible so if future owners move in and have different storage needs it might end up getting ripped out one day.

  
  

  If this is not a long term house for you I would probably go with some sort of modular wire system (Elfa, Closet Maid, Ikea, etc.) that has the features you want but that you can mix and match features.  

  I agree with all of this.  If/when H and I do our closet, we will most likely go with wood, because we just really like the look of it much more than metal/wire.  However, we are also planning to stay in this house for a long time.  If it was going to be just a short-term improvement, maybe we would choose wire for the cost savings.
  

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• JoanE2012 member

  

  January 2016

  @AprilZ81 - did you see Container Store is currently running 30% off Elfa systems?  

  
  

  Personally, I prefer wood.  What the previous owners installed in our house is more like the particle board.  It's white, it looks clean and it's in like-new condition - it doesn't show any signs of wear.  Of course, I'd rather have true wood.  But since what we have looks good enough, and has the storage we would need, it's staying for the long term future - we have way too many other priorities with the house!  

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• AprilZ81 member

  

  January 2016

  JoanE2012 said:

  @AprilZ81 - did you see Container Store is currently running 30% off Elfa systems?  

  
  

  Personally, I prefer wood.  What the previous owners installed in our house is more like the particle board.  It's white, it looks clean and it's in like-new condition - it doesn't show any signs of wear.  Of course, I'd rather have true wood.  But since what we have looks good enough, and has the storage we would need, it's staying for the long term future - we have way too many other priorities with the house!  

  Yes, I I've been considering making the purchase, but we are going to wait until after our bathroom is done to to the closet.  It really isn't too bad right now as it is so spending $2k on this seems pretty frivolous.  Once we see what DH's bonus looks like, final cost of the bathroom remodel and if these infertility treatment(s) worked we will make the final decision.

  Formerly AprilH81

  

  
  

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• JoanE2012 member

  

  January 2016

  AprilZ81 said:

  JoanE2012 said:

  @AprilZ81 - did you see Container Store is currently running 30% off Elfa systems?  

  
  

  Personally, I prefer wood.  What the previous owners installed in our house is more like the particle board.  It's white, it looks clean and it's in like-new condition - it doesn't show any signs of wear.  Of course, I'd rather have true wood.  But since what we have looks good enough, and has the storage we would need, it's staying for the long term future - we have way too many other priorities with the house!  

  Yes, I I've been considering making the purchase, but we are going to wait until after our bathroom is done to to the closet.  It really isn't too bad right now as it is so spending $2k on this seems pretty frivolous.  Once we see what DH's bonus looks like, final cost of the bathroom remodel and if these infertility treatment(s) worked we will make the final decision.

  And, there will always be another sale!    Can't wait to see the remodel and hope for good baby news!

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• short+sassy member

  

  January 2016

  Mmmm...fancy walk-in closets.  It's a little fanatical and ridiculous how much I lust after gorgeous closet systems.  They always say kitchens sell houses.  Nope, not for me, a killer closet system would be an even bigger deciding factor for me if I were buying a house.  Though I do only like wood.  Solid wood.

  I'm actually going to turn a small bedroom in my house into a big walk-in closet.  I've been looking at the John Louis systems.  They are solid wood and very affordably priced.

  If you or @AprilZ81 take the plunge, post pics!  I need inspiration. 

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• julieanne912 member

  

  January 2016

  Hard to say without knowing your real estate market... price point etc.  

  
  

  I've had an Elfa system in my old condo.  I liked it for the most part, except that the wire shelves left bumpy marks on folded sweaters.  I believe they sell wood pieces you can set on top of the shelves to prevent that though.

  
  

  I eventually want to do an organizer system but when we do it, I want the real deal... built in wood etc.  

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• CuriousKiddosMama mod

  

  January 2016

  short+sassy said:

  Mmmm...fancy walk-in closets.  It's a little fanatical and ridiculous how much I lust after gorgeous closet systems.  They always say kitchens sell houses.  Nope, not for me, a killer closet system would be an even bigger deciding factor for me if I were buying a house.  Though I do only like wood.  Solid wood.

