An Inspiring Man Closet Makeover

Filed under: Bedroom, Your Home, Projects

What's a man to do when his ties, sneakers and T-shirts are a jumbled mess inside his closet? Read on for tips on how to spruce up a man closet.

Move over, man cave, the "man closet" is the new male-only space inside a house. And don't expect rows of shelves for all of his fancy shoes -- Men want different things in a closet than women do, says designer Lisa Adams of LA Closet Design, her custom-closet business and online boutique.


Men seek a no-fuss tone. Where a woman's closet might be cute and feminine and have dainty features and design touches, men care most about space; they like their closets walk-in big. And they appreciate gadgets like safes, bars (a refrigerator, breakfast station or coffee maker), and charging stations -- all designed to make their morning rush to the office and evening wind down easier. "Men tend to be the ones that are the risk takers in terms of design," says Adams, shown below.


And she's enjoyed creating closets for them. For the 7th annual Esquire Design House in Hollywood Hills, California, last fall, Adams created two closets -- a 150-square-foot man closet attached to the master-bedroom suite and a "weekend girlfriend" closet. Relying on dark, straight-grained wood, satin-nickel accents and cream-colored accessories, the man closet is the kind of space that gets women drooling too. Think: Crocodile-leather walls, pull-out cases with glass tops to store jewelry and sunglasses, cubby-holes for sweaters, ties tucked into a hanging display case. Adams also added hanging rods with integral lighting, to avoid fumbling around in the dark for a specific shirt or pair of slacks.

Still, most men don't need this many bells and whistles to feel good about their closet. "Most men want organization -- a place for everything," she says. When Adams designed her boyfriend's closet, she gave him lots of places to keep things. "It is organized and functional. I believe he feels good every morning getting dressed and feeling like he starts off the day organized and in a positive state of mind," she says.

Think your partner would appreciate a man closet? Here's how to help him outfit one:

1. Synchronize
Change out all of the hangers to achieve a monochromatic, slick look. It doesn't matter if the hangers are wooden or metal. But definitely "get rid of the dry-cleaning hangers," says Adams. "Just changing that spruces it up."

2. Charging Stations
These days we carry a LOT of hand-held electronics each time we leave the house -- iPod, e-reader, digital camera, etc. With all of this comes the responsibilty of keeping everything juiced up. Add a charging station to your man's closet and he won't be disappointed. It doesn't have to be high-end, just a flat area near an outlet with enough plugs for a good charge. Adams loves the Stelton x-92 Super Charger XL, the BlueLounge "The Sanctuary" or the Kikkerland Charging Station. If there isn't an outlet in the closet, then this brand-new wireless charger is perfect.


3. Ties and Belts
Invest in a tie and belt organizer. It could be flat (where ties and belts are folded or rolled inside a pull-out drawer), a cubby-hole (stores like IKEA and The Container Store sell quality stand-alone cubicles that work perfectly, everything from wire mesh to bamboo wood), or wall-mounted, depending on the space available. You can also make your own tie or belt organizer, like this one on Etsy made with a bulletin board and mismatched drawer knobs.

4. Donate
Guys are packrats when it comes to old clothes. Periodically go through the closet and look for items that are rarely, if ever, worn. If the item hasn't been worn in the last 12 months, then into the Goodwill box it goes!

5. Add Scent
The easiest way to reinvigorate a closet is to apply a scent. Adams likes cedar or eucalyptus, which are masculine alternatives to lavender, which many women use to perfume their closets. (Very few men are going to feel at home in a closet that smells like a garden...) There's no need to light a candle or scoop potpourri into a bowl, however. Sachets tossed into the drawers will do the trick.

6. Lighting Options
Men love back lighting, says Adams. It's also helps men find their way around the closet. (If you've ever woken up to a flash of bright light in the bedroom, thanks to your sweetheart's earlier wake-up time, then you know that dim lighting is a lifesaver.)

And while women love, love, love the look of a chandelier, that's not going to bode well for men. "Men like simple, more masculine-looking light fixtures," says Adams, such as in-cabinetry lighting recessed into shelves and integrated into hanging rods. "Soffit lighting and dimmers adds mood and interest in men's closets," she says.

7. Deck the Walls
The easiest way to revitalize a closet is to paint the interior walls or apply a textural element. Whether it's a pop of tangerine or a subdued platinum grey, it's yet another opportunity to personalize.

Want to read more about closet organization?
Corral Your Clutter with Wire Shelving Systems
California Closets and Peter Walsh's Mega-Makeover
Five Things You Can Do (Today!) to Organize Your Closet

Have man caves on the brain? Check out this video.

 

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