ISLAND LIVING

If you have the luxury of space in your closet, chances are you want an island! This is one design element all our clients ask for, as it really grounds the space, and makes a “wow” first impression. There are endless configurations and styles of islands to suit any lifestyle, and the closet is the perfect place to get creative with what you want to incorporate! Gone are the days of your mother’s kitchen island — the closet island can be any shape, size, and material, and presents an opportunity to add lots of fun new functionality to the space. Keep reading for all the island inspo!:

SHAPE

Of course the most popular choice for an island shape is a square / rectangular one! This is for sure the most functional, and allows you to maximize every square inch of space in the island. You can easily incorporate doors, safes, fridges, and more without wasting any space! This is the right shape for you if you’re after a minimal look, or have your heart set on a waterfall counter edge, as well. The rectangular island feels balanced and familiar, and really makes the closet feel like a room in the home!

Unlike the traditional rectangle island, closets are sometimes limited for space, and rounded edges can help to make moving around a little easier! If you’re looking to add a little extra storage, but don’t have unlimited space in the middle of your closet, or you just prefer a slightly more feminine work, a rounded island adds great visual interest and softens the overall aesthetic of the space! Even in the most masculine of materials, an oval island feels soft and inviting. You can still pack a lot of functionality into a rounded island, depending on the design!

If you’re looking for something a little more special, or you lean a little more towards a traditional style of design, consider a clover shaped island! It might not be the first to come to mind, but this shape is also very functional in the closet, and makes for easy circulation around the room without any hard edges to bump into! You may lose a little storage space to accommodate the curves, but if this isn’t a concern, the design definitely makes an impact!

MATERIAL

When it comes to choosing the materials for your island, you have SO many options — first, do you want your island to match the rest of your closet, or will you take it as an opportunity to add a little contrast? The island is a fun part of the closet to play with incorporating a new color, if you want to make things a little less monochromatic.

For the top, you need to consider whether you have items to display here. Do you want a glass display to showcase your sunglasses and accessories? Or, if you’re nervous your island may take a beating from packing suitcases and throwing things down, a more durable stone slab is also an option for adding a luxurious new finish to the space.

In the vein of adding luxurious finishes to the island, less common but equally beautiful options are leather and mirror island surfaces! These both feel bespoke and bring the feeling of a luxury boutique home. Leather is a great soft, yet durable surface for placing your items or packing. You’ll just want to watch out to not get too closet with anything that could leave marks or impressions (ink pens, heavy decorative objects, etc). A mirror island will instantly brighten up your closet, so if you’re working with a windowless space, this is maybe the ideal solution to visually expand the closet.

FEATURES

Today, there are countless ways to create a convertible island that will house additional tech and functionality for your lifestyle. If you’re looking for as much flexibility in the closet as possible, a folding island can conceal a vanity or desk space beautifully! This way, you don’t have to give up the classic island look, and have extra surface area to work with when the desk / vanity isn’t in use. Further, you can build your island on casters if you really want to keep things flexible! An island on wheels is great in smaller spaces, so you can tuck it away against a wall when you need more space in the middle of the room.

For many, seating is also a concern in the closet — an island can incorporate a built-in storage bench or decorative seat for trying on shoes and hanging out in the space, where you might not otherwise have room for a piece of furniture. You can even consider a folding seat at the end of the island if you want to tuck it away most of the time! Look at your new island as a way to add as much ease of use and functionality for your lifestyle as possible.

Beyond just the functional features, an island can add lots of playful perks! It can really be the Swiss army knife of the closet, with space for beauty fridges, concealed safes, wine storage and more. One major benefit is the option to have a TV in the closet, which can rise out of the island, without having to sacrificing any valuable wall space in the room for storage! All these features help make the closet a livable room in your home, and a great place to start each day!

Let us know if you’ve seen any other fun island ideas you’d like to see in a closet, and share your closet transformations with us on IG @LACLOSETDESIGN!