"How am I going to get all my clothes in this closet?" ranks as number one among customer questions, says Becky Plath, co-owner of Closet Organizers. "Many closets look big until you start putting your stuff in them. Then they look little."

Often, people pay no attention to closets until after their house is built. It’s a good idea to pay attention sooner than that, such as when the house is being designed.

But whether or not you help plan your house’s storage areas, closet organizing systems, consisting of shelves, drawers, shoe racks, door and wall racks, extra rods, etc., can help you maximize space. Pick a system built of high-quality material. If you choose ventilated wire, for example, be sure it’s heavy gauge steel. If you hire a professional to design and install your storage system, make sure he guarantees the installation. "Closets are a very important part of the house," Plath says, "and custom closets add to its resale value."