The Container Store and Elfa Closet Systems - A Great Pair!
Written: Aug 6, 2004 (Updated Aug 6, 2004)
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First a brief note: I realize this is in the Online Stores category in Epinions.com, but I could not find a more appropriate area to share my review of this store. I have visited the online store (and it's actually one of the Ebates stores, too, [4% rebate] - see the link on my profile page for more on Ebates), but my review below focuses mostly on my experiences at a physical store.
Initial Impression & Store Description
I work near a Container Store (the Schaumburg, IL location) and have visited many times, usually without making any major purchases. As frugal a person as I am, I have a hard time justifying purchases that are very use-specific and also tend toward the expensive. The Container Store is a great place to shop for storage solutions when you just can't figure out what to do with a cluttered space, like a junk drawer or a closet you know could be better organized. Depending on your priorities, you will mose likely be able to improve your use of space with the products found at this store, but be ready to spend the money on each and every component.
The store is large and there are several broad categories covered: closets, bathrooms, offices, garages, kitchens, laundry, long-term storage, all sorts of boxes for shipping, storing, and gift-giving, etc. They have stuff like mason jars, racks for tennis rackets and rollerblades, shelving, bathroom shower racks, garbage cans, spice racks and jars, travel containers (including the tiniest pill boxes you've ever seen), and various containers in a variety of standard or non-standard sizes, to fit anything you've got.
Closet Organizer Shopping Experience
Very recently, I have shopped around for a complete master bedroom closet shelving system. I'd just moved and removed everything from the closet to start from scratch for a fully customized closet space. I had very little experience with closet systems, but was aware of The Container Store's Elfa shelving and components. Elfa's basic products consist of ventilated wire shelving components that can be rearranged easily.
So, I had shopped around online for closet organizer companies, trying out various designs and noting the costs. I was thinking I wanted solid wood shelving for my closet, since I don't plan on moving again any time soon. I wanted my closet to look nice and be durable, but not put me in the poorhouse. I knew about Elfa, but assumed it wasn't for me and would be overpriced, so I didn't seriously consider shopping at The Container Store for my new closet components.
After scrutinizing my clothing, shoe collection, and other possessions that would end up in the closet, I had finalized a design I created at a website called EasyClosets.com. The cost came to about $450 for a typical reach-in bedroom closet size. I printed the design and agonized over the decision to order. I couldn't do it until I'd compared costs and quality with at least one other closet organizing system or company. So, I set out to visit The Container Store.
Online Experience
I checked out their website first, to get a feel for those mysterious Elfa components and how the whole designing process works. I was disappointed to find that there wasn't a nice little designing application available online, like the EasyClosets.com application. (I was told later that an online user web-designing feature is in the works for the future.) The website instructed me enter my closet dimensions and needs, and to call them, have them call me, or visit one of their stores with my completed form to complete the closet designing process. I took down all the necessary measurements and stats per their online form and took it with me to work the next day.
Physical Store Experience
I went to the store on my lunch hour and had a very productive designing session with one of the employees there - Stephanie. There is a section of the store dedicated to the Elfa line and is surrounded by 8 or so sample closets, utilizing all of the various styles and accessories available, along with a few articles of clothing, shoes, and other typical closet contets, which was a good way to get ideas and see how typical things will fit.
Stephanie logged onto one of the several computers stationed amid the Elfa displays and started creating a design just for me. I gave her my completed form with all the measurements and relevant statistics, and also leveled with her about the comparison shopping I was doing against EasyClosets.com. I showed her the design I'd printed off and she created a similar design on her computer screen. She told me I'd created a very good design so there was no need for major changes. I asked all the questions I had about the whole process and invited her to explain why Elfa might be a good choice for me.
One major concern for me was the fact that Elfa units are installed by mounting a horizontal track across the top of the back wall, near the ceiling, then hanging standards with holes for shelving brackets are hung down from it. The brackets are installed into the standards and the shelving is snapped into the brackets. The track at the top is the only thing attached to the wall with screws. I thought the entire thing might be unstable and swing or come loose. She walked me over to one of the display closets and gave it a good shake, explaining that the weight of the clothing and other items on the unit distribute along the wall and become quite stable. I gave it a good shake myself and was surprised, but convinced.