  I'm actually going to turn a small bedroom in my house into a big walk-in closet.  I've been looking at the John Louis systems.  They are solid wood and very affordably priced.

  If you or @AprilZ81 take the plunge, post pics!  I need inspiration. 

  I'm going to look into that brand. Haven't heard of it before. Thanks!

  

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• CuriousKiddosMama mod

  

  January 2016

  julieanne912 said:

  Hard to say without knowing your real estate market... price point etc.  

  
  

  I've had an Elfa system in my old condo.  I liked it for the most part, except that the wire shelves left bumpy marks on folded sweaters.  I believe they sell wood pieces you can set on top of the shelves to prevent that though.

  
  

  I eventually want to do an organizer system but when we do it, I want the real deal... built in wood etc.  

  We are the inexpensive home in an expensive neighborhood. $325ish was what we paid but neighborhood goes up to 1 million plus (although that is a separate gates section). That's part of why I'm not sure of what to do. I know for me the metal one would be good enough- amazing because of the lack of function in our closer right now (builder literally put in a single bar and shelf on each wall in the closet), but not sure if it's really what we should be putting in. And we hope to be here until retirement.

  

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• Erikan73 member

  

  January 2016

  I think wood, even the fake stuff, ends up looking more high end then the metal stuff. But it all depends on budget. Things to keep in mind, wood shelving can sometimes take up more space then wire because the shelves & walls are thicker. Also think of the lighting in the closet. Unless you go white, any type of wood system will make your closet potentially seem darker. The last thing to think about, location to bathroom. If the closet is right off the bathroom will it get plenty of ventilation? If not, the wood could hold onto the moisture & then possible warp and/or get moldy. Wire shelving would allow things to air out more.

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• julieanne912 member

  

  January 2016

  CuriousKiddosMama said:

  Hard to say without knowing your real estate market... price point etc.  

  
  

  I've had an Elfa system in my old condo.  I liked it for the most part, except that the wire shelves left bumpy marks on folded sweaters.  I believe they sell wood pieces you can set on top of the shelves to prevent that though.

  
  

  I eventually want to do an organizer system but when we do it, I want the real deal... built in wood etc.  

  We are the inexpensive home in an expensive neighborhood. $325ish was what we paid but neighborhood goes up to 1 million plus (although that is a separate gates section). That's part of why I'm not sure of what to do. I know for me the metal one would be good enough- amazing because of the lack of function in our closer right now (builder literally put in a single bar and shelf on each wall in the closet), but not sure if it's really what we should be putting in. And we hope to be here until retirement.

  I would say since you're planning on being there until retirement, do what makes you happy... and if the metal is totally fine for you, then do that!  

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• JoanE2012 member

  

  January 2016

  julieanne912 said:

  CuriousKiddosMama said:

  Hard to say without knowing your real estate market... price point etc.  

  
  

  I've had an Elfa system in my old condo.  I liked it for the most part, except that the wire shelves left bumpy marks on folded sweaters.  I believe they sell wood pieces you can set on top of the shelves to prevent that though.

  
  

  I eventually want to do an organizer system but when we do it, I want the real deal... built in wood etc.  

  We are the inexpensive home in an expensive neighborhood. $325ish was what we paid but neighborhood goes up to 1 million plus (although that is a separate gates section). That's part of why I'm not sure of what to do. I know for me the metal one would be good enough- amazing because of the lack of function in our closer right now (builder literally put in a single bar and shelf on each wall in the closet), but not sure if it's really what we should be putting in. And we hope to be here until retirement.

  I would say since you're planning on being there until retirement, do what makes you happy... and if the metal is totally fine for you, then do that!  

  This!  If this is pretty much your forever home, do what YOU like now.  You're the one who will have to live with it .  I wouldn't worry about resale at this point.

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