7 Walk-In Closet Designs for Your Kelowna Custom Home

A walk-in closet is more than just a place to hang clothes. It’s a personal space that starts and ends your day. Getting the design right means thinking about your lifestyle, how much storage you need, and the feel you want in your home. It’s a key part of a custom build that directly impacts your daily life.

At Bercum Builders, we help homeowners in Kelowna and the Okanagan build closets that are practical, beautiful, and built to last. We focus on smart layouts and quality craftsmanship. Every detail serves a purpose, from custom shelving to the right lighting. The right design can make a small space feel big or turn a large room into an organized retreat.

This guide looks at 7 different walk in closets designs. We’ll cover key features, layouts, materials, and give you some ballpark costs to help you budget. Our goal is to give you clear ideas to discuss with our team. We’ll show you how to plan a space that not only stores your wardrobe but also simplifies your life.

1. The Modern Minimalist Walk-In Closet

The modern minimalist design is about creating a calm, organized space. It uses a clean, streamlined look where function comes first. Think less clutter and more high-quality, essential pieces. This design has a neutral color palette, smart storage, and few decorative extras. It creates a peaceful room where every item has its place.

Why Choose a Minimalist Closet?

This design is a great fit if you value simplicity and order. A minimalist walk-in feels spacious and makes getting ready easier. You can see everything you own at a glance. It helps you be intentional with your wardrobe, keeping only what you love and wear. It’s a good choice for modern custom homes in the Okanagan, where clean lines and natural light are key.

Key Features

• Layout: Usually an open-concept galley style or a single-wall design to keep the space from feeling cluttered.
• Storage: Integrated, handle-less drawers, vertical shelving, and uniform hanging rods are common. We often use clear acrylic drawer dividers and slim, matching hangers for a cohesive look.
• Lighting: Recessed LED strips along shelves and simple, flush-mount ceiling fixtures provide clean light without adding visual noise.
• Materials: Light-toned wood veneers like white oak or maple, matte-finish laminates, and simple metal hardware in black or brushed nickel are popular.

Planning with Your Builder

This build starts with your current wardrobe, how many long-hang items, folded sweaters, and pairs of shoes you have, to create a custom storage system. This makes sure the final build is both beautiful and perfectly suited to you. We can work with you to select durable, high-quality materials that last.

2. The Luxury Walk-In Closet with an Island

A luxury walk-in closet with an island is the peak of personalized storage. This design centers the room around a functional and beautiful island. It provides extra storage, a surface for organizing, and a stunning visual anchor. It turns a storage area into a boutique-like dressing room. It’s perfect for those who want a mix of high function and style.

Why Choose a Luxury Closet with an Island?

This design is ideal if you have a large wardrobe and want a space that feels like a private showroom. The central island adds a layer of organization. It makes it easy to lay out outfits or pack for a trip. It’s a statement piece that adds to the whole home and shows a commitment to quality and detail. It fits right in with the best in luxury home interior design for Okanagan living.

Key Features

• Layout: A spacious U-shaped or large rectangular layout is needed to allow easy movement around the island. We recommend at least three feet of clearance on all sides.
• Storage: The island itself holds custom drawers for accessories like watches, ties, and jewelry. Surrounding walls feature glass-front cabinets for display, lots of hanging space, and dedicated shoe shelving.
• Lighting: A statement chandelier above the island is a popular choice. It’s combined with integrated LED lighting inside drawers and along display shelves to highlight your collection.
• Materials: High-end materials are key. Think marble or quartz countertops for the island, rich wood finishes like walnut, and premium hardware in polished brass or chrome.

Planning with Your Builder

When we plan a luxury closet with an island, we start by mapping out the room’s dimensions and your storage needs. We’ll discuss everything from drawer depths for your accessories to the height of your shoe collection. Our process includes planning for electrical needs, like outlets in the island for charging devices. We make sure the final build is a perfect, functional space that adds real value to your home.

3. The Walk-In Closet with an Open Shelving System

An open shelving system creates a space that feels like a high-end retail boutique. It trades traditional closed cabinets for a wall-to-wall display of your wardrobe. This design puts everything in plain sight, making your clothes, shoes, and accessories part of the decor. It’s all about visibility, accessibility, and an airy feel.

Why Choose an Open Shelving System?

This design is perfect if you love to see your entire collection and treat it like a curated gallery. It makes picking an outfit quick and visual. The style encourages you to keep your wardrobe tidy. For Okanagan custom homes that have an open and bright aesthetic, this closet design fits right in.

Key Features

• Layout: Often designed as a galley or U-shape to maximize vertical wall space. The layout feels more like a room and less like a storage unit.
• Storage: It relies almost entirely on open shelves of different depths, hanging rods, and cubbies. We often recommend shelf dividers to keep folded stacks neat. Matching decorative boxes or baskets work well for smaller items.
• Lighting: Integrated LED strip lighting under each shelf is essential. This illuminates your items and adds warmth to the space.
• Materials: Light-colored laminates or painted wood keep the space feeling bright. Metal uprights in finishes like champagne bronze or matte black can add a modern, industrial touch.

