When buying your first home, moving to a new one, or doing a home remodel, there are many things that you need to consider, however, there is one that usually gets forgotten but tends to be one of the most important ones long-term: the closet. Whether we like it or not, our closets play a huge deal in our daily lives. It is a place where we spend time every day, and it can either be a wonderful experience or a nightmare. It all depends on the space you have, how organized your clothes are, if it’s your own space or you share it with someone else, and many other factors.
For those reasons, we decided to gather up a fair amount of experts in the closet design and organization field so they could give us a little advice on how to design your dream closet, make the best use of your space, and showcase your wardrobe style through every detail.
What’s the best way to organize baby clothes?
When it comes to babies and children, I’m all about being practical. While something may look beautiful, is it really worth it if it makes things harder for you as a mom? Three kids in, I can tell you, it’s oftentimes not worth it! For organizing baby clothes, I like to use simple drawer organizers (like these), and then organize by size, tops, and bottoms. This makes it quick and easy to grab something in the size you need and also put away sizes that no longer fit. For nicer outfits, I hang these up with size dividers to keep them grouped together. While you can find lots of pretty pre-made options, I have always preferred to use ones I can write my own sizes on since various brands come in different sizes.
-Katie Lamb at Katie Lamb
How can I clean and organize my kid’s closet?
Cleaning and organizing a kids’ closet can be overwhelming at first. However, we’ve each raised three children and have figured out how to tackle the job and get things done efficiently.
Our number one tip: clean out your kids’ closets regularly! After all, kids grow quickly so tackling the task twice a year (after summer and winter) actually makes the job easier.
The first step is to completely empty out the closet. As you remove things, create four piles:
- Things you plan to keep in your child’s closet
- Things you want to save for younger siblings
- Items you need to donate or could sell at a garage sale
- Things to throw away (broken toys or clothes too worn out to donate or sell)
Once you have everything sorted, box up items you plan to save for younger siblings and move them to their room.
Next, move everything you plan to donate or sell out of the room. Put donation items in bags or boxes and put them in your vehicle immediately! Then drop them off at your preferred donation spot the next time you go out.
Place items you want to sell at a yard sale in tubs or boxes in a designated area in your home or garage. Anything you’re throwing away, bag up and put in the trash.
Now you only need to worry about organizing clothes that fit and toys they still enjoy! It’s so much easier to put things away now.
We like to organize our kids’ closets into zones: give your kids a system they can easily understand and (hopefully) maintain themselves, with a little encouragement, of course… LOL
A few of our favorite storage solutions are:
- Clear plastic shoe organizer bags on the insides of the door to sort smaller toys.
- Clear bins on the floor for toys and/or shoes. If your child can see what goes in the container, it’s easier for them to put it away in the right place!
- Low shelves they can reach to hold more clear bins
- Label the bins! Use a picture if they can’t read yet.
- Keep similar items together: shirts, sweaters, pants, skirts, dresses, etc.
- Include a hamper if there’s room.
Now that your kid’s closet is organized, make a plan to keep it that way. Set aside time each day to put things away. We loved setting a timer and turning on some music for a “ten-minute tidy” where we would work together to put away as much as we could as quickly as possible. After all, if cleaning up can be turned into a game, your kids are much more likely to help out without complaining!
-AnnMarie and Ann at Simply2moms
When remodeling my closet, what do I have to keep in mind?
At Pamela Hope Designs, we always start with a plan. We would do the same for a closet renovation. What are the goals for this project? For a closet, they could range from a prettier closet, more storage overall, more storage for specific items, better lighting, a more spacious feeling, and the list could go on.
Most people would say more storage is an important goal. Study your closet while it is full. What are you storing and how do you store everything? Are there obvious issues such as your suitcase sitting in the middle of the floor because there is nowhere to keep it? Or perhaps, there is a stack of dirty laundry in the corner because there is no hamper or space for a basket?
Make a list of what your storage needs are and what is missing. Don’t skip the details. For example, if you have four backpacks, include all four of them unless you no longer need them. If you have the budget to have a professional closet company design your closet, they will use this same method and will take detailed notes and dimensions of all you want to keep in your closet.
