Standard-size closets may seem too small for much more than a row of hangers, but interior designers see potential lurking behind those coats and galoshes.
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”You can do a whole entertainment unit in a closet-with a large TV and stereo equipment,” says designer Adrienne Kamp. ”Using mirrors and recessed lighting will open it up so it looks spacious.” Kamp notes that the space between the door opening and the ceiling could be boxed in and lights placed in that extra foot of space.
Designer Susan Sassetti once squeezed a small bath, including tub, in a walk-in closet that measured only 5 feet by 6 feet. ”That would be the absolute minimum to accommodate a tub, commode and lavatory,” she says. ”A powder room, with no tub, could fit in a 3-by-5-foot space.”
Sassetti also recommends using pocket doors or bifolds when converting a closet into living area. ”That way you don`t have to worry about a door swinging into another room.”
”If a space is planned well, it could be multifunctional,” says designer Gwen Thomas. ”A small, standard-size closet could include a mini-library, a wet bar, small refrigerator and a wine rack.”
Thomas says she would strive for lots of light in any small closet conversion. ”I`d mirror everything or use wallpaper on both ceiling and walls to open it up,” she says. ”A window or a skylight would help, too, but if that`s impossible, I`d recommend a fake window with trompe d`oeil to make the room feel bigger.”