The Bedroom Suite Floors Are Finished!! (Plus, The One Closet Decision That Could Make A Big Price Difference)
Y’all, the floors are finished!! Oh my goodness, this feels like I just cleared a huge hurdle. What a relief! I mean, I cleared a hurdle, but it’s a hurdle at the very beginning of a very long race. But I’m relieved, nonetheless.
Here’s the final result.
You can see the whole process from start to finish here:
The funny thing is that, in person and with bare feet walking across the floors, I can tell a huge difference between the floors before sanding (i.e, the floors that just had two coats of the stain/polyurethane mixture) and the floors now after they’ve been lightly sanded and polyurethaned with the final clear coat of poly. These floors are very smooth now and feel buttery soft underfoot. But in pictures, there’s really no difference.
Here’s the floor with the two coats of polyurethane/stain mixture on the left, and the finished floor after sanding and adding that final coat of polyurethane on the right. It’s hard to tell a difference in pictures, right?
So I guess y’all will just have to take my word for it. The difference in how it feels underfoot is significant.
I thought that the sheen might be a bit less after that final coat of satin polyurethane, but there’s not really a significant difference. Unfortunately. The floors are reflecting everything — the striped walls, the black wall, the lights, and everything else.
That’s one of the main reasons I don’t like shiny finishes. The sheen distorts the true color because it reflects things around it. And also, the shinier the sheen, the more it shows imperfections.
And there are plenty of imperfections, mainly in the way of animal fur and my hair getting caught in the polyurethane. I tried to catch as many as possible and get them out when I saw them, but when I have a 100-pound dog who sheds the equivalent of a chihuahua about once a week, it’s virtually impossible to catch all of them. And I vacuumed and swept twice before putting that last coat of poly on the floors. Still, it’s impossible to get rid of all of them.
But hopefully, since the floors are dark, and since no one else is going to scrutinize my floors the way I do, no one else will notice those few Cooper hairs that are trapped in our floor at least for the next decade or two. 😀 Overall, I’m so pleased with how the floors turned out.
And finally, here’s a look at the closet — the room with very little light right now.
I’m still deciding what kind of lighting I want to add to this room, but the finished room will be much brighter than it is right now.
But the floor is finished, and now it’s on to the fun stuff!
And that brings me to the closet. As y’all know, I want to concentrate on my closet first because my current lack of a closet is the thing that’s affecting my life the most right now. Matt and I are doing just fine sleeping in the breakfast room. But what’s negatively affecting my life and peace of mind right now is having all of my stuff spread out over the house. Our bathroom is at one end of the house, my clothes are in the sunroom, my shoes and handbags are in my studio.
Plus, there’s the fact that I haven’t had a working dryer since the middle of December when the contractor unplugged my dryer so that he could pull that wire (dryers require a 220-outlet and larger wiring than most everything else) out of the sunroom and put it in the new location. So one of my first priorities, once I feel like the floors have had enough time to dry to the point that I won’t mess them up, will be to get my washer and dryer in their new locations. (Don’t worry. The floors will be covered.)
So at least for now, my closet will be my priority. I may take a break here and there and do a project for the bedroom and foyer, but I hope to get the closet done as soon as possible. And that brings me to yesterday and my planning for the closet.
I sat down at my desk to figure out my purchase list and cut list for the closet, and I got hung up on one particular detail that could have a pretty significant impact on the overall price of the closet. That detail is the cabinet depth. All this time, I’ve been planning on building the cabinets 20 inches deep. That’s the depth that is shown here. All of the cabinets on the perimeter of the room are 20 inches deep, and the three sections on each side wall are 46 inches wide.
But if I make one small change, those cabinets will require significantly less plywood to build, which will save me quite a bit of money. If I do 20-inch-deep cabinets, I can only get two pieces out of one sheet of plywood. But if I change the depth to 16 inches, I can get three pieces out of one sheet of plywood. Plywood is pretty expensive these days, so that one change can add up to quite a saving.
I know this is a small detail, but it’s a detail that makes a big difference. The hangers I use are 17.5 inches wide, and that’s without having an article of clothing on it.
It’s very common for closet cabinets to be 14 to 16 inches deep, which means that the hanging clothes stick out past the frames of the cabinets. In fact, I’d say that this is the most common depth that you see when you scroll through pictures of walk-in closets.