Look at the way the closet is laid out currently and see if there are areas where you could get better use of your space. Several large retailers will help you build out your closet if you bring in your floorplan and dimensions. If you are doing it yourself, look online for ideas and see what you might be able to include in your ideal closet.
Even if you can’t add a lot of space or completely renovate your closet, there are smaller projects that can make your space better. Most closets get pretty beat up so painting the shelves and built-ins really freshens things up. Paint the walls too. How is your light fixture? For most people, it’s either ugly, dim, or both. Purchase a new, LED fixture with 3000K lighting to brighten things up. A pretty fixture is even better but a simple, new one that provides more light will go a long way.
Since you must pull everything out to paint, be sure to carefully go through what you truly want and need to keep. Most people’s closets are filled with old, torn, stained, outdated, and ill-fitting clothes. Most of that can be donated or discarded. Hopefully, less will return to your closet, instantly giving you more space.
Lastly, even a crowded closet looks better if it’s neat and tidy. Always hang and fold your clothes carefully. Place them in categories such as stacks of jeans and a bin with socks. Bins and baskets should match or coordinate for a cleaner look. Separating hanging clothes by color looks good and makes getting ready easier.
-Pamela O’Brien at Pamela Hope Designs
How can a modular closet system help me get organized?
Most home builders furnish the bedroom closet with a basic rod and a shelf. That’s great if most of your clothes are for hanging. But what if you’re like most people and you have pants, sweaters, pajamas, underwear, shoes, etc., etc.?
Enter Modular Closets. The modular closet system allows you to maximize your entire closet wall space with open shelves, drawer shelves, shoe shelves, tall hanging, double hanging, and more.
Based on your unique needs, you design your closet from scratch using our free, online closet design tool, or you can request help from a closet designer. Either way, once you have your modular closet system, you’ll find that every item you own has a place.
-Avrumi Weinberger at Modular Closets
What should I consider when creating the mood board for my closet renovation?
When creating mood boards for your closet renovation, here are a few things to get you thinking:
- First of all, make sure to gather all the essentials for your closet space and put them on the mood board. This should include the paint color you want for your closet wall, cabinet, or any closet system you plan to use, and storage bins if you plan to have any! Hangers and storage bins play an important role and can take a good amount of space, so choose ones which the style that fit in with the rest of your closet when designing a mood board. Bonus points if you already know your wardrobe’s color palette and can design your mood board to complement your clothes and accessories!
- When considering the color scheme, I usually recommend erring on the side of simplicity. The truth is, a closet is a catch-all place, so you’ll fill it up with things of different colors and textures. Choosing something that is already busy will only make your closet noisier once you move everything in. This is not saying everything should be white, as I can definitely see a closet being a jewel box! For example, if you have decided on a colorful wallpaper, just choose paint and decor that are within 2-3 colors picked out from the wallpaper palette and that will create an interesting but harmonious space.
- Incorporate round or organic shapes into your closet. The lines in your closet can feel very square and rigid. I’d highly encourage you to create soften the lines by incorporating different shapes. Adding an arched floor mirror, installing a chandelier in a round shape, or using wallpaper with interesting shapes? Play around with adding those shapes to your mood board and see how much dimension it adds to your space!
-Kelin Zhao at Hydrangea Treehouse
What is the best way to organize a linen closet?
A linen closet is a perfect candidate for a satisfying and relatively quick organizing project!
Begin by emptying your linen closet and separating items into piles of like items. For example, all of the king-size linens in one place, towels in another, etc. If you store items other than linens in this closet (medicines, extra toilet paper…), pull these out and group them as well.
Wipe the shelves clean while they are empty.
Before putting anything back, go through the various categories and remove anything that you no longer need, use, or love. Place unwanted linens in bags to be taken for disposal. Anything in good shape can be dropped into a textile recycling bin or taken to a local charity. Linens that are soiled, torn, or otherwise damaged can be taken to a nearby animal hospital or shelter.
Refold the linens if necessary.
