The Smart Solution For Tall Closet Storage If You Can't Reach

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If you've been trying to optimize your closet's organization, you likely know that one of the top recommendations of professional designers to create more closet space is to make full use of your closet's vertical storage space. While this makes total sense from an organizational standpoint, it's not always practical, especially when it comes to accessibility. After all, how useful is a storage hack if it puts your items inconveniently out of reach? 

Home storage designers have heard this plea and have come up with a smart solution –- pull-down closet rods. These ingenious gadgets have a simple design which makes use of vertical storage space while also prioritizing accessibility. An extendable wardrobe rail is connected to three vertical poles, two on each side and one in the middle. The side poles attach into the unit's folding mechanisms which install on your closet wall. The middle pole has a handle on the end to pull down the wardrobe rail so your clothes are at your fingertips whenever you need them. Once you've made your selection, just use the handle to push the rod back up. Pull-down clothing rails are also an excellent way to utilize space above the washer for a simple laundry room storage solution.

Prices start as low as $50 for a pull-down closet rail and average around $100. Units can extend anywhere from 21 to 48 inches in width with back-mount and side-mount options to fit any closet. Weight capacities range from 25 to 60 pounds, though it's important to note that the narrower the clothing rail is, the stronger it will be.

Pull-down clothing rails are a handy innovation, but they do have a key flaw. When the rails are loaded up with clothes, they can be very difficult to lower or lift. Higher-end models (such as the XIIW Pull-Down Closet Rod) feature a hydraulic system which makes it easier to maneuver (reviews confirm this does help). It's worth reading reviews and product descriptions carefully to select a pull-down rail that will accommodate your needs.

If lifting and lowering the rail concerns you, a clothes hanger reacher is a simple and budget-friendly alternative that will help you reach those high-up hangers. Speaking of reachers, an extendable grabber is another cheap gadget that can do wonders to make your closet's vertical storage more accessible. Use it to grab bags, shoes, or folded items stored out of reach.

Another accessibility-friendly and inexpensive product that keeps your closet clutter-free is the KLYKET folding hook from IKEA. These discreet little hooks are just $3 each, can be installed anywhere you need them, and they fold up when you don't. Each hook can hold three hangers to keep key items in arm's reach.