Closet rod - how to arrange a convenient and reliable hanger

Andrey March 2, 2018 Specialization: facade finishing, interior finishing, construction of dachas, garages. Experience of an amateur gardener and gardener. We also have experience in repairing cars and motorcycles. Hobbies: playing the guitar and many other things that I don’t have time for :)

If you are planning to repair an old cabinet or make a new one from scratch, you will definitely be faced with the choice and installation of a rod. At first glance, this is a simple task, but in reality it contains many nuances. Therefore, I suggest you familiarize yourself with them, which will allow you to independently arrange a comfortable and reliable hanger in your closet.

The rod is a necessary element of any wardrobe

Standard height of a rod in a closet

Since there are two main types of cabinets: for short things and for long ones, it is best to pay attention to these models. Clothes that hang on hangers take up more space. Therefore, for women's clothes, the bar should be hung at a height of 150–160 centimeters. Of course, it will be better if you first calculate the number of items that need to be placed in the structure.

The optimal option is when items with a total width of about 5 cm are placed on each hanger. Some manufacturers recommend making separate bars for skirts, trousers, blouses or shirts. Then only 100 cm of height will be required, this will save space.

What should be the height of the bar for long clothes?

The height of the rod in the closet for long clothes is quite convenient when it is about 190 centimeters. Thus, even the longest coats, both men's and women's, can easily fit into the design. For some clothes, a length of 175 cm may be acceptable. But, of course, it’s worth playing it safe.

If you want to secure the bar to a greater length than required, then you should purchase a special device that will help you remove things from the structure.

Purpose and features

To ensure that the wardrobe is easy to use and does not allow clothes to become wrinkled, it is provided with a hanger. Its main element is a bar (crossbar), on which trempels (hangers) or clothing itself are usually hung. The crossbar is a pipe that is most often attached to the walls of furniture.

Often, several rods are installed at different levels in one section of the cabinet. This saves space and reduces the number of shelves. The latter in this case will be occupied only with shoes and all sorts of small things.

Barbells allow you to reduce the number of shelves to a minimum

The main requirement for any barbell is load-bearing capacity. It must support the weight of all the clothes that will hang on it. In addition, the hanger should be positioned so that the closet space is used efficiently.

What types of closet rods are there?

There are two types of standard, or typical, cabinet rods (named after the profile shape):

• oval is the most typical; most of the cabinets are equipped with these rods. The oval shape is not accidental: it allows it to withstand more severe loads than the round one. Mounted on specially shaped rod holders.
• round - usually a chrome-plated pipe with a diameter of 25 mm, secured with flanges. It holds weight well, but is inferior in reliability to a similar oval barbell. For this reason, its length, as a rule, does not exceed 60 cm.

Cabinet rods are made from the following materials:

• aluminum is a lightweight and durable material. Used for light items (shirts, trousers, belts, ties), as it does not withstand heavy loads.

• Chrome steel is a very durable material, suitable for clothing of any size and weight. If the hanger hooks are made of metal, they can scratch the chrome plating and cause the rod to rust. Therefore, it should only be combined with plastic or wooden hooks.

• wood is a classic material that has both advantages (pleasant appearance and durability) and significant disadvantages: gradual sagging under the influence of the weight of clothing and moisture, as well as the formation of dents from hanging hangers for a long time. Nowadays it is rarely used;

• plastic is lightweight and visually attractive, suitable only for light clothing. It is rare and, as a rule, in inexpensive cabinets.

Different models of cabinets use longitudinal (pantograph lift) or transverse (microlift) rods. Standard rods are installed using both the first and second methods. Almost all types of rods can be found on sale in Ikea stores.

Not all crossbars have a strictly straight shape. Some cabinets use L-shaped standard rods with an oval profile, one end attached to the wall and the other to the adjacent wall or top shelf.

Using a pull-out rod allows you to make the cabinet flatter and more convenient for placement in small rooms. Professional furniture makers call this type of rod a “microlift.”

A separate subtype of the retractable rod is the “pantograph lift,” which extends in the vertical direction, that is, from top to bottom. The pantograph bar can be smoothly lowered and raised thanks to a hydraulic mechanism. When lowered, the bar is firmly fixed, so there is no need to support it with your hands when hanging or removing clothes.

A retractable microlift, or trombone, is often used as a transverse rod. The length of the microlift can be changed thanks to a retractable mechanism. With a large amount of stored clothing, the microlift makes it difficult to access things located at the back wall of the closet.

The microlift is attached to the closet with only four small screws, so if you intend to store a large amount of clothing, such a rod is clearly not the best option. Installing more solid fasteners or replacing the microlift with a standard rod with a round or oval profile allows you to achieve greater reliability and stability.

A standard barbell, no matter how impressive it looks, should also not be overloaded, since every barbell has a limited safety margin.

Some rods are equipped with lights, making it easier to find clothes in the dark. Holes are made in the pipe into which LEDs are inserted; sometimes built-in fluorescent lamps are used.