Now it is time to reload. Linen closets typically have widely spaced, deep shelves. These are perfect for large items, such as blankets and pillows. However, if you have a small linen closet (which many of us do), you might want to move these bulkier items to an under-the-bed box, a cedar chest, or a guest room closet.
Bed linens…
Since we typically use sheets in sets, store them in sets on the shelf. To make your system easy to maintain, place the sets in baskets or bins with a label (e.g., “Queen Sheets”) to remember what goes inside. Alternatively, stack the items and add a label to the front of the shelf. Random extras, such as mattress pads, bathmats, extra pillowcases, etc. can be stored together as well. Lastly, place the linens folded side-forward for a cleaner, more ordered look.
Towels…
First, separate beach towels from bath towels. If your space is small, move the beach towels to a different location, such as a laundry room, mudroom, or even an attic when out of season.
Reload sets of towels as you did the bed linens, in labeled bins or stacked insets on a labeled shelf. Remember that towels can be decorative, so if you can’t fit them all into your linen closet, consider alternatives, such as keeping them rolled up in a basket in the bathroom where they are used.
Other supplies…
When it comes to smaller items (e.g., medicines, first aid supplies, etc.), add structure to keep things from sloshing together. Clear plastic boxes make for simple, removable “drawers.” A shelf organizer and/or a lazy susan can also be useful for holding tiny supplies. If you have a door that swings open, you can also add an over-the-door rack.
On the floor…
The floor should be reserved for bulky items. Air mattresses, pumps, sleeping bags, extra toilet paper, and large bottles are all examples of great candidates for this lowest level.
Getting your linen closet in order will make you feel terrific!
-Seana Turner at The Seana Method
What should I take into consideration when designing a luxury walk-in closet?
When it comes to designing your dream luxury walk-in closet, the closet designers at Orren Pickell Building Group have a few things you should keep in mind:
Natural light: One element that transforms an ordinary closet into one that feels truly luxurious is the inclusion of natural light. If at all possible, consider adding a window or two to your closet to make it feel less like a cavern and more like an open, comfortable space. No ability to include a window? Adding a skylight can also let in ample natural light. Natural light gives you the best possible light for comparing colors and hues and ensures that you look your best when you step out on the town.
Thoughtful lighting choices: Natural light is great for a luxury walk-in closet, but to get the most out of your design, ensure you’re also adding thoughtful lighting touches throughout. A beautiful chandelier can serve as a visual focal point for your closet, helping it feel less like a utilitarian space and more like a boutique. Glass-door shelving with interior lights creates a practical yet attractive way to store and display accessory items like purses. And automatic lighting that illuminates when a drawer or door is opened will help make getting dressed easier and more enjoyable.
Seating: Whether you need a place to perch while you slip on your high heels, or simply want a convenient area to enjoy a glass of wine while you prepare for the evening’s events, including a seating area in your walk-in closet helps it to feel much more luxurious. Adding built-in bench seating next to a window, a custom settee in a fabric that complements your master bedroom textiles, or even a set of chairs with a small table will make your walk-in closet more beautiful and functional.
-Patrick Falso at Orren Pickell Building Group
What’s the best way to organize my closet drawers?
Keeping your drawers organized, whether they’re in your closet or a freestanding dresser, requires being a little ruthless. A half-hearted effort at refolding isn’t going to give you the confidence you need to make your drawers do your bidding.
EMPTY your drawers. Starting with a fresh canvas is the best way to create a masterpiece.
PURGE whatever no longer fits (your body or your lifestyle) or flatters. If something is worn out, let it go. (Everyone deserves new underwear!) And just because something was pricey or a gift is no reason to let it take up needed space in your drawers. Do a reality check — if you won’t wear it, mark it for donation or consignment.
SORT your clothing, like-with-like, so you get a sense of how much or little of any one thing you have. Too many socks or pajama sets to wear them all in a month? Too few bras or shirts to get you to laundry day? Sorting identifies where you have excess, as well as what might need to go on your shopping list. Divide items into natural categories: undergarments/hosiery (subdivided by type), light/summer tops, heavy/winter tops, bottoms (shorts, yoga pants), and so on.