A depth of 14 to 16 inches would look like these cabinets on the right once clothes are hung in the closet.
Photo by MC3 Matt’s Closets, Cabinets & Coatings – Discover closet design ideas
That’s what I see the most when I scroll through pictures of closets. And really, that depth would work out better, and makes a whole lot more sense, for the side of the closet that will be mostly shelves. It makes perfect sense for shoes, handbags, and folded clothes to be on shelves that are 16 inches deep rather than 20 inches deep. And I’m planning on one whole side of the closet to be nothing but shelves and drawers. Those drawers are wide, so there’s no need for them to be really deep.
But the one thing that I keep going back to is the idea that I may, at some point in the future, want to add doors to the cabinets if I find that dust is a problem. I really can’t imagine myself wanting doors on everything, but I kind of live in that “what if“. If I make the cabinets 16 inches deep for hanging clothes, that rules out the possibility of ever being able to put doors on those cabinets.
I know it’s a small detail, but it’s these details that make a difference. And it’s these details that I continually get stuck on. So you can tell me your thoughts on that. Should I go with the j16-inch depth and save a bundle of money? Or should I stick with the 20-inch depth for the possibility (which really does seem slim, if I’m being honest) of putting doors on the cabinets in the future? *Sigh* Once I make this decision, I’m ready to make my final list and purchase all of the supplies to get this room started!
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If there is any possibility you will want doors, save yourself the time and money now and build the cabinets to accommodate. Because if you decide that is a must in the future, you will have to rebuild everything, which will cost way more in time, and money later.
Can’t wait to see closet progress!
Remember to accommodate door swing space if you ever want doors. I like both and would do 16″ on a side and 20″ where I’m hanging things. But a perk of 16″deep hanging is an easier reach to rid the clothes. The biggest con is not being able to close the space and minimize dust from collecting. Our solution Is repurposing the plastic from dry cleaners or wardrobe bags for specific less-used hanging items and that helps significantly. Also gives a limit to keep you from accumulating too many pieces you wear less often.
Could only some of the cabinets be 20″ deep, like the ones flanking the entrance or the two on either side of the laundry machines? Would just two of them be enough for all your hanging stuff?
How many “hanging” sections are there? Can you make just those 20″ deep and bump out the 16″ sections next to them 4″ so the fronts are even? You’d have a 4″ space behind them, but who would know but you…….and me. Then you could put doors on everything in the future, if you need to!
Hey, Kristi,
Could you artistically bump out one or two sections for the 20″ depth and use the 16″ depth for everything else? It might even add a bit of interest to your beautiful closet.
16″ is plenty. Only the clothes you don’t wear for a year or more will get dusty. Deeper drawers aren’t as handy either. I definitely vote for 16″ everything. I don’t think you’ll regret it.
You are like me and “can live with things not being perfect” for a while, in order to have a more cost-effective solution; however, my guess is that you can’t do that forever. At some point, you are going to continually think, I should have done 20 inches to start with. In my opinion, you should save yourself the future frustration and go with what your gut tells you to do. If you think, there is a good chance that you may want to add doors to the cabinets, definitely go with 20 inches. I have a good size walk-in closet, but no doors around my hanging clothes and that is my frustration of it tending to get dusty and create more maintenance work to do. I made the decision that on my next house, I am going to have my clothes behind cabinet doors.
I think your progress is inspiring and I know that whatever you decide, it will look great!
Air vents and house pets will always create dust and fur. Plus having the W/D in the closet will create dust from sorting and shaking out clothes. Having those low shelves with clothes that smell like you is also an open invitation for pets to have a cuddle. I would want doors on (at least a portion of) the closet.
What would the difference in costs be for the additional plywood. I would not want doors anyway. But it is already a thought in your head for possibly later.
I didn’t figure out final costs for either option. I started getting stressed out and walked away from it. 😀 But I need to make myself sit down and figure this out this afternoon. I want to have everything purchased and ready to go by the end of the day today.
