The biggest trend she sees is a proliferation of products for people who are, shall we say, insecure about their carpentry skills. Installing a closet organizer is a very easy job. Apparently, a lot of customers aren't as confident as Babinec, because manufacturers are packaging shelving and hardware in kits that include everything needed to outfit a closet as narrow as 5 feet or as wide as 8 feet. The products are adjustable, eliminating the possibility that a homeowner will have to make a second trip to the store. Babinec noted that most manufacturers make this task easy by providing little work sheets that include grid paper where you can sketch your closet, and product lists showing the size and variety of materials available.
Several manufacturers do even more.
For example, Closetmaid of Ocala, Fla., invites customers to draw sketches of their closets and answer a few simple questions about their space needs, such as for shoe storage or for stackable items. If you mail this off to the company, the people there will send you a custom-designed layout along with a complete list of parts you'll need to install it. Folks with computer skills can get even more help. Several other manufacturers offer identical services. These manufacturers will usually accept orders online and ship everything you need.