In a closet that needs structure, adding a system—whether installed or modular—is a game-changing way to utilize vertical space, eliminate clutter, and fit more of your stuff. Professional organizer Naeemah Ford Goldson says implementing a system is the best way to make sure your closet works for you, “instead of you having to work around what you inherited with your closet.” Renters can consider this too, thanks to freestanding models.
Although we didn’t bring closet systems into our offices for testing, we did spend hours researching those offered online and in stores. We paid attention to the quality of the materials, the construction (up close), how they were installed, the availability, any extra accessories, and the price. All of our picks (with the exception of IKEA’s Boaxel system) are also used by Wirecutter staffers, so we were able to get feedback about how well they’ve worked and held up over time. Here’s what we recommend.
IKEA Boaxel Wardrobe Combination
Top pick
If you’re on a budget, this system lets you start small and build over time. It’s better made than wire systems we’ve seen at other big-box stores, and you can mix and match plenty of components.
Of the three closet systems we considered, IKEA’s wall-mounted Boaxel Wardrobe Combination has the best blend of easy customization, low price, and availability. We visited an IKEA store to look at the system up close, and it appears functional and customizable; plenty of add-ons are available, including pants hangers, drying racks, and shoe storage. The Boaxel system has its own baskets, but it’s also meant to be combined with the Jonaxel line of mesh baskets and frames, to add more modular storage options. You can use it in a closet as a drawer/rod system, or around your home for wall-shelf storage. One of our senior editors recommends adding an LED light strip for extra illumination if you have a closet that’s dark.
The Container Store Elfa Closet
Top pick
This is the sturdiest and most attractive closet system we looked at, with beautiful finishes and lots of add-on options. But it’s very expensive.
We love The Container Store’s Elfa Closet system for its quality materials, its high-end look, its versatility, and the ease of The Container Store’s online design tools. The shelves feel sturdier than those of our other picks, the brackets and rails appear more finished around the edges, and the drawers have a smoother glide. Also, the wood components we inspected in the store had no visible dings or scratches, something we noticed on almost every big-box-store closet system we saw. We have staffers who have used the Elfa system for as many as 15 years, and each reports that the system still looks almost new.
Consultants in-store can help you design your closet, though The Container Store’s online design tool may be more fun—it’s more intuitive and easier to use than IKEA’s online designer, and it offers more customization choices. You can buy the components and install them yourself, or you can pay an additional installation fee (which is 25% the cost of the Elfa product, at a minimum of $180).
As much as we like Elfa, it’s expensive. A basic, 3-foot-wide wire-shelf system typically costs more than $550 and its wood components start closer to $1,000. The Elfa Closet was still more straightforward and probably less expensive than custom closet systems, which are like buying a car—the true prices are hard to find without talking to a salesperson, and they change depending on where you live and what’s available. The Elfa system is easier to price and buy. However, for you to get the most value for your money, it makes sense to invest in an Elfa system only if you plan to live in your space for at least five years.
ClosetMaid Stackable Vertical Organizer
Top pick
This system of stackable shelves and cubbies is the best way to add lots of storage to your closet without putting holes in your walls.
If you want a modular system of cubbies and shelves that don’t require drilling into your walls, we like ClosetMaid’s Stackable Vertical Organizers because they’re of better quality and have more pieces available than other modular systems we considered. They’re typically easier to find in stores, and the pieces are solid (although not as polished as those of the other systems we recommend). ClosetMaid’s organizers include shoe cubbies, drawers, and shelves, plus various cubby units that you can mix and match to get the setup you need. It doesn’t include a closet rod, though, so you may want to keep the one you have and use these freestanding pieces to maximize the floor space.
ClosetMaid’s stackable system is usually available at the company’s own website, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Staples, and Target. This stackable system is easy to expand if you need to add components, especially since the line has been around for several years and hasn’t changed. What’s available now will probably still be available in a year or two.
One Wirecutter writer used an older version of this system for 11 years in her closet and sewing studio. And though the laminate particle board isn’t as solid as Elfa shelves and drawers, this system does last, and it gets the job done.