RELOCATE items to your hanging space if your drawers are small or few. Pants, jeans, and T-shirts can go on hangers, leaving space in your drawers for items (like lingerie or bulky sweaters) that work best in drawers.
FOLD. Yes, it takes a few extra minutes, but folded clothing stays unwrinkled and takes up much less space in the drawer, so it’s much easier to see what you own.
STAND AT ATTENTION. Fold (or roll) T-shirts, shorts, socks, and underwear, then either stack them in the drawers or stand them up (like file folders or record albums) to take up less space. If you roll your socks, sort by color (or at least separate dark from light) and stand them up like eggs in a carton so you can see them all.
DIVIDE AND CONQUER. Consider drawer dividers (like OXO Good Grips® Expandable Dresser Drawer Dividers or bamboo drawer organizers to section off the interior of your drawers, with rows for everyday foundation garments, workout underthings, and fancy/special-occasion lingerie. Similarly, separate workout clothes from loungewear or PJs so that you can always find what you need (and don’t show up to the gym in your too-loose jammie bottoms. But don’t over-organize. You don’t need a separate bin for each pair of undies.
MAINTAIN. Instead of stacking freshly laundered clothes on top of the items already in the drawers, take a moment to “lift” and put the new items on the bottom. This will help you wear out your clothes more evenly and keep you from forgetting what you own. (And when you do laundry, don’t put worn-out or ill-fitting items back in the drawers. Let them go!) Each season, take time to review what you own and make adjustments, letting go of what no longer suits your lifestyle.
-Julie Bestry at Best Results Organizing
What’s the best method to spring clean my closet?
In over thirty years of being a closet designer, I found the hardest thing most people have to do is thin the wardrobe. Here are five easy steps for a thinner closet.
1- If you haven’t worn it in a year… Bag it up!
Here’s a tip: Around the first of the year, (it’s not too late yet), turn all your hangers backward on the pole. At the start of 2023, take everyone that’s still facing backward and put it in a box, and mark it 2024. This step is only for people having a hard time dealing with reality. The rest of us will donate it once we realize it has robbed precious closet space for a year.
2- If it’s missing a button that you can’t find… Box it up.
Every closet has at least two or more garments with a broken button or a stain on something you love. Here are the facts: you’ll never find that exact button match and don’t bother waiting for OxiClean to invent a new spot remover. Face the facts and give it to the rag bag.
3- If it’s two sizes too big or too little… Yank it out.
This one may be the most difficult but start living in Realville. It only hangs there reminding you every day that you’re never going to get there. If you bought it two sizes too big, don’t let it keep telling you that you bought the wrong size. Too small? Well, you already know the answer to that.
4- If it looks good on the hanger, but not on you… Give it away.
You know the one. It looked hot in the store but hangs on you like a feed sack. Just say the devil made you buy it and move on.
5- If you are waiting for that style to come back… Forget it.
They say “everything old is new again” but styles, colors and fabric never come back into fashion exactly the same way. Update your wardrobe with a fresh take on those older styles. After all: you don’t need to remind your friends you still have clothes from the 90s.
I have seen closets that had up to 30% of the space cluttered with clothes that fit into these five categories, and sadly there are at least five more. It will cost you nothing and save you big bucks and the fun thing is you can do it today.
-Mike Pedersen at Classy Closets
How can I protect the clothes in my closet in humid weather?
1- Store a tin of charcoal in your closet to absorb moisture. Fill a large container or coffee can with plain charcoal briquettes that aren’t designed for grilling. Secure the lid on the coffee can or other container, then poke the top a few times. Keep this can in your closet to soak up moisture and keep your clothes dry.
- You can buy natural charcoal online or in a home improvement store.
- Charcoal can work as an impromptu dehumidifier.
- Charcoal naturally soaks up moisture, which makes it a quick and easy solution for your closet.
2- Run a fan or open windows if possible to air out the space.
3- Use a dehumidifier.
4- Place silica gel packets in airtight containers with your clothes.
5- Remove absorbent garments from the space (100% cotton).
6- Place silica gel packets in an airtight container with your clothes.
