Whether you’ve recently Konmari-ed your wardrobe or are a professional designer searching for walk-in closet ideas, look no further than AD’s archive of aspirational home tours. These expertly curated dressing rooms from Manhattan to New Orleans will satisfy any fashion fanatic. With custom-made shelving and drawers (and even the occasional vintage shoe-display cabinet), every high heel, purse, and blazer has its proper place, making a striking visual impact in a small footprint. We did the heavy lifting and scoured past issues of AD for the ultimate walk-in closet design ideas. Take notes and prepare to add some glamour to your next home project.
Joyous storage
For the Napa Valley, California, home of two vintners and their children, Sally Breer and Jake Rodehuth-Harrison of ETC.etera created a space that feels jubilant from top to bottom. This is as clear in the walk-in closet as anywhere else, with Missoni wallpaper lining the ceiling, pale pink closet shelving, and a handy countertop
Scenic standout
For many, the promise of the walk-in closet joy comes hand in hand with the transformation joy. Why not channel that theme with a scenic wallpaper? As you can see in designer Isabel López-Quesada’s Madrid dressing room, which is lined with Zuber’s Isola Bella wallpaper, it’s a wonderful option if you’re not convinced that your closet system is visually compelling enough for a space that should serve as the ultimate fashion inspiration.
Rattan reigns
Nothing more satisfying for the type A’s among us than a completely cohesive space—and despite all that it may contain, a walk-in closet is no exception. Antiquaire Patrick Perrin’s Portugal vacation home is all about relaxation and this is fully reflected in the materials that designers Daniel Suduca and Thierry Mérillou chose for the home. Closet storage is concealed with custom braided rattan panels on the doors, which tie in nicely with the homeowners’ impressive hat collection.
A monochrome moment
At Norah and Norman Stone’s San Francisco abode (decorated by Tiffany Vassilakis), Norah’s dressing room—decked out in mirrors and silver wallpaper—is all original. The light fixture is Venetian glass.
Color palette clincher
A color palette needn’t be entirely neutral to work as a fine backdrop for a packed closet. Working with interior designer Louise Kugelberg, fashion designer Stacey Bendet created a two-tone dream closet that has a personality of its own without pulling focus from her glorious clothes.
Silk-lined walls for silk-filled closets
The walls of Fiona Kotur’s Hong Kong dressing room—revamped with architectural designer Alexander Stuart—are sheathed in panels of hand-painted silk from a Shanghai workshop. The ottoman is upholstered in a Lee Jofa velvet, and the shelves hold a selection of handbags by Kotur.
Color-blocked compartments
Building a closet space from scratch allows you to create as many cubbies, drawers, and other compartments as your heart desires. Though these compartments make closet organization a lot simpler, it’s wise to consider how they impact the vibe—especially in a closet, why put function fully over fashion? As seen here in artist Jorge Pardo’s Mexico home, color blocking your bevy of doors and drawers can make the space feel dynamic while still prioritizing storage space.
Earthy yet refined
Hunter Douglas blinds shield a window in the primary suite’s dressing room at the Nashville home of designer Ray Booth and TV executive John Shea. The ceiling pendant and the Thomas O’Brien–designed lamps are from Circa Lighting.
Sunny and symmetrical
A built-in wardrobe, flanked on either side by shoe shelves, makes for optimized storage that still feels fitting for the Georgian-style family home of designer Sophie Ashby.
Organization over everything
In a Manhattan penthouse by MR Architecture + Decor, the meticulously organized closet is crafted out of marine-grade plywood.
Photo: Michael Mundy
11/35
Neutral shelving, rainbow shoe collection
In a Manhattan apartment by Michael S. Smith and Peter Pennoyer Architects, the walk-in closet features custom-made shelving.