10 Things The Property Brothers Always Do Before Designing A Closet

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Take a look at any of the Property Brothers home transformations, and it's easy to see how these two HGTV stars are practically home storage geniuses. From kitchen cupboards to bathroom cabinets and messy playrooms, twin brothers Drew and Jonathan Scott know how to utilize every inch of space to keep clutter organized. They've even included organization solutions in their own Scott Living furniture line. But if the Property Brothers believe that one home improvement project is often overlooked, it's the closet. "There is no doubt in my mind that maximizing storage areas and closet organizers increase the value of a home," Drew told Home by Ames, adding that he pays special attention to this area when selling. "Every time I sell a home, I put custom storage solutions in all rooms," he adds. When it comes to designing an incredible closet, Drew and Jonathan tend to follow some basic steps, including careful planning, decluttering, and designing with the user's unique needs in mind. 

Whether you're in the process of building a new home, remodeling your current closet, or enhancing a home's storage appeal before placing it on the market, the goal for a closet should be to improve your quality of life and make you happy to get dressed — even on laundry day. Don't let your closet design become an afterthought. These tips from the Scott brothers can help you achieve a storage space that's beautiful, practical, efficient, and well within your budget.

Before undertaking any renovation or building project, it's best to have an estimated budget in mind. After all, building a new closet or customizing an existing one can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. In an interview with Home by Ames, Drew Scott advised, "Know [your] budget prior to planning the organization of your closets. It's easy to go for a lot of extra bells and whistles, but ensure you're not just adding elements that aren't actually going to add value."

Before getting started with a closet remodel, you will need to clean all of the clothes out anyway, so take some time to sort through your pieces. Decluttering is also one of Drew Scott's first bits of advice for folks looking to sell their home. "While you're at it, all those old clothes or personal affects that are outdated, donate them to a charity — it's a good thing," says Drew (via YouTube), "Keep in mind extra space is always in style." Once the closet build is done, it will feel great to restock all your most beloved pieces.

As Jonathan and Drew Scott discovered in one episode of "Backed by the Bros," a "micro-closet" just doesn't work well for anyone, not even short-term renters. Before designing your closet, take a peek at the home's floor plan — and your budget — to make sure you're allowing the closet to have as much space as possible. The Property Brothers aren't shy about demolishing walls to make a room feel more open and inviting, and the closet is no exception. 

In a YouTube short, Jonathan Scott advised, "When it comes to creating a custom closet, you need to look at the space and think about what kind of storage do you need?" As you're brainstorming, it may be helpful to think about the type of clothing you wear most, your personal proportions, or your mobility needs. For example, older residents planning to age in place may want to prioritize good lighting, pull-down rods, or a bench seat. "I'm a big guy, so I need taller hanging space," said Jonathan. 

It's important to keep some variety in your storage system, especially for small items like jewelry, sunglasses, scarves, gloves, and purses that create clutter. "In most standard-sized closets, you can actually fit two levels of racks or shelves," Jonathan Scott told Restonic, "Then, on the other side, you can include shoe shelves and a drawer set." The star himself has two stacked hanging rods, open shelves, and drawers in his closet, suggesting it's okay to double up on some types of storage if you think you'll make good use of them.

Don't be hesitant to build the closet of your dreams because of an important integrated feature, such as an electrical panel or hidden safe. "I had an electrical panel that was on one of the [closet] walls I had to demo, so I managed to find a new location just a few feet away and a very clever way to hide it," Jonathan Scott explained on YouTube. Once the remodel was done, he hung a full-length mirror on the wall, which was practical for both getting dressed and hiding the electrical panel. 

Most closets are built into the floor plan of a home, but a cabinet-style wardrobe can be a stylish closet alternative for storage in small bedrooms. While sharing a tour of his home on YouTube, Jonathan Scott explained, "This [guest bedroom] did not have a formal closet nor the depth for a formal closet ... by using actual cabinet doors instead of having closet doors, then we didn't need quite the depth and it fit in perfectly." Cabinet doors also present a great opportunity to incorporate a fresh color, cozy woodgrain, or metallic hardware.

In one episode of "Brother vs. Brother" that can be found on YouTube, the Scott brothers actually opted for sliding doors on both of their closet renovations without knowing it. Jonathan Scott's design incorporated large white sliding doors with reeded glass to cover up the closet in a modest main bedroom. Meanwhile, Drew Scott placed custom barn-style doors over a walk-in closet located within the primary bathroom. These minimal closet door ideas won't overwhelm your space, and it goes to show that great minds think alike.

If you can't afford a custom closet renovation, don't despair. The Property Brothers often incorporate pre-made storage solutions similar to this Apheaplus Closet System. Units like these can be easily purchased your local retail store and assembled inside an existing closet. "If you add some open shelves, drawers, and double racks for storage, you wouldn't believe how much you can get into one small, standard closet," Jonathan Scott told Architectural Digest, "The systems look clean, and they're also modernizing your closets."

It's rare for the Property Brothers to remove a functioning closet, but in some cases, the space can be better used for something that enriches homeowner's lives. For example, in an Instagram reel, the brothers show off a small closet near a kitchen which they've transformed into a "speakeasy." Complete with built-in cabinets and shelves for bottles and glasses, the colorful closet now serves a much more exciting purpose of keeping spirits organized and entertainment-ready. Consider flipping your spare closet into a crafting closet, gift wrapping station, or other feature that inspires your passions.