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When somebody says a closet needs more storage, making the closet larger is not always the answer. In plenty of apartments, condos, student housing units, and even custom homes, there is already usable space sitting above, below, or beside the existing rod.
The problem is usually the layout.
A single rod across the width of a closet may technically do its job, but it can leave several feet of vertical space unused. Corners can be hard to work with. High shelves may hold boxes while the space below them goes untouched. Before adding square footage, it makes sense to look at how much of the closet is actually being used.
Start With the Basic Rod Layout
The easiest place to find more hanging room is usually below the existing rod.
Shirts, folded pants, and shorter jackets do not need the same vertical clearance as dresses and long coats. A closet that combines a long-hang section with a double-hang section gives the user more rod space while still leaving room for longer clothing.
Hardware Decor carries a wide range of closet rods, kits, connectors, and mounting hardware, so contractors can build the layout around the size and finish that fits the project.
For repetitive openings, a pre-sized kit can take some of the field work out of the job. The 48 Inch Satin Nickel Oval Rod Kit, for example, is made for a 48-inch-wide space and comes with the rod, pinned flanges, and screws.
Hardware Decor also carries a full range of oval closet rods and hardware when the project calls for individual rods, matching supports, or a different finish.
Use the Space Above the Normal Hanging Zone
Tall closets often have plenty of room above a standard rod. The problem is that a fixed rod mounted high enough to use that space may be out of reach for everyday use.
That is where a wardrobe lift makes sense.
Hardware Decor’s Wardrobe Lifts & Pull Down Rods collection is designed to bring high hanging space down to a usable level and then return it overhead when it is not needed. That makes the upper part of the closet useful for clothing instead of leaving it as dead space or a shelf that is hard to reach.
For a standard-size opening, the Basic 50 Wardrobe Lift adjusts from 33 to 50 inches wide and uses pneumatic assistance to lower and raise the rod. It has a listed 26-pound capacity.
Wardrobe lifts are especially worth considering in tall built-ins where another fixed rod would technically fit but would not be practical to use.
Do Something With the Corner
Closet corners tend to create another awkward gap in the layout.
A straight rod may stop before the corner, leaving a section that does not contribute much to the overall hanging capacity. In an L-shaped closet or wraparound system, using that turn can add useful rod space without changing the footprint.
The Novara Small Corner Oval Rod Kit is made to install under a shelf and use an inside or outside corner. The kit includes the corner rod and the hardware needed to support it. Hardware Decor also offers a larger version for projects that need more hanging length through the corner.
It is a relatively small change to the layout, but on a tight closet, a few sections like that can make a noticeable difference.
Let the Shelf and Rod Work Together
Another common layout puts a shelf above the closet rod. There is nothing wrong with that setup, but the hardware should be planned as one system.
A shelf-and-rod bracket supports both pieces and can add support on longer or heavier rod spans. Hardware Decor's Polished Chrome Shelf & Rod Bracket works with 1-1/16-inch and 1-5/16-inch round rods and supports shelving up to 14 inches deep.
For projects where shelving is part of the storage plan, Hardware Decor also carries a broader selection of shelf supports and brackets.
That matters because adding usable storage is not only about putting in more rod. A well-planned closet gives folded items, hanging clothes, and less frequently used items a logical place to go.
Plan the Whole Closet Before Adding Another Rod
It is easy to look at an empty wall and decide it needs another piece of hardware. On a larger project, it is worth looking at the closet as a whole first.
Where can short clothing be double-hung? Is there usable space overhead? Is the corner being wasted? Does a shelf-and-rod setup make better use of one section than another fixed rod would?
Those questions can uncover quite a bit of usable storage before anyone starts talking about making the closet itself bigger.
For contractors working across multiple units, settling on those layouts ahead of time also makes the work easier to repeat. Once the rod, supports, heights, and specialty hardware are established, the same approach can be carried from one closet to the next.
