Closets are a catch-all. When we don’t know what to do with something — your old laptop, wrapping paper, comforters that don’t fit in the linen cabinet — we throw it in the closet. Then we wonder why we can never find anything. If you’re ready to tackle that black hole, we have some tips that will clean it up in no time.
Purge. Purge. Purge.
Before you organize, you must purge. Devote a day to pulling everything out of your closet. Designate three piles — “keep,” “donate” and “toss.” If you find big items such as camping gear, an ironing board or large suitcases, see if you have room for them in the garage, attic or spare room. Subdivide your “keep” pile by season and how often you wear them.
Regarding Storage
If your “keep” pile is huge, start thinking where else you can store things. Can you hang out-of-season clothes in a spare room or put them bin under the bed? Do you have unused pantry space? Store memorabilia you don’t want to donate there. Get creative.
Install Shelves and Drawers
If you can’t walk into your walk-in closet because there’s too much stuff on the floor, invest in shelves and drawers. You can find ones designed specifically for closets at home improvement stores or on Amazon. Most are easy to install. Alternatively, put an old dresser in your walk-in closet. The drawers can hold everything from socks to sweaters. Put bins on the top of the dresser to hold shoes, purses and other accessories.
Double Up on Rods
A simple way to make more space in your closet is to add closet rods. Not sure how? Walk into the clothing department of any store and look at the wall. For your closet, take out the existing rod. Install two or three rods of different lengths at different heights depending on your needs. A short rod placed toward the top of the closet can be used for long dresses. Rods in the middle and toward the bottom can be used for shirts and pants.
Closet Dividers
Create or purchase closet dividers. Label them in whatever way makes sense for you. For example, you could label a section “work blouses.” Keep like items together. That way you don’t have to search the entire rack for your favorite pair of pants.
Storing Shoes
Throwing shoes on the floor of your closet is a recipe for disaster. Your shoes get dirty, and you’ll probably spend a good thirty minutes searching for the mate to the shoe you have in your hand. Use shoe racks on the back of the closet door, shelves or stackable shoe bins.
Undershelf Lighting
Just because your closet has a light doesn’t mean it’s the best or only option. Install LCD lights under your shelves. That way you don’t have to turn on the overhead light. It also makes it easy to find exactly what you want.
Learn to Fold and Hang
A lot of organization problems can be solved just by learning how to properly fold and hang your clothes. When it comes to folding, try the Marie Kondo method. Special hangers for pants keep them neat as well as creating more space in your closet. Dedicate a rack just for scarves, ties and belts.
Add a Donation Bin
Once your closet is organized, you want to make sure it stays that way. If you have room, put a box in a corner to hold items you don’t wear much. This is your donation box. Periodically go through your closet and fill it up. Another trick is to get rid of something old every time you buy something new.
Buy a Home in Balmoral
If you are thinking of buying a new home, come see us! Our builders craft great closets. You can also talk to them about installing a beautiful closet organization system. That way when you move in, everything in your old closet will have a new home.
