What To Know Before Adding A California Closet In Your Home

Maximizing storage space is all about getting creative with the room you have, but sometimes, it takes more than simple decluttering or an additional shelf to make your home's design work for you. Closet space, in particular, is incredibly valuable as it provides convenient, built-in, and concealed storage in the areas where you need it most. Unfortunately, not everyone is lucky enough to have a massive walk-in ready made, especially if you're working with an older home that was built for the needs of families in a now-bygone era. Thankfully, there's a solution: California Closets.

California Closets is one of the most popular custom closet companies in the United States, and it has even expanded its services to several additional locations across Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. While it's certainly possible to design a closet on your own or opt for pre-made options from a store like IKEA, a custom closet company like California Closets will work with you throughout the process to guarantee you're left with a result that's perfectly tailored to you. This is, however, a major investment, so it's worth doing some research to determine if this is truly the best option based on your budget, storage needs, and expectations.

California Closets is a full-service design company that will have someone working with you all the way from the initial consultation to professional installation. This, obviously, presents a major benefit. Throughout the process, you'll have the chance to work with a someone who is specifically focused on ensuring the closet will work to check all of your boxes. This is incredibly helpful if you're working with an awkward space or have specific storage needs, but it can also give you the chance to talk openly about cost and budget with someone who is already experienced on the subject. Even if you don't decide to go with this option, the company provides a free consultation so you're completely aware of what's possible and how much it might cost.

Once you've gotten the consultation and given your approval on the design, the bulk of your work is done. Unlike investing in an IKEA closet system or something similar, you don't have to worry about completing the labor yourself. A team of professional installers will come to your home, install the closet, and clean up, making sure you're able to start filling it right away. If you have limited time, aren't confident in your building skills, or are limited physically, a full-service installation like this can eliminate potential roadblocks and make things much easier on you.

Unfortunately, there is one major con when it comes to California Closets: the cost. A custom-built closet system with included professional installation is obviously going to be pricier than picking up a new dresser, but exactly how much you can expect to spend is entirely dependent on your design. According to California Closets' website, prices range from $175 to $1,800 per linear foot. This is a wide range, but for a fairly simple closet with a few custom details and accessories, the brand's estimate is around $3,000 for a 6 foot space. Before you buy, it is important to remember that you'll get a free estimate and consultation so you can determine if the cost is worth it.

Another major consideration is time. Because these are custom closets, it's going to take longer to get from consultation to install than if you were to order something pre-built. Exact timing will depend on your design, the specific location, and how busy of a season it is, but about 4-6 weeks from the signing of the initial contract is average. This is still a fairly quick turnaround for an involved project, but if you need something right away, it's probably not the best option. 

All in all, California Closets is a safe bet if you're looking for a full-service closet design company that's accessible and reliable, but if you only need a basic system, it's probably not worth the high price tag.