Many people wonder how to organize closets most effectively. The easiest way is with a custom closet system, but where do you begin? If you’re lucky enough to be putting in a custom closet system, here are the top five favorite “must have” features that you should definitely include:

Valet Rails

Most people aren’t sure what these are prior to having a custom closet system installed. But once you’ve experienced the convenience and functionality of a valet rail – you’ll never want to live life without one. These handy devices mount on the side of a vertical panel/section divider and they telescope in and out. So when you’re bringing home dry cleaning, packing for a trip or planning tomorrow’s outfit – you can easily pull the rail out to use – and push it back out of the way when you’re done.

Belt Racks

Having easy access to your belts makes it much more likely you’ll actually wear them – especially the really fashionable ones that you just “had to have”. Belt racks can be telescoping or wall mounted. Telescoping belt racks mount on the side of a vertical panel in a long or medium hang section so the belts have room to move when you slide them in and out for access. Wall mounted belt racks are great to use in spaces that aren’t functional for hanging or shelves.

Jewelry Dividers

Truly a thing to behold (in addition to being a thing that “holds” your favorite accessories), and often overlooked when thinking about how to organize closets. They can be velvet or acrylic. And they can be specific in their function (ring holders or small earring holders) or just have lots of organizational slots that allow you the flexibility to store small, medium or large pieces of bling.

Hooks

Who can live without hooks? They much better for a “quick drop” than the floor and they come in all shapes and sizes. They can really spruce up the look and feel of your closet space and are one of the most functional items on the planet when figuring out how to organize closets. Make sure you select ones that are larger in size so they’re easy to toss things onto and not have them still end up on the floor.

Baskets

How about two baskets – one for laundry – one for dry cleaning? No more stashing your “dry cleanables” behind the door and then trying to remember to drop them off. Baskets come in a variety of heights and finishes. They also can come with removable canvas inserts so you can easily gather and transport the contents. Now all that’s left is the “remembering” part!!