Other things to note:
- Avoid hanging too many clothes in the wardrobe; keep it air permeable enough to release moisture.
- Shoes are likely to trap moisture every time you wear them, avoid storing them with your clothes.
- Make sure clothes are completely dry before placing them in your closet.
- Humidity levels should be below 60%.
- If the closet is close to a bathroom, ensure exhaust fans are working properly.
-Lili Pettit at Clutter Healing
What is a capsule wardrobe and how can it help me to keep my closet organized?
For many, picking out a daily outfit can be a chore. How often do you stand in front of your closet each day trying to figure out what to wear? Here’s where a minimalist wardrobe comes into play.
First 2 Steps:
- Regardless of which method you go with, it’s important to figure out your color palette. Do you prefer neutrals, monochromatic, or a few fun festive tops with basic bottoms? Once you figure out your palette, identify a few of those key pieces to give you a starting point to build off of.
- Know your daily whereabouts. If you’re working from home every day, the theme of your wardrobe should most likely not be business formal.
Capsule Wardrobe
A capsule wardrobe consists of a small, curated collection of clothing that focuses on essential, timeless, quality, wear-again pieces. The point of a capsule wardrobe is to have all of your pieces complement each other so you can create endless amounts of combinations without having to have a lot of clothing.
The key to a capsule wardrobe is to absolutely love each article. One of our favorite organizing quotes is “opening up your closet should be like arriving at a really great party where everyone you see is someone you like.”
Just because you’re going for a more minimalist wardrobe doesn’t mean that you’re getting rid of whole categories of clothing, but rather having a few high-quality pieces per category that are interchangeable. For some, that means 5-10 blouses, pants, sweaters, and dresses. Different jacket weights- raincoat, denim jacket, leather jacket, trench, and heavy winter coat are all items that can have equal importance at varying times of the year.
Hanger Flip
If a capsule wardrobe seems extreme, there are other ways to slim down your wardrobe. One of my favorite methods is to start with all of your hangers flipped backward on the pole and then turn the hanger the opposite way once you’ve worn it and are placing it back in your closet. Once the season is over, see which items you didn’t wear and reassess whether you want to hold onto them or donate them.
Project 333
Project 333 is another minimalist wardrobe technique. This challenge invites you to pick out 33 items that you wear for the next 3 months (not including undergarments or sleepwear). Working with only 33 items forces you to get creative in the outfits you put together. Keep your shoe collection simple and classic depending on your day-to-day life. If you work in an office environment it might make more sense to have more flats than sneakers.
Regardless of what technique you decide to use, creating a simplified, curated wardrobe will save so much time and money. Instead of looking for trendy pieces that go out of style or fall apart after a year of owning them, you’ve constructed a wardrobe that requires minimal time and maintenance.
-Stasia Steele at The Little Details
How can I best organize a shared closet?
Organizing a shared closet can be a daunting task especially if you have a limited amount of storage space. Designing a space that accommodates both users requires a bit of letting go, research, and thinking outside of the box.
The good news is it doesn’t have to cost a small fortune.
When thinking about your space ask yourself what your goals are. What would you like the space to look like? Research different ways to organize closet spaces. As you do, think about what you already have that might help you reach your goal. This will save you money.
Next, take time to sketch out a design plan. It doesn’t have to be to scale or perfect–just a rough idea. Doing so will help you envision how the space will be used. Include the measurements.
Once you have your design, you are ready to list the materials needed. Maybe you buy a custom-made closet system or maybe you do it yourself. If you decide to build your own closet storage system, determine what you already have on your materials list. For example, do you have scrap wood that could be cut down for the shelving cleats? Install your new storage system.
The next step is the best part! Turn your vision into reality.
Want to see what this process looks like?
K’s Olympic Nest has a 3 part series that covers how they reconfigured their small master bedroom closet for less than $100 dollars. They share the process of decluttering and alternative ways to build an affordable closet system. Part three covers ideas for organizing to get the most out of your space such as using shower curtain rods to organize belts.
-Kelli at K’s Olympic Nest
How can I organize my closet when I’m on a budget?
