1. First off, assess the items that need to fit into your child's or teen's closet so you can determine the storage solutions that make the most sense for, say, toys or sporting equipment in addition to shoes and clothing.  
  2. We know it's hard, but we recommend removing everything from your child's or teen's closet so that you can properly assess which garments require hanging space and which ones are better folded and stored on shelves or in drawers.  Before you plan for a custom closet design, you want to have a fairly accurate idea of how to divvy up the space.  
  3. Do your resident kids and teenagers toss dirty clothes into heaps on the floor?  Instead, include a pull-out basket or hamper in their closet design to prevent unsightly piles of clothes from overtaking the room.
  4. Adjustability is key in your child's or teen's bedroom closet.  As kids get bigger, their clothes take up more space, so you want to have enough flexibility to change the number of rods for hanging items and to reapportion the space to account for changing interests.  
  5. It's never too early to teach your children to appreciate the beauty of organization.  When kids are little, make sure to incorporate a few low shelves so they can easily put away frequently used items such as shoes and toys.  
  6. For smaller garments, buy kid-sized hangers since the standard versions are often too large.
  7. A kid's or teen's closet redesign is the perfect opportunity to teach your young'uns how to properly care for their garments, an appreciation that will follow them well into adulthood.  
  8. Include hooks in the closet for easy access to items such as sweatpants or backpacks.
  9. When you're ready to get started on a custom closet for your child or teen, be sure to carefully discuss your ideas with your storage professional so he/she can design a space that can accommodate your kids' changing needs.