A closet is defined as any enclosed recess or space where clothing, linen, or household supplies are stored. This means that there are as many types of closets as there are items stored in them. Perhaps the most familiar are clothes closets. There are also closets for bedroom and bathroom linen, as well as non-refrigerated food and kitchen utensils, often called a pantry. And although tool storage systems are generally referred to as toolboxes or chests, they also fall within the definition of closets.
There is, of course, a proper place for all these types of closets. It is rather obvious that pantries should be in the kitchen and toolboxes and chests should be in the garage. While the bedroom still remains the place for your main closet where your everyday clothes are stored, they need not be limited to your bedroom. In fact, in plenty of houses, there is a type of closet designed for, among others, coats, hats, and shoes right next to the main door.
These are designed for both the residents and visitors. When coming in from the cold into a warm and toasty house, the first thing people normally do is remove their coats. When leaving, the last thing they do is put them on. A coat closet beside the door, therefore, is a useful convenience. Often, shoes also have a space in the coat closet. Such a space is where you can leave your wet or dirty shoes so you won’t be bringing in moisture or dirt inside the house.
Houses whose garages have a direct access into the main living area may even have a coat closet in the garage. This is intended for people who more often than not leave home in their cars, going directly to the garage without passing through the front door.
Linen closets for bed sheets, blankets, bathrobes, and towels are usually found along the hallway to the bedrooms or bathrooms. They can either be freestanding or built into the walls as reach-in closets. Keeping them in one of the rooms will unnecessarily disturb its occupants when the people in the other room need to change linens.