The typical home bedroom closet began its life with a simple shelf and pole arrangement, and there it remained mired, seemingly forever. In the 1970s came the concept of adding a second shelf, and the ‘80s brought double-pole hanging and the advent of closet kits, which allowed for more customization of the space to fit different needs.

Time moves on, and good things get even better. Manufacturers of closet kits and components have really entered the mainstream, with more organizers, better-quality parts, more color and material options, and even greater choices for how to customize the closet to fit individual needs and lifestyles. From a closet with multiple short hanging rods and toy bins for a child to sophisticated oak- and cedar-lined showpieces complete with motorized racks and easy chairs, you can definitely design a space that suits you and your family perfectly. Here are a few of the more interesting trends that seem to be gaining popularity:

Shoe cubes: Shoes were something that sat on the floor, then slowly evolved to being accommodated by simple racks or shelves. For great organization, more protection for expensive shoes, and, let’s face it, kind of a cool look, there are shoe cubes or shoe stackers. These are essentially open-faced boxes that are divided up vertically and horizontally into a number of individual bins, each large enough for a single shoe.

Islands: Blessed with a really large walk-in? You might want to consider creating an island cabinet in the middle. Islands typically encompass drawer space for the storage of flat items ranging from ties and scarves to shirts and underwear. Most are 36 inches high with a flat, finished top that sees duty as a table top to lay out a couple of outfits, a place to fold laundry, or a convenient landing spot for wallet, purse, loose change, and other daily items.

Hamper bins: Whether it’s just a space to set a freestanding hamper basket or designed with individual wire hamper baskets that slide in and out of a cabinet, the idea of having a dedicated spot within the closet for dirty clothes will help anyone’s room – especially kids rooms – remain a little more organized.

Ventilation: Closets – especially those with hampers – need some air circulation to remain fresh. Some of the strategies for solving this are ventilated doors; passive and active fans that open to the outside, either through an exterior wall or by ducting through the attic or crawl space; and a variety of disposable air fresheners designed for intensive use in the closet.

HELP IS AVAILABLE

If you’re not sure you have the time or the creative vision to design that showpiece of a closet you’ve always dreamed about, there’s plenty of help out there for you. Many home centers and cabinet component suppliers have simple design services that will assist you with laying out closets ranging from the basic to the moderately custom. They will also help you with material lists that let you get all of your component shopping done with a minimum of hassle.

But perhaps you’re thinking more along the lines of a truly custom design, full of designated storage organizers and resplendent with rich woods and effective task lighting. There are now a variety of companies that specialize in closet design, from the simple to the ornate. They can analyze your storage needs, inspect available spaces, and create basic or one-of-a-kind designs that truly accommodate exactly what you have to store. They can also arrange for contractors to do the work for you.

For more on closets, check the Yellow Pages under “Closets and Closet Accessories” or surf the Web under “closets” and “closet designers.”