I agree with some comments that you could leave the drawer side 16″ deep and the hanging clothes side 20″. I like the idea of the 20″ deep hanging area, as I feel like it will look neater since the clothes won’t be poking out, regardless if you have doors on or not, but you would still have the flexibility of adding doors later if needed. Regarding the side with drawers, consider how deep you want the drawers to be. In using 16″ cabinets, you have to allow for the front and back of the drawer, etc and while I haven’t done the exact math, you may end up with a drawer that is about 12″ deep on the interior. That feels short to me, but it depends on what you plan to store in those drawers. Maybe look at other drawers in your house and make a decision from there.
I would go with 20″ due to the fact that your laundry is in your closet. My dryer creates a quite a bit of lint. I wouldn’t want to constantly lint roll my clothes before heading out the door.
Why have a walk in closet if you’re going to put doors on the hanging clothes cabinets?
I thought that was the point of a walk in? Also, without the doors it’s going to be easier to see what you have rather than fumble through because the area is deeper.
Since there is some delineation between the dryer and the closet, I don’t think dust will be an issue.
Don’t do 16″ just to save a bit of money. I’d only do it if there are other advantages as well. I don’t think you’d regret doing 20″, but you may regret 16″. I get SO hung up on these kinds of details too!
I just watched the video and you mentioned the difference in space around the island. I think you should tape it out at 16″ vs. 20″ with tape for your island on the floor and walk around and see if it sways you.
HMM no doors is visual chaos in your beautiful room. I would do a combo or 16″ and 20″ as drawers don’t need to be that deep, neither do shoe/purse shelves, but hanging clothes sticking out past the sides of the cabinet would drive me crazy!
I have a walk-in closet. My open shelves are 16″ deep which are the perfect size for me to store all of my foldable clothes (I do not have a dresser by choice). Once a year I need to dust off the shelves. I also have a separate room with a door that I can close for my washer and dryer. It is SO dusty in that room. I am constantly dusting off everything as I store household items on 2 shelves in that room. My concern is the amount of dust that your dryer is going to generate as it is in your closet. Also if you do opt for doors you might want to consider glass fronts so you can see where items are located easily. Good luck!
Omg love the glass door idea! Also, you’re right, my laundry room is dusty as all get out.
I have half glass/half solid doors and I’m thinking of adding privacy film. It looks messy real soon.
My husband and I have the typical walk – in closet, about 8’ x 8’. The door is always closed, unless we’re getting dressed. It surprises me how much dust collects on our black plastic hangers, and I guess on our clothes (although I can’t see it). But you’ll be walking through your closet to do laundry. I think you’ll find that you want doors. But is 20” even deep enough? All the closets or cabinets for clothing storage that I’ve built have been 24” deep. I always thought that was the standard.
To clarify: 24” for hanging clothes; 12-16” for shelving.
Absolutely‼️ We have built 3 houses and remodeled 5 in our married life. Doors please.
I think I would do everything 16″ except the hanging clothes and have them 20″.
Thats what I did. And I used both solid and half glass doors. Clothes solid and shoes, purses and odd stuff half/half. The end results is worth the expense.
You have dog hair, cat hair, dryer lint, not to mention regular house dust. Go with 20”.
My thought is to go with the 16 inches. I also wonder if, down the road you decide you want doors, would it be possible to extend the framework of the hanging spaces with biscuits and a 4 inch extension of the wood used on the boxes? I am no carpenter, so I don’t know if that is a possibility, it’s just a thought I had. And the floors are beautiful – I doubt anyone will be on hands and knees inspecting for random hairs! LOL!
I just had other thoughts…#1 is if you do doors, what about doing doors with glass or Plexi so you will be able to see the clothes but avoid most of the dust? (Glass doors look so much more classy!) #2 If I were to add doors anywhere in the room, it would be trying to contain the lint dust from laundry, and figure out a way to enclose the washer/dryer area. In my experience, I see lint floating when I am unloading the dryer!
I am just thinking that if in the future you decided to add doors…wouldn’t you also have to add a framing around the shelves and such in order to make it strong enough for the hinges? If so you could add the extra in the framing. you will be painting them I assume so wood putty or whatever you would need to add these to cover the seams might also give that option…without redesigning the whole shelf. I have never built a cabinet so this may not e an option…just a silly thought.
Build 16″ depth. If you find you have an issue with dust, you could slide the cabinets 4″ out from the wall, shift the hanging bars back and install doors. (And put backing on shelves so stuff doesn’t fall.) OR…you could hang some sort of shade or curtain from the ceiling to close off the hanging area. OR just add a 4″ deep frame around the front of the hanging area and put doors on that.
