What works for rental closet systems?

Question

We are fixing up our first property, a duplex, in a college student/young professional renter part of town.  It's a 2 Bd, 2 Ba about 1000 sq ft.  The bedrooms are pretty generous at over 13x13 each.  Not much storage in the house other than the closets in each bedroom.  One bedroom has two existing closets each about 4' wide, with a single door access to each.

In the second bedroom we are building a new closet along one wall (it didn't have any storage at all).  The closet will be 10' wide, about 31" deep.  Two sets of frosted glass panel sliding doors in front for 8' of access.  My question is what to put into the closet - do we just go with the basic shelf and hanger bar below, or put in a closet maid wire system, or ?  What do renters want and what is durable?

Tandi H. · Answer

I just wanted to follow up and mention that we used a white melamine Closetmaid system from Home Depot.  It was $99 for the basic unit that included a center 2' wide shelving tower, two rods on one side and one rod on another, for a total 10' wide closet.  We got 3 additional 4' shelves for above the rods, with brackets, for another $50.  So about $150 into the system, and it looks cleaner and took less time than buying the wood, cutting, assembling, and painting ourselves.  We'll see how it holds up but I'm pleasantly surprised.

Marc Winter · Answer

Hi @Tandi Hufnagel

those are really sharp doors!  nice job!  Thanks for the photos.

Tandi H. · Answer

Hi @Marc Winter, thanks for that input.  We did go with sliders for this 10' wide closet.  I guess we'll find out how that works.  We used three guides spaced along the floor, and doors hang from tracks above.  They are also from HD, and have frosted glass panels.  I'll attach a pic of them, I think they turned out nice.  Hope they hold up.  I imagine the guides on the floor will get stepped on, broken, over time, but those can be replaced.

Kyle Peterson · Answer

How did this system hold up over the years? Do you still have a pic?

Thanks! :)

Marc Winter · Answer

In addition to the above, which all makes sense, I have had continuous problems with slider doors.  Many tenants, students or not, somehow seem to get this type of door de-railed.  We now opt for a regular pre-hung door/s that open into the room.  If you want to provide a mirror, you can screw one to the door--much less expensive to replace.

Carolina E. · Answer

Since you mentioned it's more college students, they tend to have less stuff and usually have their own storage organizers. I would just keep it simple just a bar and a shelf. Sometimes adding more might take up space for certain items.

What works for rental closet systems?

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