Everyone wants a beautifully organized closet, where everything has a place & looks magazine worthy! Closet organization does not have to be expensive though & it can be done easily.
If your closet is a reach-in closet, a simple closet organizer system might do the trick! You can purchase and install pre-made closet organizer systems from any home improvement store or you can build your own. The basic necessities of a good closet organizer system are separation panels for different sections, hanging rods, and shelving. The panels and shelves can be DIY-ed for cheap using MDF or particleboard!
Adding baskets to shelving is an easy and budget-friendly way to store socks, undergarments, scarves, etc. A little trick I like to use for inexpensive baskets is to head to the Dollar Store! Pick out a bunch of matching plastic or iron baskets and spray paint them black for a sleek look or wrap them in rope or pretty fabric!
Keep leftover shoe boxes and wrap them in black wrapping paper for easy seasonal shoe storage. You can even write what type of shoe is in the box with a chalk marker.
Spray paint mismatched hangers for a cleaner-looking hanging section. Taping the tops off and painting them in gold or silver will even give you a faux metal hanger look.
Use strips of cardboard in drawers to create DIY dividers. To make them pretty you can hot glue fabric onto them or cover them with wood patterned peel and stick wallpaper!
I love to use peel and stick kitchen drawer liners at the bottom of my closet drawers for a pop of color.
For simple scarf storage, I hang curtain rings onto hangers and pull one scarf thru each ring. This makes it simple to pick which one I want to wear and keeps them wrinkle-free.
Command hooks are another great way to organize items like robes, purses, or jewelry inside a closet. Gold spray paint will make the plastic hangers look high-end for cheap!
Those are just a few simple ways to organize a closet big or small on a budget.
-Lia at Southern Yankee DIY
What are the best categories to divide my clothes into, and how should I store them?
Do you have a closet full of clothes and have a hard time putting together an outfit? Here’s how to categorize your clothes and organized them, so you could be ready for whatever your lifestyle calls for.
Organizing your closet with these tips will help you visually be able to pull together the look you’re going for in a snap.
Start by identifying what your current lifestyle calls for most of the days…
What’s your lifestyle?
What kind of wardrobe does your life call for on most of your days? Dresses? Dressy shirt and slacks? T-shirts and jeans? You will want to store these pieces in the prime real estate of your wardrobe. This will be the first category/s you see when you open the door to your closet.
Another way to think about it is, how do you want to present yourself to the world? If it’s the clothes that are right in front of you, you will be more likely to reach for the clothing that makes you feel your absolute best.
What Categories should you use?
We sort by category for 2 reasons. a) It maximizes your closets space and b) It helps you see your options, at a glance, when considering the weather, season, or the occasion you are dressing for.
Here are some categories to get you started…
t-shirts cardigan bathing suits
dresses sweaters underwear
slacks blazers bra’s
jeans work-out leggings Pj’s by set
shorts work-out shorts scarves
skirts work-out shirts
Within each category, organize by sleeve length, dress length, and color to make it visually easier to see what you own.
Hanging or folding? Baskets or shelves?
Where you store your clothes is the next important decision. Many people try to store their clothes according to what they see on tv. I’ve helped clients that attempt to file fold ALL their clothes by inserting furniture pieces into their closet, so they could follow the Marie Kondo method. In many instances, this creates space dilemmas and clothes backup.
If you’ve got the space for hanging, hang. Use that space, girl!
When space is limited a good go-to solution would be to use stackable bins on shelves for warm sweaters, scarves, or other seasonal items.
Containing things in baskets on shelves helps keep your space visually clean and functional while adding texture and warmth. Use baskets when you don’t have drawers or you have a structure in your closet with open shelving.
In drawers, use drawer dividers to keep your garments propped up and file fold to maximize the drawers and keep clothes easy to find.
Maximize your hanging space with slim, cohesive colored hangers.
Start giving categories a home in order of importance with the least used in the lease accessed side of your closet.
Wherever your life takes you, you will be ready with these closet tips.
-Elva Fonseca at Sensational Organizing
If my closet has no doors, how can I organize my clothes so they look nice?
