Take some inspiration from Bethesda’s Fine Arts Festival to really bring your master closet to life.

White tents stretch as far as the eye can see down Norfolk Avenue. Families taking shelter from the early summer sun relax and clap along to local bands who elicit cheers from the crowd. The smell of Bethesda’s Curry Kitchen mixes with Mamma Lucia’s pizza and the rich aroma of Tyber Bierhaus’s wurst. Locals mingle with artists and artisans alike, admiring and procuring works of art for later enjoyment. With over a hundred artists featured, the Bethesda Fine Arts Festival is one of the best ways to experience the artistic community of the town.

Working in the custom closet industry, we get to use artistry in a unique way. Boutique-style walk-in closets have a certain extra something that makes a custom design and prime organization skills sparkle. What we’re looking for here is personality, and especially in an artsy community like Bethesda, MD, it should be easy enough to incorporate some of that flair into an often-overlooked room in the house. The Fine Arts Festival is the perfect time to pick up some design inspiration (and some decorative elements) that can help bring your master closet to life.

A Beautiful Background Sets the Stage

Even if you haven’t already joined the custom closet fan club, there’s a lot you can do to bring sophisticated design to your walk-in. First, you’ll want to make sure that the room as a whole has a cohesive feel, which can be helped along by the addition of carefully placed background elements.

First, consider your walls. White walls in a closet are standard because they’re inexpensive, they reflect light well, and they make a small room look larger. However, there’s nothing about a plain white wall that proclaims personality. Get more color in your world by painting one wall with a statement color—even something as neutral as a stormy gray will help to offset the white overload. Or, you could snatch up some fun wallpaper in a pattern and color scheme that matches your personal aesthetic. You could even take inspiration from the gorgeous spring tulips that adorn Woodmont Triangle this time of year and go with a floral-inspired pattern in bright colors.

If you’re looking to implement more temporary changes to your master closet, consider adding an area rug in the color that you wish to feature. Or, slide cuts of wallpaper into the backs of your custom or standard shelving units for a subtle pop of color. The point here is to upgrade your walk-in from drab to fab with a little creativity.

Make a Statement With Large Pieces

Once you’ve created a more visually interesting canvas in your master closet, you’ll want to play around with adding a statement piece (or two, if your master is endowed with extra space). These items will act as a focal point to the room, drawing the eye when you first enter and giving the space a subtle sense of order. Just as the Congressional Country Club clubhouse acts as the focal point for all visitors to the famous golf course, you want something to train your eyes on each time you enter your master closet.

Some of our favorite statement pieces in finished closets include:

• An ottoman or dressing chair. Our customers rarely think about adding furniture to their custom closets, but it’s amazing how much a simple ottoman can impact your walk-in. Adding even one accent of stylish seating makes your master closet feel like a boutique dressing room. Consider choosing an upholstery pattern or color that will pop next to your background choices.

• A statement light fixture. You can’t overestimate the power of good lighting, especially in a closet. Consider switching out your central fluorescent fixture for a stylish chandelier or pendant lamp in order to give your closet a more luxurious feel. If you can’t find an artisan creation that fits your style, you might consider shopping for one of these on Bethesda Row. I personally seek out international import stores for unique light fixture options.

• An oversized mirror. Every closet needs a full-length mirror. If you’ve got extra room to spare, consider investing in a larger-than-life piece to act as your closet’s main focus. Lean the mirror up against a wall and you’ve got an instant fairy tale look. Coordinating the mirror’s frame with your custom hardware will tie the room together in a subtle way and add a layer of boutique sophistication.

Finish With Artistic Touches

Finally, you’re ready to add the little touches that make a closet uniquely yours. When I’m in charge of decorating one of our custom closets from start to finish, this is always my favorite part of the process, and the Fine Arts Festival is the perfect place to pick up accent pieces to fit your style. These little bits of character complete the transformation and make a closet feel less like a storage warehouse and more like a home.

First, I select two or three pieces of framed or canvas artwork in different sizes. Then, instead of hanging these items on the wall, I prefer to lean artworks on shelves or on the floor against a wall for a more carefree appearance. Use small sculptural items (like that gorgeous pottery vase you found in the Bethesda arts district) to add a little artistic flair to a shelf or countertop surface.

All of these ideas can be completed with or without a custom closet system, but if you’re looking for the full effect, you’ll definitely want to consider investing in custom cabinetry. A high-quality closet system creates the perfect canvas for your decorative escapades.

Interested in learning more? Sign up for a free design consultation and one of the Closet America team will use our unique screen-to-machine technology to show you exactly how your dream closet will look in your space. You may also receive some more handy decorating advice once your installation is complete!

Lead image source: Flickr user Edward Johnson