is a closet update a worthy house investment?

So I’ve done it again.  I’ve removed the wire shelving, which many of you know that I disdain with a passion, from yet another closet.   Last time it was my son’s closet.  This time it’s the guest room closet.  I’m slowly but surely going to work my way around to every closet in the house…..she says while shaking her fist in the air.

I’ve decided to revamp the closet with beadboard wallpaper, wood shelving and new closet rods.  A friend of mine recently asked me if I thought a project like this was a worthy house investment.  She asked this because she would really like to update her closet, but there is a big possibility that she may be moving and selling in the somewhat near future.  My answer was an emphatic YES it’s a worthy house investment.  And then I gave her a laundry list of reasons to support my answer. 

Is a closet update a worthy house investment?

1.  A closet update/renovation is a relatively small expense.  I mean, sure it can get expensive…..any home improvement project can…….but it doesn’t have to break the bank.  Small expense + big improvement = a house win…..at least it does in my book.

2.  While you’re thinking about the future…….the possibility that you might be selling and moving……….you’re currently living with a situation, a closet, that you absolutely hate.  And on top of that you’re living with a closet you hate that you are completely capable both physically and financially to do something about.

3.  I get that whole but this isn’t my “forever” home way of thinking, but in the end I think life’s too short to pine away for someday when you have today to make your dreams a reality. 

4.  Sure an updated closet isn’t as important to potential buyers as say, an updated kitchen or bathroom, but don’t be fooled into thinking that you’re the only homeowner that loves a well designed, organized closet.  A closet update will most definitely be attractive to potential buyers should you decided to sell.  And add that updated closet to your updated kitchen and bathroom and now you’re tipping the scales in your favor. 

5.  Every improvement you make to your home can’t be measured in investment dollars.  Some improvements won’t necessarily pay you back financially but might just help you get your home sold faster…….and that’s worth something isn’t it?   It’s often organization improvements, like nice closet shelving, that make your home stand out from the rest.

You all know I’m living in my fifth house, not too inventive in the blog name category over here, so you know I’ve been on the buying and selling side a number of times.  While I kept my list of pros to five I could honestly go on and on, but I’m curious to know what you all think?  Do you think a closet update a worthy house investment?

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  • Yes, yes, and yes! I hate wire shelving as well, with passion! I had planned to gut my huge (really obscenely large closet if we're being honest) and put in a semi-custom set-up with PAX stuff from Ikea. But after only less than a year, we are relocating to London for 2 years (and I'm not going to bother making it gorgeous just for renters 😉 I do have a white and green stripe area rug in there and hung a miser above the dresser and I'm a bit of a control freak when it comes to organizing things…. But if we don't sell when we move back to the US, then it'll be custom shelves and drawers for unmentionables, shoe shelves, handbag storage. The other day I saw a great closet makeover on Pinterest where she added a little dressing table and jewelry storage…fantastic.

    So long answer to say yes, it's worth every stinking penny! Having bought and sold 5 homes in last 14 years, the number one thing I look for is a good kitchen, then a mud room, family room, and then the closets. A non-wire shelving system really makes a house sing, and it'll be what people remember as they walk through your home.

  • I am not buying a house for closets (half of our homes had next-to-no closet space) but they are a good bonus, so I try to make them as nice as I can. We'll be adding a closet to our master suite here at Brandywine…our closet was turned into a small bathroom by the last owners. And NO WIRE!!!

  • You are the closet master!!! Come do mine…I have a whole bevy of untouched ones! 😉 Great tips and list…I don't think anyone ever regretted making over their closet!

  • YES! I completely agree. A well-organized closet allows you to keep other zones of the home clear. After installing rail-hung closet systems in each bedroom, we re-purposed all of the wire shelving from the closets of our new build into the garage on one wall for the childrens toys, sports gear and swim stuff. It's highly durable and more suited to baskets of things than stacks of sweaters.

  • I loathe wire shelving as well. Because we didn't have the funding to replace the wire shelving in our pantry, master closet and master linen closet, I bought the cheap peel-n-stick 12×12 tiles (at about 12 cents a tile), peeled off the backing and stuck them down. I already had a tile cutter that would cut the tiles as some of my shelves were 15" wide. My pantry is by no means pretty as I left the tiles as is, but in my linen closet, I cut out wrapping paper that I bought from the dollar store and adhered it to the top of the tiles so they are pretty. I did this about 3 years ago and my tiles are still sticking and I haven't had any problems.

  • I seem to be the odd man out. I like wire shelving. In fact, in our pantry I removed our solid shelves and replaced them with wire. It's so much easier to see whats on those top shelves when I can look right up through the bottoms of them. Because food bits do not collect on wire shelves, the shelves do not have to be cleaned nearly as often as solid shelves. For smaller items that might slip through the wire, I use a container of some sort.

    A well organized closet is a thing to behold but give me wire shelves every time! (Is anyone else now singing the theme from Green Acres?)

  • New to your blog, found it via bloglovin' recommendation. I agree with redoing closets. However, I had a whole closet built in sub-tropical Australia and they strongly recommend wire shelving! It is simply so warm and humid all the time (think mold growing up the walls if it's especially wet), that if you have flat shelves a) bugs can't live in your clothing as easily and b) clothing can breathe better. So definitely not a favourite of mine either, but it does make sense sometimes! Right now, we're living in Canada, so wire shelves are not needed for humidity/warmth here 🙂

  • Sorry I meant with flat shelves bugs can live in your clothes easier and clothing can't breathe. Wire shelves prevent both of that. So we had wire shelving installed and were very happy with it. Glad I don't need it here though!

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