When it comes to minimalism, less is more. Custom closet cabinetry keeps clutter to a minimum and makes organizing simpler than ever.

You search for classic silhouettes and high-quality fabrics that will last for years to come. You debate for a week about purchasing one of two nearly-identical white blouses. When you add a new piece to your wardrobe, you agonize about which existing item you now need to donate. If this sounds anything like you, you’re working within the realm of a minimalist capsule wardrobe—and you’re definitely not alone.

As seen on Pinterest and in fashion magazines year-round, closet minimalism has turned into a full-blown trend. Sources abound for how to create and maintain a capsule wardrobe, but that still leaves the question: What is the best way to store and organize your 30, 37, or 17 items of clothing? Adding custom cabinetry to your walk-in closet can greatly benefit those who maintain the minimalist closet approach. An intentional storage plan adds even more sophistication to your wardrobe experience. The moral of the minimalist story? It’s never about sheer size—it’s about style.

Design Your Closet Space with Intention

As a minimalist, you’ve likely given a great deal of thought to each and every piece of clothing that earns its way into your closet. It only makes sense that you would use the same discernment when deciding how to store and care for those items—and that process starts with designing your storage system.

Because the traditional one-rod-and-shelf closet is anything but thoughtful, it’s time to shake things up a bit. Consider your wardrobe and assess how your items are best stored. Which items need to hang, and which items require a full six feet of vertical space? While three feet of hanging rod may be enough to allow you to cram in your entire wardrobe, a custom closet allows you to spread out, and even design one hanging section just for your out-of-season wear. Adding dual hanging rods, meanwhile, allows you to hang blouses above skirts or slacks.

As for the items that don’t need to be on hangers, decide whether you’d most prefer to store these items on shelves or in sturdy drawers. Either way, you can add as many of these features to your custom design as your wardrobe requires. For aesthetic reasons, you may prefer to hide away your workout attire, sleepwear, or undergarments in drawers—these things likely don’t match the color palate of your capsule wardrobe as a whole.

Use Your Custom Closet to Care for Your Clothes

The best thing about the minimalist wardrobe is that it only allows for higher-quality pieces to be included, and as a result, you’re likely more dedicated to caring for these pieces over the long term. Plus, with fewer clothing items, putting away and caring for your clothes takes a lot less effort than it otherwise would. A custom closet system is a valuable asset in your daily routine when it comes to keeping your clothing in top shape.

Imagine waking up on a Monday morning and flipping the lights on in your custom walk-in. Your boutique-style wardrobe shines back at you, and you reach over to the valet rod to put on the outfit that’s hanging beautifully for you there. Later at the end of the work day, you return to your closet home base and re-hang your blouse, tossing your skirt in the built-in laundry hamper to be cleaned this weekend. You place your shoes in their own spot on your adjustable shoe shelves, and you pull out some comfy loungewear from one of the drawers to your left. You select pieces that you plan to wear the next morning and hang them on the valet rod, bringing everything full circle.

Custom features make the entire lifecycle of your clothing more streamlined and easier to handle. With a custom closet, you won’t have to work nearly as hard to keep your capsule wardrobe tidy and stylish for years to come.

Interested in seeing exactly how a custom closet would look in your space? Sign up for a free design consultation with one of Closet America’s design experts. We’ll work with you to create a detailed image of the closet you’re dreaming of, and add in the features and stylistic details that will make it your own.

Lead image source: Unsplash user I’m Priscilla