Podcast Summary: "Closet Goals: How to Edit, Organize & Elevate Your Wardrobe with Celebrity Closet Designer Lisa Adams"
Let's Get Dressed, hosted by Liv Perez, delves deep into the art of closet organization with renowned luxury closet designer Lisa Adams. Released on April 7, 2025, this episode offers invaluable insights into creating a functional and aesthetically pleasing wardrobe space. The conversation seamlessly blends personal anecdotes, professional expertise, and innovative ideas to inspire listeners to transform their closets into sanctuaries.
1. Introduction to Closet Organization
Liv Perez opens the episode by sharing her passion for closet organization, emphasizing its importance as the starting and ending point of her day. She introduces Lisa Adams, a luxury closet designer from LA Closet Design, setting the stage for an in-depth discussion on optimizing closet spaces.
Notable Quote:
"I believe that your closet is the space where you start and end the day. So I think it's crucial to make it your favorite room in the house." — Liv Perez [00:02]
2. Lisa Adams' Journey into Closet Design
Lisa Adams recounts her unconventional path into the world of closet design. Originally aspiring to be an accountant and later a scientist, her transition into design was serendipitous, sparked by an opportunity at a design firm where she noticed the lack of attention given to closets compared to kitchens and bathrooms.
Notable Quote:
"I wanted to be doing it at a high level. I wanted to take an interior design approach." — Lisa Adams [03:16]
3. The Rise of the Closet as a Focal Point
The pandemic-induced shift to home-centric lifestyles elevated the importance of closets. With homes doubling as workspaces, closets transformed into multifunctional areas serving as dressing rooms, workstations, and personal sanctuaries.
Notable Quote:
"With COVID, everybody was home. So the closet just became the place where it's like, I wanna work in there also." — Lisa Adams [04:00]
4. Professional Tips for Closet Organization
Lisa shares her foundational approach to closet design: taking inventory. This involves assessing existing items and editing the collection to ensure the closet's design aligns with the client's needs.
Notable Quote:
"You see everything at first glance and it's easy, like it's accessible." — Lisa Adams [05:10]
Liv and Lisa discuss the pitfalls of deep drawers, agreeing that limited visibility leads to underuse of stored items.
Notable Quote:
"If you don't see it, then you won't wear it." — Lisa Adams [06:01]
5. Personalizing Closet Systems
The conversation shifts to personal experiences with closet organization. Liv shares her method of categorizing her wardrobe into specific cabinets for dresses, hanging shirts, drawers, and jackets. She reflects on her initial mistakes, such as using solid doors that concealed her vibrant collection, leading to inefficiency.
Notable Quote:
"I set up my system so that everything is behind solid doors, which was my biggest mistake... Now I kind of wish I could see it all." — Liv Perez [08:19]
6. Building and Maintaining an Organized Closet
Lisa emphasizes the importance of action-oriented habits to prevent clutter. This includes immediately addressing items that need laundry, dry cleaning, tailoring, or donating them instead of letting them accumulate.
Notable Quote:
"Once you get in the habit of that, it just really starts to become a habit." — Lisa Adams [12:42]
They discuss strategies like using segregated drawers and valet hooks to streamline the daily routine.
7. Organizing in Small Spaces
Addressing listeners with limited closet space, Lisa advises maximizing every inch by utilizing height and depth effectively. She suggests adding additional rods, pull-out shelves, and specialized storage solutions like boot trees and purse pillows to enhance functionality without requiring extensive renovations.
Notable Quote:
"With a small space, think about that. That's probably 25% of your closet that you're not using." — Liv Perez [21:21]
8. Essential Closet Accessories
The duo highlights non-negotiable elements for an organized closet, such as boot trees to maintain shoe shape, drawer inserts for accessories, and smart storage solutions for bags to prevent damage and clutter.
Notable Quote:
"Having inserts in them so that it stays maintained, it's standing straight." — Lisa Adams [24:38]
9. Innovations and Future of Closet Design
Lisa shares her excitement about technological advancements like smart mirrors, which integrate AI to assist in outfit selection based on inventory and even recommend combinations. She envisions closets that not only store items but also enhance the dressing experience through integrated lighting, sound systems, and interactive features.
Notable Quote:
"I'm so excited to install smart mirrors in closets... to make the dressing process more fun, to make it easier to streamline it." — Lisa Adams [30:12]
10. Showcasing Extraordinary Closet Projects
Liv and Lisa reminisce about a standout project: a three-story closet in Bel Air, resembling a boutique with separate floors for formal wear, casual everyday items, and seasonal pieces. The design included luxurious features like custom-designed elevators, couches, and dedicated rooms for jewelry and packing, underscoring the epitome of high-end closet design.
Notable Quote:
"We did formal on the top floor, casual on the second, and seasonal and a safe room on the ground floor." — Lisa Adams [33:18]
11. Conclusion and Final Thoughts
The episode wraps up with mutual appreciation for the transformative power of organized closets. Liv expresses her eagerness to implement the discussed strategies, while Lisa reinforces the joy and efficiency that comes with a well-curated wardrobe space.
Notable Quote:
"Life is meant to be lived. Wear the dress, wear the heels, do it all." — Liv Perez [29:35]
Key Takeaways
- Inventory is Crucial: Assess and categorize existing wardrobe items before redesigning the closet.
- Visibility Matters: Ensure all items are visible and accessible to increase usage and reduce clutter.
- Action-Oriented Systems: Develop habits to immediately address laundry, tailoring, and donating to maintain organization.
- Maximize Space: Utilize vertical and depth dimensions effectively, especially in small closets.
- Incorporate Technology: Embrace innovations like smart mirrors to enhance the dressing experience.
- Personalization is Key: Tailor closet designs to individual lifestyles and preferences for optimal functionality.
This episode serves as a comprehensive guide for anyone looking to elevate their closet organization, blending practical tips with inspirational design ideas. Lisa Adams' expertise provides listeners with the tools and motivation to transform their closets into efficient, beautiful, and personalized spaces.