If you are even considering adding doors you have to go with the deeper closets. However, if cost is a consideration now, take into account of the cost to add doors, even at a later date. Does that make sense?
I’d do the twenty inch depth myself and I’d put on doors right now because things get dusty quite quickly round here!
I’m Europe the standard depth is around 23 inches, but maybe that’s to accommodate men’s broader shoulders.
I’d do the twenty inch depth myself and I’d put on doors right now because things get dusty quite quickly round here!
In Europe the standard depth is around 23 inches, but maybe that’s to accommodate men’s broader shoulders.
I’ve done both and dyst was a problem! Last 2 homes we have built I did the deeper cabinets. one without doors and one with. I prefer with doors due to the dust and how neat and orderly everything looks and preforms. My shoes, purses etc are not as deep and the doors are half glass , half solid. Hides everyday and yard shoes and odd stuff.
Kristi – I vote for “cry once.” Bite the bullet, pay the extra now and remove the worry about the future from your mind. Peace of mind is worth the cost.
Floors look great!
Go for the 16″ cabinets!! Stop second-guessing.
My thought would be to make the wall with the drawers and shelves 16” and the wall with the hanging clothes 20”. Once built and in place, no one will be able to see the difference in depth and it will give you the option to add doors later plus save you a little bit of money.
Even thought it would be miserable to do, if you ever did want to add doors, you could just lose a little extra width of each section and basically install a new 20″ deep cabinet inside the existing 16″ deep ones. Extra trim over the wider gap between sections and problem solved. Alternatly, if the dust really botherd you, you could always hang heavy curtains infront of the sections of closet you don’t regularly lose, and that would help cut down on dust without having to have deeper cabinets as well.
Don’t worry about the sheen on your floors being too glossy, that always seems to lessen as the poly cures over a month or so. At least, that’s been my experience. I think you are right to use deeper cabinetry for the hanging clothes side of your closet. Even with out the doors, it makes a much tidier look. And I always think that using all the same hangers, also makes things look nicer. Just my two cents.
Can you put 16” shelves on the cabinets that are around the mirror where you are going to put your shoes? The drawers will still be wide enough. Then spend the money on the clothes closet with 20” depth so your clothes won’t stick out. You know we have a dust problem here in Waco. Last Tuesday was living proof of how dust gets in and hangs around on everything. Closets with doors look so nice and finished. Just like kitchen cabinets with doors look so much better (I think) not being open to the dishes. Those may be ideas due to my age of 76 years old.
Again, your floors an absolutely beautiful. You worked so hard getting to this point.
Hope Matt likes everything you have done!
If I had as many shoes as you have, I’d want my closet finished first, too!😍😍😍😍
Your floors look beautiful! Congrats!
I noticed you have cabinets beside the washer and dryer in the first plan on your blog. But there are no shelves/cabinets in the second plan later on in the blog. Is that to see if we are paying attention or what!
Build doors now so you don’t have to go to the expense and work adding them later. I don’t see a need for doors over your shoes. But 16” shoe shelves and drawers make perfectly good sense and 20”+ clothes closets with doors also makes perfectly good sense to me. Yes it is a walk in closet, but it is also your laundry. You will have lint.
The dog hairs are there so you will never ever forget your dog. Not that you would anyway but it is like a foot print in concrete!
I decided to remove them. I hate corner storage inside cabinets, so I wasn’t gaining anything from them.
We had a house that had the washer and dryer in the master bedroom closet and it was amazing how much dust/lint was in there! Granted, the venting could have been better, but dust/lint was everywhere, even the bathroom and bedroom.
If you are concerned about adding doors at a later date, just make the shelves deeper! Then you will always have options to add doors later if you want.
Can’t wait to see how the closet turns out! I’m jealous!
How do you like to view your clothing options? Do you want to be able to stand back and look at your clothes when getting ready to pick out what you want? Cabinet doors would get in the way in this case. Or are you more of the type of person who knows what you want to wear before you enter your closet and will know exactly which door those clothes are hiding behind?
I really like to be able to see everything, which is why I’ve been resistant to the idea of doors on the cabinets all along. I want to be able to walk into my closet and see everything out in the open. I love looking at pictures of walk-in closets with the doors on the cabinets, but I think they would get on my nerves. But I’m not sure what would bother me more, dust or doors.
