Out of the Closet: Open-Concept Clothing Storage

Image: Murray Mitchell

I’m fascinated with the space in interior design where necessity and trend meet. For me, it’s a bit of a chicken and egg question: which came first, the human necessity or the design trend? This question often comes up for me when thinking about the concept of open clothing storage.

Hanging Hangers

Image: The 404

This room at The 404, a hip hotel in Nashville, gives guests a simple hanging bar near the bed to store their clothing. Did the designer forget to include a closet? Or run out of space? Or is this open clothing storage intended to indicate the cool factor of the establishment?

Just Plain Smart

Image: Pia Ulin on Dwell

Storing shoes near the bed, on a low shelf, seems like a no-brainer once you see it. It makes perfect sense, since the foot of the bed is one of the most common places to put on and take off footwear. Plus, it’s so much better than littering the closet floor with your shoes!

Showing Off

Image: Jody Kivort on Remodelista

I swear, if I had a space configured similarly to the one above, I’d install this exact sliding door / mirror; it’s pretty dang genius. And the simply folded, stacked clothing on shelving inside this closet is a terrific alternative to dressers and drawers.

On the Rack

With a bedroom as dramatic as this, chances are no one is even looking at the closet space. But the use of these wooden freestanding racks is a perfect addition to the room, keeping with the interior design and creating extra storage.

Do you show your wardrobe off with open clothing storage or hide it away?