After completing the design process with Stephanie, (in less than an hour,) I got a printout of the Elfa design we created, a listing of all components used with quantities nd costs indicated, and a final total cost (before tax) to take home and mull over. My husband needed the same convincing I needed, so we both headed over to the store the following day and went through all the questions, doubts, fears, and speculations.
In the end, here's what won me over vs. EasyClosets.com:
Elfa units come in standard widths of 2 feet. Although any shelves can be cut if desired, I knew using a standard size would allow me greater flexibility in the long run, if I ever decide to change my mind about how things are arranged. Also, Stephanie informed me that the cut shelving is just as costly as the entire uncut pieces, so that sounded like a waste of money to me. EasyClosets.com uses melamine shelving and did not indicate any standard sizing. The designing application allows for any widths in 1/4 inch increments. That means extra labor factored into the final cost, which I didn't like. It also meant that the final design I choose will have to be the design that I "marry," as I like to say. That put a lot of pressure on me to design the best closet ever, which I had never done before. Making changes to the design would be involved and probably less likely to occur because it would be a pain.
Elfa systems are attached via a handful of screws into the wall and only at the very top of the back wall, minimizing damage to the walls, and making the designing and redesigning of the system easy and less invasive. Changes to Elfa closets can be done without doing anything to the track. The hanging standards slide if necessary, but will likely not. Shelving bracket positions are likely the only major changes to be made. EasyClosets.com also utilize a track system to mount, but I knew their melamine shelving would require more support than the light Elfa ventilated shelfing, translating to more holes drilled into the walls.
The Container Store has a brick-and-mortar store very near to my office, and not too far from home. Their shelving and other components are not boxed and would not require shipping, further reducing the cost. Also, purchases and returns of any of the components is simple because each piece is sold individually in any quantity. I can return any pieces that were not used (like the screw anchors, a couple of extra brackets, etc.) If I decide I want shelf liners, I can buy one, two, five, or a hundred if I want - at any time. EasyClosets.com is not physically near me (I don't know where they are) so there would be shipping costs, shipping time, unnecessary boxes and packaging, and the melamine components would be heavier, too. I couldn't imagine returning any of the unused components, or trying to purchase just one more shelf from EasyClosets.com, if I needed to.
Pick-Up and Installation
So, we picked up our track, hanging standards, shelves, and brackets, and other components directly from the store, along with instructions, complete with actual photos. Everything fit nicely into the vehicle and was very flat for transport. No boxes, no shipping expenses, no broken backs. We got it home in an SUV, but most of the stuff would have easily fit into the trunk of my Honda Civic.
My husband installed the top track and I did all of the rest. It took a little bit of practice for me to get the hang of the shelving installation (there are snap-in notches on the brackets), but once I did a few of them, they were pretty simple. During installation, I brought sample clothing and shoes in to make the most of the space and check the practicality of the spacing of the shelves and hanging rods.
Final Results
I now have a very nicely organized closet with all of my hanging clothing just clearing the floor and within my reach. All of my (20-odd pairs of) shoes are now off the floor and sitting on smartly spaced shelves, also within my easy reach. My husband has the higher areas for his stuff, since he's taller. I can easily vacuum the carpeting in the closet without having to pick anything up, and I have room for other stuff on the shelves I hadn't yet designated.
I'm very happy with The Container Store's service, products, and oh yeah, the entire closet was just over $400 with parts to spare (which I haven't yet returned). Now I've got the fever: I now look at our linen closet, my bathroom cabinets, and kitchen cabinets and can't help but imagine custom Elfa components making better use of the space.
Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? custom-designed Elfa closet system
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About the Author
Member: Benia Zouras
Location: Chicagoland, IL
Reviews written: 43
Trusted by: 37 members
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