Closets should not only keep you organized, but they should also complement their space flawlessly. The hardware, finishes, styles, and materials available give you the ability to do just that while satisfying your own particular tastes. These options determine how well the closet systems work in the room and provide you with your very own work of art.

Door Materials

One of the first choices to make when it comes to designing doors for closets is the material. It can be the same as the organizational system itself, or it can complement the material in some way. One common material is MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard), which is a mixture of sawdust and glue. This material will weaken and expand if it gets wet, so it is generally painted or covered with laminate. This will either give it a solid colored, plastic-like cover, or it can resemble natural wood grain. As a benefit, this material is easy to clean, economical, durable, and doesn't warp.

Closets and doors constructed of hardwoods do expand and contract with humidity levels, but this shouldn't be noticeable. The species and shaping possibilities for this type of material gives you an unlimited number of options. Metal and glass are also great choices, however, they are often combined with other materials such as wood or MDF to make them safe and easier to work with. Stainless steel can be more decorative with etching and custom brushing, or it can serve a practical purpose in an industrial setting.

Door Construction

While some closet systems have no doors at all, many designs include slab doors constructed of a single piece of material. You can leave it straight and plain, router directly into the material, add an inlay, or attach borders and designs on top of the slab. Frames have a material on the outside generally different from the center insert, which is often metal, glass, or mirror. As an added decorative touch, they can even have pieces of the outside material running across the center inserts called mullion bars.

Doors consisting of a panel and four pieces of material connected at 90 degree angles are referred to as a 'cope and stick' door. The frame pieces, called stiles and rails, are held together through a 'tongue and groove' system while the panel simply sits in the groove. If the frame is connected at 45-degree angles, it is called a 'mitre' door.

Unique Finishes And Coatings

The type of finish you use depends on the material you select, the decor in the space, and what is going on around the closet systems. Paint, laminate, or colored lacquer and glaze can help give MDF the look you want while making them easy to clean and resistant against moisture. For hardwoods, you can oil or lacquer them for a natural look, or add paint, stain, or glaze to alter their appearance.

Some materials, such as metal and glass, don't really require an additional finish. In fact, they only need to be kept clean to maintain their beauty, although stainless steel needs an occasional polish. To add interest to these closet systems, etching and antiquing medium can be added as well.

Knobs, Pulls, And Hinges

These items are not big in terms of size, but the effect they have on closets can be huge. You have a choice between thousands of pulls, handles, and knobs to add the perfect touch, but that doesn't mean you have too. Depending on how the system is designed, you can have an area routed out along the back of the outer edge or have the outside profile cut at an interior angle to make them easy to open without hardware. The same goes for hinges. While decorative, traditional hinges can complement the design of the piece and the room. Invisible hinges, such as a pivot system or Blum hinge, can be used to hide the hardware inside the cabinets.

The unlimited possibilities for doors allow you to create the closets you have always wanted. For a modern office in Las Vegas, closet systems could be finished with sleek glass and stainless steel. For a romantic living room, you could select cherry hardwood mitre doors with a dark stain. Make your organizational systems into a work of art you will fall in love with.