Planning with Your Builder

When we plan an open-concept closet, organization is the priority. We’ll discuss how you prefer to store things, folded versus hanging, and design a system that fits your habits. The key is to create a logical flow. We can build custom-depth shelves for handbags and shoes and make sure the system is anchored correctly. Clear communication during design ensures your finished closet is both beautiful and functional.

4. The Walk-In Closet with a Jewelry and Accessory Wall

This design turns your collection of personal items into a visual feature. Instead of tucking away handbags, scarves, and jewelry, this design dedicates a wall to displaying them. It’s about creating a personal, boutique-like experience in your closet. Your favorite accessories are organized, accessible, and part of the room’s decor.

Why Choose an Accessory Wall?

This design is perfect for anyone with a passion for accessories who wants to see their collection clearly. It makes selecting the perfect piece easy. It prevents tangled necklaces or misplaced items. By turning storage into a display, it adds personality and luxury to your custom home. It feels organized and intentional.

Key Features

• Layout: Often features a central accent wall or a dedicated niche within a larger U-shaped or L-shaped closet. This creates a focal point.
• Storage: Custom solutions are key. Think velvet-lined, partitioned drawers for jewelry, glass-fronted cabinets for handbags, and specialized hooks for belts and necklaces.
• Lighting: Directional accent lighting, like miniature spotlights or integrated LED strips, is crucial to make the pieces sparkle. We often install lighting inside drawers that turns on when opened.
• Materials: Soft, protective backdrops like suede or velvet prevent scratches. High-quality hardware in brass or chrome and glass or acrylic shelving add a touch of elegance.

Planning with Your Builder

We’ll discuss how you use your accessories and design solutions for your specific items. We can build in secure features like a hidden safe or lockable drawers for valuable pieces. Our process ensures every detail, from the lining material to the lighting, is chosen to showcase your collection perfectly.

5. The Walk-In Closet with a Dressing Area and Seating

This design turns a storage space into a personal sanctuary. It adds a dedicated spot for sitting, which elevates the closet from storage to a proper dressing room. It’s about adding comfort and luxury to your daily routine. It creates a space where you can comfortably try on outfits or put on shoes. This is one of the most requested features in our custom home walk-in closet designs.

Why Choose a Closet with Seating?

A closet with a dressing area is ideal if you want a complete, boutique-like experience in your home. It provides a practical place to sit while dressing. In larger Okanagan master suites, this turns the closet into a true extension of your personal space.

Key Features

• Layout: Often designed around a central island that includes a bench. A dedicated nook with an ottoman or a built-in window seat also works well.
• Storage: Seating can be multi-functional. We often build custom benches with integrated drawers or lift-up tops for hidden storage of shoes or seasonal items.
• Lighting: Proper task lighting around the seating area and mirrors is key. We suggest adding wall sconces beside a mirror or a pendant light over a central ottoman.
• Materials: Upholstery choices are important. We recommend durable, stain-resistant fabrics like performance velvets or leathers. The bench can be crafted from wood that matches the cabinetry.

Planning with Your Builder

When we add a seating area, we focus on flow and function. The bench or chair shouldn’t block pathways. We’ll discuss how you plan to use the space: is it just for putting on shoes, or do you need a full vanity setup? This helps us determine the right dimensions, lighting plan, and electrical outlet placement for your needs.

6. The Walk-In Closet with Color-Coordinated Organization

A color-coordinated closet turns your wardrobe into a functional work of art. This method organizes clothing by color, creating a visually stunning rainbow effect. It combines aesthetic appeal with practical function, making it easy to find what you’re looking for.

Why Choose a Color-Coordinated Closet?

This design is perfect for visual thinkers who appreciate a tidy and vibrant space. It makes the daily routine of getting dressed more pleasant. Seeing your wardrobe arranged like a boutique makes it simpler to put outfits together. It also encourages you to maintain a well-edited collection.

Key Features

• Layout: Works well in any layout, but galley or U-shaped closets provide long sightlines that maximize the rainbow effect.
• Storage: Open shelving and long hanging rods are essential to display the color gradient. We use matching hangers, often slim velvet or wood, to create a uniform backdrop that lets the colors of the clothes stand out.
• Lighting: Bright, neutral white lighting is critical. We recommend a mix of layered lighting, including recessed pot lights and integrated LED strips along rods and shelves.
• Materials: Neutral backdrops work best. Crisp white, soft grey, or light wood cabinetry allows the colors of your clothing to be the main focus.

