Single-Family Home Size Increased in 2018
According to first quarter 2018 data from the Census Quarterly Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design and National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) analysis, median single-family square floor area increased to 2,436 square feet. Average (mean) square footage for new single-family homes increased to 2,641 square feet. The post-recession increase in single-family home size is consistent with the historical pattern coming out of recessions. Typical new home size falls prior to and during a recession as home buyers tighten budgets.
Today’s New Houses
“Today’s new houses, compared to those built in the past, are much more energy-efficient; they come with better, bigger and more bathrooms, closets, fireplaces, and garages; they’re equipped with better and more home appliances; and they almost all include modern features like central air conditioning today (93% in 2015) that were expensive luxury options in previous decades like the 1970s (fewer than half the houses built in each year between 1973 and 1976 had air conditioning). Americans are paying about 70% more today for a median-priced new house on an inflation-adjusted basis compared to a 1973 house, largely because the size of the median house today is larger by almost 1,000 square feet and by 62%,” reports AE Ideas.
With the average home getting larger, then the average closet can typically get a little larger too. What are the standard sizes of closets? Here are some answers to that question:
Walk-In Closet
“Offering more depth and space than a traditional reach-in closet, walk-ins are frequently found in master bedroom suites and loved for their versatility and storage opportunities. Walk-in closets can be a few square feet or as large as a bedroom. But while extra space for a dressing area or vanity comes in handy, you still need to give careful consideration to your closet’s design,” comments HGTV.
Hunker explains that “walk-in closets should be at least 4 feet wide by 4 feet deep, and the closet’s storage accommodations should be designed so that there is at least a 24-inch clear passageway between shelves or hanging clothes inside the closet. Given that hanging clothes take up 2 feet of depth, a 4-foot-wide closet can only accommodate hanging storage along its back wall and one side wall. A closet width of 6 feet allows storage on both side walls as well as the back wall, while still allowing 24 inches of clear space in the center of the closet”.
Reach-In
“A reach-in closet is usually just deep enough to allow clothes to hang perpendicular to the back wall, and it needs to be shallow enough so that you can reach to the back of the closet without stepping inside. The standard minimum depth for a reach-in closet is 24 inches, but a closet intended to store coats or other bulky hanging items may need to be as deep as 28 inches. A closet less than 22 inches deep isn’t deep enough to allow hanging clothes. Another critical dimension in a reach-in closet is the length of the closet’s side return walls. The return walls are the short sections of a wall extending from the closet’s side walls to the door opening. If the return walls are too long, they create deep spaces at the ends of the closet that are difficult to reach into. In general, return walls should be 12 inches or less”, describes Hunker.
Usually anywhere from 3 to 8 feet wide with a limited depth of 24 to 30 inches, reach-in closets are commonly found in hallways, kids’ rooms and bedrooms of older homes. These closets were originally designed with a single rod for hanging clothes under a shelf, with return walls that can limit access inside.
Measurements
HGTV gives tips for taking closet measurements:
- A clothes closet should have a minimum depth of at least 24 inches deep, so the clothes can clear the back wall.
- Shelves for women’s shoes should be spaced about 6 to 7 inches apart.
- Shelves for folded clothes should be placed around 12 inches apart.
- 84 inches is considered the minimum height to hold double hanging rods.
- Blouses and shirts will take up about 1 inch of rod space, pants and skirts around 1 1/4 inches and dresses, jackets and suits about 2 to 3 inches.
Remember the numbers above are a general guideline. If you or someone in your home is especially tall, wears larger-than-average shoes or has lots of extra-high heels, you might find that standard-sized shoe cubbies are too small or the height for hanging clothes on rods needs to be adjusted.
It is important to select a quality closet company to work with you to create your dream closet(s).
Contact Us
In business since 1983, Southern Closet Systems was the first custom closet company ever to serve the Tampa area. From our factory and showroom in Odessa, Florida, we’ve assisted thousands of clients with our custom closet designs, storage cabinets, shelving and other accessories.
Give us a call today to make an appointment at 727-447-7227 (in Pinellas), 813-926-9348 (in Pasco) and 813-855-2255 (in Hillsborough) or send us an email.