Having a closet with no doors might seem daunting until you realize it’s the perfect excuse to set your closet up to look like a boutique. And since you can’t hide anything behind closed doors, it will keep you accountable to keep it neat and tidy.
Setting up your closet like a boutique is more than just for aesthetics. It will make getting dressed more fun in the morning, and more importantly save you time since you’ll know exactly where to find everything you are looking for. So how do we do this? Here are my top four tips to create a closet worthy of being doorless.
Declutter any items that you no longer love and that don’t fit right. The fewer items you have, the easier it is to keep your closet looking today. It is time to say goodbye to anything that no longer fits and that you simply don’t feel your best in/
Switch to uniform, slim-line hangers. You’ll be amazed at the transformation you can give your closet by simply switching all your hangers to match. As a bonus, switching to slimline hangers allows you to fit more in your space.
Organize first by category. Creating sections for each clothing type will give you that boutique feels in no time, and will make keeping your closet organized so much easier. Keep all your tops together, and categorize by sleeve length (long first, then short, then tank tops). Same with pants, and so on.
Organize next by color. Organizing by color doesn’t just make your closet look pretty. It actually helps you find what you are looking for more quickly. Who doesn’t love that? Think the rainbow (ROYGBIV) and flank each end with black and white.
Display your purses and shoes. For the finishing touch, display any beautiful bags and shoes on a top-shelf. Facing your purse out so you can see the design will inspire you to use it instead of saving it for special occasions (hint: life is the special occasion). Same with those fabulous shoes.
What is the point of owning beautiful items if we never wear them? There isn’t one. By following the steps above you can now shop your closet daily, easily maintain your organization, and enjoy the view!
-Corinne Morahan at Grid and Glam
How can I maintain my closet organized for a long time?
The first step in beginning any organizing project is to purge. Purging/Downsizing/Simplifying makes space for what you really need to keep while allowing the process of “categorizing like items” to begin to take shape. An interesting statistic to keep in mind in the purge phase of your closet organization project is that we wear just 20% of our wardrobe 80% of the time. Keeping that in mind, start by asking yourself, are you getting rid of items that you don’t love, that you won’t wear, that don’t fit, or that you no longer need? I like to allow a certain amount of space for each category of items instead of a number. For example, when the drawer designated for blue jeans is full, make a deal with yourself that you can’t bring in another pair until you have downsized a pair to make space. I also recommend keeping a container in your closet that you can routinely put donation items in, that way you never take up space with something you could give to someone else that could use it.
Once your space is purged and brought up to date, deciding on storage solutions that complement your strengths, is the key to creating and maintaining your new system. You’ll need to determine whether you are a visual or minimalistic individual. For example, if you are visual you may opt for open shelving, clear containers, baskets without lids, and you may even consider removing closet doors to make storage spaces more visually, and therefore mentally accessible. On the other end of the spectrum, people who prefer the minimalistic look may opt to keep items in drawers, cupboards, closets, and dark, stackable containers, and may opt to use labels to clearly define where a category of items is kept as they are stored out of sight and out of mind.
Once you have purged, sorted, categorized, and determined whether to implement visual or minimalistic organizational systems, the final piece of the longevity puzzle is practicing routine maintenance. It’s okay to tweak aspects of your systems to make them more user-friendly. Your systems don’t have to make sense to anyone else, just to you, so don’t be afraid to be creative! Keep it simple and efficient, even if that means living out of a laundry basket all week. It’s YOUR system! If it works for you, it works!
You can find more tips and ideas from Jennifer, and many more amazing Pro Organizers and Efficiency Consultants online at: www.IowaProfessionalOrganizers.com!
-Jennifer Rob at Iowa Professional Organizers
How can I organize my closet boxes?
There is nothing more satisfying than a neat and tidy closet. You know, one that is of the likes of Carrie’s dream closet in Sex and the City; Who wouldn’t want something as gorgeous and tidy as that?
A few great ways to organize your closet would be through these simple steps.
- De-clutter and get rid of anything you do not need. Make space so you can arrange things as you please in a tidy manner.