Dimensions of clothing rails

To choose the optimal location for the rod, you need to start from two factors - the width and depth of the closet section intended for hangers with clothes. Longitudinal installation is possible only in cabinets with a depth of at least 530 mm. Even if the cabinet depth is 480 or 460 mm, it will not allow standard hangers to be placed longitudinally.

In closets with a depth not exceeding 50-55 cm, hangers with clothes can only be placed parallel to the back wall of the closet. Standard lengths of retractable rods are 500 and 250 mm.

Trouser lateral fastening to one wall

This trouser rack allows you to conveniently store 9 pairs of trousers without creasing or stacking them on shelves.

In addition, this retractable system allows you to avoid occupying the central rod by extending the mechanism - hanging and taking off clothes is easy. The structural elements are made of steel, and therefore the mechanism will last a long time. The hanger is attached with self-tapping screws to the side wall of the cabinet. The internal depth of the cabinet must be at least 50 cm.

You can purchase this trouser shirt with delivery here

There is also an economy option. When you can hang trousers and ties on a retractable device, or simply store skirts or trousers by fastening them with clothespins.

Hanger for trousers and ties WW-K0AJ03-01

Hanger for skirts and ties WW-K0AJ04-01

Skirt hanger WW-K00J04-01

What parameters does the choice of cabinet section height depend on?

In most cases, the height of the clothes rail in the closet depends on the dimensions of the product that the potential buyer can afford.

1. For a small room, a structure with an appropriate scale is usually purchased.
2. In addition, you should take into account the number of things that will need to be placed in the closet in the future. Some people don't have a large selection of different clothes. And others prefer many varieties of things for every day. Consequently, this factor influences the final choice.
3. Personal preferences. It happens that a person, on his own initiative, orders sections with small dimensions. That is, he loves it when everything is in a compact form, which means so be it.

Important nuances

1. If the cabinet needs to be hung above floor cabinets, then GOST standards suggest using a height of 135-150 cm. Where does this figure come from? The fact is that the lower cabinets are selected so that their height is at the same level (85-95 cm), and the distance between the lower and upper cabinets along the wall is covered with an apron, the width of which is usually 45-60 cm. Height from the tabletop to the wall The cabinet should be at least 45 cm so that you can put any equipment (a food processor, microwave, multicooker) and wash dishes without hitting your head on cabinets that are too low. For tall people, the height from the work surface to the cabinet can reach 65 cm.
2. If wall cabinets are used to decorate the hood, then they can be placed on another level. Thus, the recommended height of the hood above an electric stove is 65-70, and above a gas stove - 75-80 cm. Such sections are fake; they either have very little storage space or none at all.
3. Sometimes, when ordering wall cabinets, they offer to choose the distance between the shelves (20, 30, 40 cm). The lower open shelf can be the lowest - 20 cm, in order to place small items (spices, napkin holders) that the housewife often uses. The height of the remaining shelves depends on what will be stored there (equipment, dishes, food supplies). The less frequently an item is used, the higher it can be placed.

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How to place shelves correctly

The wardrobe has at least one section for folded wardrobe items, but to save space you need a lot of shelves. An important role is played by the distribution of things so that they are convenient to get from the racks.

In a private house

The distance between the shelves can be different, because objects of different sizes can be stored on them.

For example, shoes require more space compared to some small things that occupy a small part of the total closet space.

The standard space between shelves in a wardrobe where clothes are stored is 230–270 mm according to standard standards. Also, many people are concerned about the question of how many cm there should be between the shelves where the books are placed. The distance between bookshelves from each other should be 20–35 cm.

In the room

An overhead rack is usually needed for storing large items. It is advisable not to divide this compartment into several small ones in order to fit large items (suitcases, bags). The height of such a shelf should be 45–60 centimeters.

The shoe rack will be comfortable in everyday life if it is installed at a height of 20 cm from the floor covering. There is one caveat - the height between the shelf where the shoes are and the hanger should be approximately 150 cm.

Scheme with optimal shelving sizes

This will help prevent the bottom of your outerwear from coming into contact with your shoes for hygiene purposes. The optimal width of shelves can vary between 40 and 100 centimeters in different types of cabinets. It is not recommended to make the shelves more than 1 meter wide, as they will sag and wear out faster.

Clearly decide on the size of the cabinet and location

The question of how to organize the space in the closet should be approached only after determining the overall dimensions - based on the place where the closet itself will stand and how much space it will take up.
If there are no size restrictions, it would be more rational to start from the volume of stored items, the approximate number of shelves, hangers and drawers required for arranging everything that is available. The organization of the storage system will be somewhat different for different cabinets located:

• In the hallways. Here you initially need to place all outerwear, perhaps divided into sections by season, length of clothing, etc. For example, there can be many times more jackets and short sheepskin coats than long raincoats and fur coats, which means it is more rational to allocate more space for hangers for short clothes. Also in the hallways it is necessary to allocate more shelves for shoes and bags, drawers for hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, belts and other accessories.
• In the nursery. Wardrobes in a children's room should be convenient for their immediate owners. The height and width of the shelves are made smaller to make it more comfortable for the child and easier to maintain order. The height of the bars should correspond to your height.
• In the bedroom. In addition to allocating sections “for him” and “for her”, you also need to think about how to organize storage in the closet for bedding: linen, pillows, “winter”, “summer” blankets and bedspreads. If the wardrobe is planned to be quite large in size, from four sections, it is optimal not to “mix” women’s and men’s wardrobes, and place them on different sides. This is convenient and practical - even in a hurry, the spouses will not disturb each other when, for example, getting ready for work in the morning.
• In the living room. When planning a closet for the living room, a lot of attention is paid to the aesthetic component. The owners should not feel awkward when forced to open the wardrobe if there are guests in the room. The sections are made as closed as possible and filled with drawers. Also in the living room, cabinets often become multifunctional pieces of furniture, combined with display (glazed) and open sections for storing books, souvenirs, equipment, and decorative elements.

How to choose a hanger

When choosing a clothes hanger, you should consider the following parameters:

• design features of the device;
• material of manufacture;
• presence/absence of additional functions.

Type of shelves by design

According to the type of design, wall hangers can be:

• vertical. It is compact, as it takes up a minimum amount of space in the hallway or other room, and has an unusual appearance, which allows you to achieve some design uniqueness. However, they are not suitable for storing a large number of things and items of clothing that are heavy (coats, fur coats, etc.). Therefore, the advantages of hangers made in a vertical design are used for storing hats, keys, purses and other small accessories;

Vertical wall hangers

• horizontal. These hangers are more common. They can withstand significant loads, which allows you to place a large number of different, including “heavy” clothes. A horizontal hanger can also be a separate piece of furniture.

Horizontal clothes hanger

The type of product is selected depending on the purpose. For accessories and small items of clothing or towels, you can choose vertical hangers, but in the hallway it is more advisable to install horizontal, more durable ones.

Manufacturing materials and their advantages

Most often used for the manufacture of wall hangers:

• tree;
• metal;
• plastic.

Wooden hangers (chipboard, solid wood, etc.) are different:

• environmental friendliness;
• variety of design;
• ability to withstand heavy loads;
• durability;
• ease of maintenance;
• variety of price categories. You can buy a simple hanger in a budget version or an expensive one made from rare wood species (beech, hornbeam, and so on).

Wooden hanger with custom design

A metal hanger has a greater safety margin and is more expensive compared to wooden devices. The following metals can be used for manufacturing:

• aluminum;
• steel;
• chromium;
• copper;
• bronze;
• cast iron.

Hangers can be made using various methods:

• casting Such products are distinguished by their large weight, massiveness and adaptability to heavy loads;

Die-cast hanger

• forging. Forged hangers are relatively lightweight. A professional can make openwork and at the same time durable products of various shapes.

Forged hanger

Standard mass-produced hangers are made from two materials: wood, which is used to make the frame of the product, and metal, used to make hooks.

Wood and metal hanger

Hangers are most rarely made of plastic, since such a thing is not strong and durable and can be used exclusively for small accessories, towels or light clothing.

Plastic hanger for light items and accessories

Additional shelf options

It is also recommended to select a product for the hallway, bathroom or kitchen depending on the size, number of hooks and additional accessories.

Hangers can be equipped with:

• shelves for storing gloves, knitted hats, scarves, bags and so on. Such interior items are characterized by large overall dimensions and capacity and can be made of wood or metal;

Wall hanger complemented by a shelf

• mirror. Hangers with mirrors are usually made for placement in the hallway. They are characterized by large overall dimensions and large capacity.

Wall hanger complemented by a mirror

If you purchase a hanger for a finished hallway, bathroom, etc., then it is advisable to select furniture in accordance with the design of other items or from the same series.

General Tips

On the Internet you can find many photos of original designs. This will help you find planning solutions that everyone will like.

It is worth considering the following:

1. There is no need to order a piece of furniture in which the shelves are located higher than you can reach.
2. When creating a personal closet layout, you need to designate in advance the shelves that are required. Based on them, you can calculate the size of the rest.
3. An accurate drawing of the wardrobe is required.

Standard cabinet sizes
Layout will become easier if you make a visual layout. Creating the interior of a cabinet yourself is not an easy task. But with a strong desire, you can achieve maximum comfort during operation. As time proves, hard work always brings excellent results.

Individual

In order to functionally use the space of the room, you should order a sliding wardrobe individually according to special sizes. This approach will allow you to hide a blind corner, free space near a doorway, a niche with uneven corners, and decorate the interior.

Built-in models are very popular because they take up little space in the room. Radius and corner wardrobes look beautiful and impressive.

If you contact a designer to design your future furniture, then you will be able to select the internal contents of the cabinet to suit your personal requirements, as well as choose the external design of the model. You will be able to provide places for the location of non-standard items.

The design of the wardrobe can be varied. It all depends on the designer’s imagination and your preferences.