Whether you are looking to add the closet of your dreams to the bedroom, need more pantry space in the kitchen, looking to declutter the garage or otherwise, customized closet organization and better storage solutions can help breathe new life into a space.

But trying to determine how to satisfy your needs and balance function with aesthetics can be a little daunting without the right guidance from a trusted professional. To better understand the latest trends and how homeowners are incorporating them, House & Home spoke with several leaders in the industry to get their expert take and some space-saving tips. No matter what your needs, the right approach to being better organized will provide some much-needed peace of mind.

In your experience, what are homeowners looking for these days when it comes to becoming better organized?
"The customer that I have is looking at things that are practical, and more importantly, economical. The innovation, finished materials, spectacular designs [they see online]; that's all inspiration. They want me as an expert to translate the high-end luxury into something that works for them.

"You can go crazy and try to make your closet look like the inside of Cartier. But what most people say is, "I want to do as much as I can for a reasonable amount of money. How can you help me go from Cartier to something that will fit this space at an affordable amount, so I can not only do my master bedroom closet, but also my pantry, I can do a reach-in, etc.'"
—Jeremy Cressman, owner, One Day Doors & Closets of Delaware Valley

"The most popular choice is more and more people are [organizing] their garages because that's become the main entrance into the house, so they want it to look nice. ... Most of my customers say they should have done this sooner because it gives them more space and functionality."
—Aaron Lewis, owner, Closest for Less Bucks County

"Closets are really the biggest category for us, although home office space is a growing part of the business. When COVID hit and people started working from home, typically they stole a bedroom to build a home office in. But a couple of times a year, they need that space as an actual bedroom, so we do home offices with wall beds in them."
—Charles Palko, general manager, Closet Factory Philadelphia

How can a more organized setting with increased storage help transform a space?
"Custom storage solutions can revitalize any space by reducing clutter and utilizing previously unused space, thus creating a sense of calm and order. We provide a carefully thought-out plan and strategy for storage, leading to a space that feels less overwhelming and stressful. By creating a system that makes it easier to find and access items in the kitchen, laundry or bathroom areas of the house we can streamline our routines and improve overall efficiency of daily life."
—Justin Hostetler, owner, ShelfGenie of Philadelphia

"First of all, it's time-saving, because everything is organized, homeowners don't have to fish through everything. If it's a closet, clothes remain fresher because they're not stacked on top of each other, and they're able to find articles [more easily]. Customers tell us all the time after we do a closet that they're now using clothes that they haven't used in years because they were able to find them."
—Charles Palko

How do you approach customers with differing desires to find a solution that works best for them?
"I have European customers who are more familiar with their closet as a wall wardrobe system. They're looking for shelving and drawers, they're looking for closed areas—they're looking to blend it into the décor of the house so it seamlessly fits.

"Then I have other customers that are traditional and they're looking for really practical solutions. I'm not talking about form and function, but I'm talking about open shelving, a mix of over and under rods; the most basic system they can get."
—Jeremy Cressman

How important is it for customers to set realistic expectations and keep in mind their immediate needs may not reflect their future desires?
"A young couple [for example] may want to think about their future. Right now they could be using a space as a guest room, but if you're talking about having kids someday, that space could become a baby room.

"[Sometimes] people tell you want they want, and it could be off the wall. [With my experience], sometimes you have to tell a client what they are looking for isn't going to work in their space. I hate to say it, but Pinterest has become a major thorn because people go on it and look and they have these massive pipe dreams of what they can do in a closet and the closet's only a third of the size of what the Pinterest picture looks like."
—Aaron Lewis

What are some of the more creative ways you are able to help homeowners find storage and space solutions with limited kitchen space?
"Custom pullouts allow homeowners struggling with limited storage space to utilize vertical storage more effectively. Static shelves force you to keep levels further apart in order to have the ability to access an item, creating unused or 'dead' space. ShelfGenie pullouts turn the unused air space into viable storage space. Our pullouts are custom built to the millimeter to fit perfectly into any existing space and are full depth, meaning we use 100% of the cabinet or pantry. We also eliminate the need for stacking items, dramatically increasing efficiency and overall ease of access."
—Justin Hostetler

Resources
Closet Factory
Serving Pa. and N.J.
(215) 268-7660
ClosetFactory.com

Closets by Design
(866) 278-8881 (Pa. and Del.)
(888) 500-9215 (N.J.)
ClosetsByDesign.com

Closets for Less of Bucks County
Warminster, Pa.
(215) 504-5898
Closets4LessBucks.com

One Day Doors &
Closets of Delaware Valley
Marlton, N.J.
(856) 485-4006
OneDayDV.com/promo10

ShelfGenie of
Philadelphia
Pottstown, Pa.
(484) 798-7243
ShelfGenie.com

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 25, Issue 4 (May/June 2025)
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