- Arrange clothes and shoes according to color. I know it may sound quite over-the-top for some of you but this really makes a whole lot of difference as it is easy on the eye.
- Put all small accessories and clothing into closet storage boxes.
When it comes to organizing closet space, storage boxes come in handy. There are different ones you can choose from but whichever you prefer, make sure they are all the same in style. Uniformity is key so that your closet looks tidy.
Open-shelf closets are very trendy nowadays when you have a separate walk-in closet area. Uniformed storage boxes will be very practical for these types of wardrobes. So how exactly would you use closet boxes?
- Organize smaller clothing items according to use and function. Have a different box for underwear, lingerie, swimsuits, accessories like scarfs, and even purses. I find that this helps me be more organized for the day as well. I don’t have to spend too much time rummaging for clothes because they are segregated according to type and function.
- Label your boxes with uniformed sticker labels. This saves a lot of time and frustration, not to mention the guesswork involved when things are not visibly labeled. You can choose from a variety of label stickers, handprint them with calligraphy, or simply print them out.
- Situate your boxes according to the frequency of use, making your everyday items most accessible. Put items you need on a daily basis on the most accessible shelves like your underwear and sleepwear. Keep accessory boxes that you don’t use often on the top shelves that are harder to reach.
Have you ever thought about how to organize your closet boxes? What have you done to create your dream closet?
-Marilen Faustino at MarilenStyles
How can I design my dream closet when I’m on a budget?
You don’t need to spend a fortune to design a custom-looking dream closet. It may take a little bit of work on your part and you might not get everything you want (right now), but you CAN create your dream closet within your budget. Promise!
As with any design project, you first need to clarify your vision for what your future dream closet even looks like … think about how you want your closet to function as well as what design elements you want (e.g. wallpaper, unique carpet pattern, closed wardrobe cabinetry, etc.).
The best way to clarify your vision for your closet (or any room) is to create a Pinterest board and call it something simple like ‘Dream Closet’. Scroll through Pinterest as well as custom closet retail websites (or do a simple Google search) to gather as much closet design inspiration as you can. Be sure to save all of these inspiration images in this one Pinterest board so that you can begin to identify common themes for how you envision your dream closet.
Once you have all your inspiration saved and you’ve defined what your dream closet looks like, you can re-create that look with inexpensive closet hacks. The Ikea PAX System is my top choice when it comes to creating a custom look on a budget. I also love the custom closet systems available at The Container Store. Another option is to piece together storage items from inexpensive stores such as Target, Wayfair, or Walmart when designing your closet.
Keep in mind that you can design your dream closet in stages … you don’t have to purchase everything right now. Start with the necessary components that are most important to you (e.g. hanging bars, shelving, and drawers) and add the fun (and unexpected) design details later (e.g. inexpensive temporary wallpaper or a low-priced statement chandelier).
Now get out there and start designing your dream closet (on a budget)!
-Carrie Barker at Caroline on Design
What’s the most efficient way to organize my shoes in my closet?
Shoes are always fun to organize. There are a couple of things that need to be taken into consideration though. What space do you have in your closet? Do you have built-ins, or do you need to purchase a shoe organizer? Determine where they are going to be organized.
Let’s take built-ins for example. Always start organizing from the bottom up and that way you can adjust the shelves to gain as much vertical space as possible.
If you have boots, I like to put them on the bottom (unless you are the type that keeps them in the box). Adjust the shelf as far down as possible and then work on the shoes you wear the most. Is it tennis shoes? Day-to-day shoes? You decide. I like to put the shoes on the shelf with one toe facing out and one heel facing out. You will find that you can get 1 additional pair of shoes on the shelf that way.
After you organize the shoes that you wear the most, you will move into the shoes that you wear least often (heels, dress shoes, etc). You always want the shoes that you wear all of the time to be the most conveniently placed. This way, hopefully, they will be put back and kept organized all of the time to keep your closet looking great!
-Bridges Bell at Get Organized with Bridges
If you decided to renovate your closet, consider the benefits of hiring a handyman rather than doing all of the work yourself, they can always help you enhance your home’s storage options, value, and security.
