ORGANIZING YOUR CLOTHING CLOSET

It’s not the size that matters. No matter the clothing closet space you have available, it’s the way you organize it that makes the difference. Large closets can be cluttered and small closets can hold everything you need. You don’t need an interior decorator or a custom-built closet system to maximize your space. With just a small bit of ingenuity, you can do it yourself.

Before you start…

1. Before organizing your closet, you’ll want to sort your clothes into what you want to keep, sell, donate, and throw out. If you haven’t worn it in more than a year; it’s time to let it go.
2. Separate the items you keep into categories: short hanging, long hanging, folded, dressy, casual etc. The more categories you have, the easier it will be to find something once it’s in place.

Know your measurements

1.  Know the measurements of your closet when you shop for bins and shelves

2.  Know your own measurements – if it doesn’t fit, give it away or sell it.

If it’s not hung right

1. Invest in good hangers. There’s a reason that wire hangers are free. They ruin your clothes. Use padded hangers for stretchy clothes, plastic hangers for button downs, and wooden hangers for jackets.
2. Specialty hangers exist to neatly hang many different accessories, hooked hangers for belts, tie racks, scarf holders, etc.
3. Hangers can maximize space – there are hangers that can hang many items at ones and ultra thin hangers, to name just two.

Dress to impress

1. A mounted pegboard on a closet door can hold morning essentials.
2. Simply hanging a mirror in a walk in closet can change it into a dressing room. You can also place a long, inexpensive mirror on a closet door for full length viewing.

The shoe solution

1. Consider a slanted shoe rack for the bottom of your closet if you don’t need to use that space in other ways.
2. A hanging canvas shoe shelf or shoe bag works for smaller shoes.
3. Clear plastic cubbies are great for bulkier shoes.
4. An over-the-door shoe rack makes great use of little used space.

Maximize space

1. Stackable bins with pull-out drawers can take the place of drawers or shelves.
2. Hanging canvas shelves creates new space where there was none and makes a cheap alternative for wood.
3. Double rods instantly double the hanging space for shorter clothes.
4. Hooks can hang anything from hats to pocketbooks.

Organize, organize…

1. Items used most often should be kept at eye level.
2. Label shelves, boxes and drawers.
3. Shelf dividers can keep piles of clothing separate.
4. Use baskets to collect odds and ends or to keep small items like purses.
5. Stow out-of-season pieces in boxes on a high shelf.

Depending on your space, any combination of these ideas can work to make your closet work for you.