Closet facts for kids

A closet is a special space inside a house or building. Think of it like a small room or a large cabinet. People use closets to store many different things. Most often, they are used for hanging or storing clothes.

Some closets are built right into the walls of a house. This means they don't take up extra space in a room. Other closets are large pieces of furniture. These are often called wardrobes. They are also used for storing clothes. You might even find closets built under stairs. This helps use space that would otherwise be empty.

In some places, like the United Kingdom, a built-in closet might be called a "wardrobe" or a "cupboard." If it's big enough to step inside, it's often called a "walk-in-wardrobe."

A walk-in closet in a home in the United States.

Different Kinds of Closets

There are many types of closets, each designed for different storage needs:

• Broom closet: This is a tall closet, usually from floor to ceiling. It's used for storing cleaning items. You might find brooms, mops, vacuum cleaners, and cleaning supplies here.
• Coat closet: You'll often find this closet near the front door of a house. It's a handy spot for coats, jackets, hats, scarves, and even boots or shoes. Some coat closets have shelves, while others just have a rod for hanging clothes.
• Linen closet: This is a tall, narrow closet. It usually has shelves and is often found in or near a bathroom. It's perfect for storing towels, sheets, washcloths, and other bathroom supplies.
• Utility closet: This type of closet is commonly used to hold household appliances. It can also store cleaning supplies.
• Walk-in closet: This is a larger storage room. It's big enough for a person to walk inside. This makes it easy to look through and access all your stored items.
• Wall closet: This closet is built directly into the wall of a bedroom. It might have curtains or folding doors. Clothes can be stored folded on shelves inside.
• Wardrobe: A wardrobe is a piece of furniture, often like a small closet. It's designed specifically for storing clothes.
• Pantry: A pantry is a closet or cabinet found in a kitchen. It's used for storing food, dishes, and other kitchen supplies. Pantries usually have shelves to keep things organized.
• Custom closet: This is a closet that is specially designed and built to fit a specific room in your house. It's made to perfectly match your space and storage needs.

Images for kids

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  An open closet.

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  A typical modern wall-mounted space-saving closet.

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  Linen closet.