Mar 5, 2010

Dress up your dressing area

A spacious dressing area is no longer a dream feature in homes as many developers have taken to incorporating it in their upcoming projects. An increasing number of property buyers look for a proper walk-in closet, and not just a hallway with some storage space. A walk-in closet is an area that features two to four walls of space with horizontal bars and storage shelving. Typically, these closets are exposed, although certain shelving and sections may have doors.

The larger version of a walk-in closet is known as a dressing room and it features a furniture island or seating area in the center of the room. It normally includes built-in cabinets, which allows the sleeping area to be stripped off of any clothes storage responsibilities.

Here are a few things to remember when planning your dressing area.

Choose storage accessories

Choices are aplenty as cabinet manufacturers offer high-quality parts and storage options. You can add coat hangers, belt hooks and others, according to your requirements.

Determine what will be stored

Remove everything from your closet and evaluate what should be kept. A good rule of thumb is that if you have not worn or used it for a year, it should be given away.
Get rid of clothes that don’t fit or are out of style.
Find other storage areas for items that are non-dressing room related. For example, sports gear does not belong in a clothes closet.
Everything must be visible and retrievable. Sweaters, casual shirts and sweatshirts can be folded but they should be placed on shelves where you can see them.

Dim lighting

Avoid using halogen light as it can result in ‘hot spots’ in the closet. The high wattage halogen light are also more likely to burn out more frequently than incandescent light bulbs.
Adding an ‘occupant sensor’ is a good idea. The normal switch will be replaced with a motion sensor. This way, the room will be lit when you enter, and lights are switched off upon your exit.
Change to surface-mounted incandescent or fluorescent fixtures, which are affordable.
In smaller closets, install an exposed fluorescent fixture that does overheat, above the doorway.
For larger dressing areas, consider installing a few types of lighting including directional surface mounted light on the ceiling, a surface mounted light that illuminates the area in front of the mirror and a decorative fixture such as a chandelier, if the dressing area has high ceiling.

Ventilation

Airflow and dehumidification of the dressing area is important, especially if it is a dressing room. A fan or exhaust fan helps to keep the air fresh.

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