Hi Kristi. Unless you’re going to have a door to the closet, I think I’d suggest having the option to put doors over the cabinets that hold your hanging clothes (maybe just those ones too the left/right off the entry?) to protect your clothes from pet hair and if your cat (or a future cat) ever decides to pick at your clothing. Floors look great and the shine will diminish soon enough. ☺️
Whether you go with 16 or 20 inch cabinets, you might benefit by having an air filter in your closet. There are some very nice looking ones on the market, and they really do a good job of keeping the dust under control. The only down-side is that the filter would need to be vacuumed every few weeks. I have one that I got from Costco for $99 ( https://www.costco.com/winix-c610-4-stage-true-hepa-air-purifier-with-wi-fi-and-additional-filter.product.4000295784.html ) and my house needs dusting MUCH less often now.
Oh, I like that idea so much more than putting doors on my cabinets! What a great idea!
I was thinking this too. I bought a large one that is called blue air from amazon. It has a hepa filter and an outside cloth that traps larger particles that can be removed and washed. It still gets dusty in my living room but maybe not as much as when I didn’t have the air purifier.
I like the idea of building the closets at 16″ and pulling them forward 4″ and putting the hanging rod back 2″.
Have you considered adding doors like you have in the music room in front of the washer/dryer?
I’ve ruled out walling off that back area…I think. Because anything I do like that will take up valuable floor space, and I can’t imagine myself actually closing the doors since the window would be in there. That room needs all the sunlight it can get without anything blocking or filtering it.
Remember that sunlight bleaches clothes, though!
20” no second guessing. However I would try to actually figure out what that measurement truly is with 20” plus the width of the frame and door front. Then I always try to set out a dresser or table or sawhorses with cardboard to get a feeling to how narrow that makes the walkway between the dresser and cabinet.
Beautiful floors! You are amazing. When you were discussing hanging clothes so they extend beyond the closet, I had a vision of Cooper brushing against the clothes leaving his hair on them.
if you do the 16” and then decide on doors, can you make doors that are something like 4.5 inches deep to hold things like purses, scarves, jewelry etc? i realize that the hinges would be an issue but that may be something?
or add a 4” block to the edges of the current 16” closet to add the doors?
i don’t know which would be most cost effective/efficient use of space materials but it could be an option
My 2 cents worth… Save the money and do the 16″. Forget about doors. I have one closet that the hubs never did get the doors put back on after the floors were all refinished over 15 years ago He has since passed away…and there it is.. That closet has clothes I don’t wear and some that are too small…and my shoes in shoe hangers On the clothes that just hang there, I use those plastic shoulder covers…I can get 3-4 hangers in one. And that keeps all the dust off. I think 20 ” shelves would be a waste of space if using for something like folded shirts or even handbags. Just my opinion….As always whatever you do will look great! Good Luck!
As a person who dislikes exposed clothes there is no contest, I would want doors.
It would be aesthetically pleasing, avoiding the dust and lint that will be part of life, as you have read in these comments, etc.
Personally, I don’t think it is an option worth quibbling over because of the price of plywood.
It is a walk in closet. You’ll have a door hiding it from the bedroom itself won’t you? Why waste the money to put doors behind a door? Go with the 16″ and stop second guessing yourself. If you use that filter that someone else posted, it’ll be fine imho! That’s my 2 cents in this. 😁😁
It won’t have a door.
When we remodeled our house 20 years ago, we made an open, walk-in closet and love it. We’ve never seen a need for doors and love having everything easily accessible. With Matt being in a wheelchair, an open plan with no doors seems even more sensible. The floors are absolutely gorgeous, and those few hairs in the polyurethane just add character! Once the rugs and furnishings are in place, they probably won’t be noticeable at all. Great job, Kristi!
We put in pax units in our closet a few years ago with no doors, and then used them again (with doors) in the laundry room. As far as ease of use, there’s no comparison. The doors are a frustration. They look better and because so much of what we’re storing in the laundry room is cleaning and household supplies, it’s fine, but my closet stays clean all the time because it’s just so easy to put things away. I actually think it stays better because we can see everything.