Planning with Your Builder

When we build a closet designed for color-coordination, we focus on creating the right canvas. We’ll plan for ample hanging space and open shelving to showcase your collection. During the design phase, we can discuss the best lighting placement and select neutral, high-quality finishes that will make your wardrobe pop.

7. The Multifunctional Walk-In Closet

The multifunctional walk-in closet is a smart solution that blends storage with another purpose, like a home office or a quiet reading nook. This design is all about making your square footage work harder. By integrating a second function, the closet becomes a versatile, active part of your home’s daily life.

Why Choose a Multifunctional Closet?

This design is ideal if you need to maximize the use of every room in your home. A walk-in closet can easily become a private home office, a small exercise area, or a meditation space. It’s a practical approach for modern homes or for anyone looking to create dedicated zones for different activities without adding a room.

Key Features

• Layout: The layout must create clear, distinct zones. For example, clothing storage might line one wall, while a built-in desk and shelving occupy another.
• Storage: We use vertical storage solutions like floor-to-ceiling shelving to free up floor space. An ottoman with hidden storage is another key element.
• Lighting: Layered lighting is essential. We’ll install task lighting like a desk lamp for a work area, along with ambient overhead lights and integrated LEDs for wardrobe sections.
• Materials: Durable materials that suit both functions are best. A resilient laminate for a desk surface paired with classic wood veneers for cabinetry creates a cohesive and practical space.

Planning with Your Builder

When we design a multifunctional closet, we start by mapping out how you’ll use each zone. We’ll plan for electrical outlets to power your computer or treadmill and make sure pathways are clear. Our process involves carefully selecting materials and furniture that serve multiple roles. This ensures your finished space is efficient, organized, and perfectly tailored to your lifestyle.

7 Walk-In Closet Designs Compared

Style	Complexity	Resources	Outcome	Ideal For	Key Advantages
Modern Minimalist	Low–Medium	Low	Calm, clutter-free	Small spaces, capsule wardrobes	Timeless look, low upkeep
Luxury with Island	High	High	Boutique-like elegance	Large master suites, luxury homes	High capacity, centerpiece
Open Shelving	Low	Low–Medium	Airy visibility	Contemporary homes, retail-style	Cost-effective, accessible
Jewelry & Accessory Wall	Medium	Medium	Curated display	Accessory collectors, stylists	Prevents tangling, decorative
Multifunctional Design	Medium–High ?	Medium	Flexible space use	Small homes, studios	Space optimization, added utility
Dressing Area & Seating	Medium	Medium	Comfortable dressing	Couples, luxury suites	Comfort, multi-use grooming area
Color-Coordinated	Low–Medium	Low	Visually striking	Fashion enthusiasts	Aesthetic impact, faster location

Bring Your Custom Closet Design to Life

We’ve looked at a range of walk-in closet designs, from minimalist layouts to luxurious dressing rooms. Each one offers a unique way to organize your things and improve your daily routine. The goal was to show you what’s possible when you think about how a space can truly serve your lifestyle.

You’ve seen how material choices like solid maple or reclaimed wood can define the character of a closet. You’ve also learned how strategic lighting can turn a functional area into a personal retreat. A well-designed walk-in closet is more than just shelving and rods; it’s a personalized system built for efficiency and comfort.

Turning Ideas into a Plan

The next step is to translate your favorite ideas into a buildable plan. This is where the details matter. A successful project needs precise measurements and a thoughtful layout. It’s about making sure the design not only looks good on paper but also functions perfectly in your home.

Here’s a practical path forward:

1. Set Your Priorities: Which features are must-haves? Is it a seating area, a high-tech drawer, or open shelving? List your top three.
2. Measure Your Space: Get accurate dimensions of your area. Note the location of doors and windows. This is critical for creating a functional layout.
3. Think About Your Routine: Consider your daily habits. Do you lay out clothes the night before? Do you need a spot for luggage? Your closet’s layout should support your routine.

The Value of a Professional Build

Building a custom closet involves more than just assembling custom cabinets. It requires coordinating electricians for lighting, flooring installers, and painters. All the work must meet BC Building Code standards. A well-managed project prevents rework, avoids budget surprises, and delivers a finished space that’s built to last.

At Bercum Builders, we handle this coordination. Our process is built on clear communication, including weekly updates and a disciplined approach to managing schedules and change orders. We believe a clean, organized job site reflects the quality of our craftsmanship. From the initial design to the final hardware, we focus on precision and durability. When you invest in a custom space, you deserve a finished product that is both beautiful and built right.

The right walk-in closet design can bring order and calm to your home. By planning carefully and working with a skilled team, you can create a closet that is a true asset to your Okanagan home for years to come.

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Ready to build a walk-in closet that’s as functional as it is beautiful? The team at Bercum Builders specializes in bringing custom home visions to life with precision craftsmanship and transparent project management. Contact us today to discuss your ideas and learn how we can create the perfect closet for your home.