The standard depth of a reach in closet with a door is 24″ to allow hanging items to clear the back wall and prevent wrinkling. Clothes hang out from the ends of the hanger. I have a 21″ reach in closet. My closet doors press against the clothing and I do have wrinkled sleeves.
When you’re deciding depth, don’t forget the saw kerf! AKA Sawdust from the blade thickness! You need to cut the “16” at 15.75 or 15.87″ to get 3 that are actually the same size. I’m like you, I want to be able to use EVERY sq inch I paid for! I would be just crazy enough to cut “20s” at 19.75 X 2 which would leave you with two 8+” cutoffs. Do you have a Biscuit Joiner and clamps? If everything is going to be painted, it would be hidden with a few passes of the sander. For every two 20″ pieces, you’d have a 16+” piece. You would still save money since you are using everything! Oh, don’t forget, the sawdust needs to go in your compost pile. The only thing you can’t use is the shrill whine of the saw! Unless you know something I don’t!
If you need the full 20″, get some 1/4″ screen molding to hide the edge of the plywood.
All of this assumes you are using 3/4″ plywood. Easier to apply than banding and not likely to peel off, plus the edges are already rounded.
Go with the 20 inch. We put doors on ours after we found dust settling on the shoulders of all the garments. You have just shared how both you and your dog shed hair, you also shed skin cells which along with other dust particles settle on everything. Don’t just take the cheaper option.
Look into slide out doors. I’ve mostly seen them with drying racks to allow air drying, but they could be solid or with shutters. You can close them while washer, but mostly when dryer operates. We have cedar floors in our closet, but found carpet runners cut down on dust bunnies collecting under clothes close to the floor.
Beautiful floors!
Go with the 16. Even if you go with 20”, I don’t think your clothes will fit well on hangers, especially if you put doors. Most closets are 23”-24” deep. You’ll be able to close it at 20” but it will cram your clothes,
Well I’m late to this parade but I’ve read all the comments and I must say there are very opinionated people here and I’m one of them. Do not build 16″ closets for your clothes. Look at that picture you showed with hangers sticking out and clothes hanging haphazard. That is not you, Christy. I got up and measured my hanging closets and they are 24″. A 20″ closet would be a bare minimum. Wider would be better but 16″ makes me cringe. You’re going to be using those closets for a long time.
My big question is HOW HAVE YOU LIVED WITHOUT A DRYER SNCE DECEMBER?
‘
It hasn’t been easy! I can assure you that! 😀 Thankfully, I have a lot of clothes, and I don’t wear nice clothes every day of the week (thank goodness I don’t have an office job where I have to look nice every day of the week), so my clean clothes have lasted a long time. I’m so glad I was on top of things before he unhooked the dryer, and I had pretty much every article of clothing washed, dried, and put away. The clothes I’ve had to wash (like my favorite few pairs of go-to jeans and pants), I just hang them to dry in the sunroom. The worst is when I need to wash towels, though. I hang them to dry and then they’re not soft at all when they’re dry. I hate that. I miss my soft, fluffy towels out of the dryer! 😀 Actually, the worst is that I have a pile of sheets and blankets that I just haven’t been able to wash because I don’t have enough space to hang them to dry. Those will be the first thing I wash and dry once my dryer is hooked up! But overall, it hasn’t been horrible. I’m definitely ready to have a dryer again, though! We don’t realize how much convenience we live with until we’re forced to live without those conveniences.
Can you run to your moms and do a few loads?
I can if I need to, but it hasn’t come to that yet. 😀
You have a window in this closet and I’m assuming you’re going to want to have the shade up so you get the light. However, that sun shining on your clothes can cause severe fading. I lost a beautiful cobalt blue wool coat that way, one little patch got bleached out by the sun coming through a closet window–I still mourn it! You can always put film on the windows to help, but it will either darken the room or not cut the UV rays enough.
I vote go with cabinet doors to protect your clothes
Go with 16″. If you decide that you want to put doors on, you can either purchase folding hangars or do the rods that stick out from the back of the wall and shirts, etc. face you head on.
Closet designer here: typically adults fold clothes in a 12 x 12 square (roughly) which is why shelves are usually 14-16″d to make sure nothing waterfalls off the front edge. If you do 20″d for folding, piles can slide back or things can lost behind the stuff in the front. It does no good to have all that storage if you’re constantly losing things because you can’t see them. Can’t wait to see!